Top-Rated Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Divorce, Family Law & Estate Planning Attorneys

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I know if I have a personal injury case?

  When someone is at-fault for injuring another person, is there legal recourse available? The answer is yes. Some examples of personal injury accidents include medical malpractice, car accidents, slip and falls, workplace accidents, wrongful death, skiing accidents, pedestrian and bike accidents, birth injuries, rideshare collisions, dangerous premises, aircraft accidents, and motorcycle accidents. In the aftermath of such incidents, victims may need compensation to pay for their medical bills, property damages, loss of wages, pain and suffering, and more. Within a split second someone’s life and health could change, and when someone is responsible for that, they should be held accountable. If this is what you or your loved one is going through, we are ready to take your call. To begin, we will do a consultation and review the situation, and then inform you of what your choices are moving forward. Instead of trying to find the answers to your questions online, let us address them for you.

• What if I’m in a car accident with a rental car?

  Whether you’re the driver of the rental car or someone unfortunate enough to get into a wreck with a rented car, a car accident lawyer can help you. Most rental car companies have insurance to cover repairing or replacing their vehicle, but may not be as generous with compensating you for the full extent of your losses. If you were hurt while driving a rental car, a car crash attorney can help ensure that you’re fairly compensated for your injuries and your own losses, not just rental car damage. If you were hit by someone driving a rental car, it’s critical to hire a lawyer, making sure that even if the tourist goes home, you still receive fair compensation. We regularly secure six-figure settlements for our clients.

• What makes truck accident cases so complicated?

  Several aspects of a truck accident make it more complex than a “regular” traffic collision. First, the severity of the victim’s injuries often means it’s a high-value claim, which insurance carriers heavily scrutinize. Secondly, there may be multiple defendants in truck accident claims, both the driver and the trucking company. This means that you need a lawyer who has the knowledge and resources to prepare two cases—at least. In some cases, even the loaders or rig manufacturers could be liable for the accident. Welts, White, & Fontaine, P.C., often addresses these claims as part of our personal injury practice.

• What if I know the owner of the dog that bit me?

  Regardless if the dog that bit you, your child, or mauled your pet was a “stranger dog” or the dog of a family member, friend, or neighbor, you’re still entitled to compensation for the medical treatment and other losses you suffered. New Hampshire law regards dogs as personal property, and their owners are strictly liable for any damage their dog causes. A dog owner’s renters or homeowners’ insurance often covers the damage their furry friend creates. Dog bite cases can get very complicated because so many people treasure their pets. Let a personal injury attorney handle the claim on your behalf, including being the point of contact with the dog’s owner.

• Can I sue my employer if I get hurt at work?

  Usually, no, not if you are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, there are extenuating circumstances under which New Hampshire law permits you to sue. For example, if your employer was willfully negligent, such as intentionally neglecting safety precautions or failing to provide proper safety equipment and training, then you may be eligible to sue. Or, if a third party caused the accident or contributed to it, such as a vendor or subcontractor, then you may have grounds to file a suit against them. Our workplace injury lawyers have years of experience in vocational rehabilitation, and understand just how much work goes into regaining your abilities after a severe workplace injury.

• Should I use a family attorney?

  If you were to ask us what some of the most emotionally-charged legal cases tend to be, we would answer divorce and family law. Anyone who has divorced can probably agree to the fact that it’s one of the most difficult periods anyone can endure, even if it was the right choice. Other aspects of family law include guardianship, child custody, alimony, marriage dissolution, protection orders from domestic violence, and more. So whether you are dealing with a separation, paternity issue, or child support dispute, our team can assist you. When marriage does not last as long as we expect, we may understandably be distraught. We may not have enough energy to deal with a legal issue on our own, which is why recruiting a lawyer can be beneficial. Rarely does anyone plan to divorce their spouse or need help with a child custody battle, but with a legal team on your side to guide you and protect you, their presence can only yield better results.

• What can estate planning do for my family?

  What happens to your belongings, property, and finances after you die? Without an estate plan, you could risk the court handling the distribution of your assets for you. Most people do not want that to happen, especially considering that probate court is public knowledge, so they devise a legally-binding estate plan instead. If you are concerned about the future of your legacy and family, then writing an estate plan can be the tool that you need. Within an estate plan, you can create documents that describe what your wishes are for transferring assets to beneficiaries, among other preferences. Examples of documentation that may comprise your estate plan include durable power of attorney, living will, living trust, medical or healthcare power of attorney, beneficiary designations, advance directives, and more. Your beneficiary designations are the people closest to you in your life that you want to have a portion of your assets after passing away. After establishing your estate plan, you will likely have relief knowing your future is secure.

• Can you help with skiing accidents?

  Different types of accidents can happen near the ski slopes, including a parking lot accident (either a slip-and-fall or being hit by a distracted driver), or taking a tumble down the stairs at a lodge, or going to and from the lift area. Not to mention the chances of a reckless skier causing a collision showing off on the moguls or overestimating their abilities and causing someone else harm. Our personal injury law firm handles ski-related accidents, including collisions, ski lift accidents, and slips-and-falls.

• Why should I work with an appellate lawyer?

  An appellate lawyer is an attorney who handles appeals to the New Hampshire Supreme Court or First Circuit Court of Appeals. Appeals typically have two parties: the Appellant, who is the person who lost in the trial court and is appealing, and the Appellee, who won in the trial court and is now defending the appeal.

  Whether you won or lost at the court below, having an experienced appellate lawyer for your appeal is important. At Welts, White & Fontaine, PC, our attorneys have decades of experience handling complex appeals in the areas of family law, divorce, termination of parental rights, personal injury, business, real estate and zoning, and many other areas. We also pride ourselves on being more affordable than many other appellate attorneys.

• My neighbor cut down my tree with out permission, what do I do?

  Timber trespass is the wrongful cutting of someone else’s trees. When someone else, like a neighbor, cuts down your trees, you may be entitled to compensation. Our experienced timber trespass lawyers can help you get compensation for your felled trees by assembling evidence, helping you hire an arborist if necessary, and presenting a settlement demand to an insurance company or defendant. Welts, White & Fontaine, PC, are experienced timber trespass lawyers who have recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars for property owners who have had their trees cut down. You may even be able to proceed on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay a fee unless you win a recovery.

• What kind of cases fall under civil litigation?

  What is civil litigation? And what do attorneys in this area of law offer clients? Civil litigation lawyers help people involved in non-criminal cases and their purpose is to protect their client’s best interests. Examples of civil litigation are cases like probate and estate matters, personal injury, employee discrimination claims, wrongful death, business disputes, product liability, and more. For instance, a person may file a civil case against someone else for being at-fault after a car accident, so that they get fair compensation for damages such as wage loss, medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and impairment or disability, among others. Typically, with civil litigation, one party (plaintiff) seeks remedy or restitution from another party (defendant). This dispute may be resolved through negotiations or by going to court. Civil cases can be between two individuals, two businesses, an individual against a business, or an individual against a government entity. The role of a lawyer in this area of law is often broad and diverse. So if you need help with a civil litigation case, now is the time to get assistance from a reputable legal team.