New Hampshire Legal Blog

New Hampshire representatives are considering a bill to increase New Hampshire’s maximum speed limit from 65 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour, mostly on freeways. However, the debate continues as to whether increasing the speed limit is a good idea, or if it will cost more than it’s worth, according to a recent editorial in the Concord Monitor.

Proponents of the change point out that many drivers already travel at or near 70 miles per hour on New Hampshire’s highways. Since accidents have not increased dramatically in recent years, some proponents state that motorists who travel at or near 70 have proven that this is a safe speed, at least during good road conditions.

Those who are against the new law, however, point out several risks. First, by increasing the legal speed limit to 70 miles per hour, the legislature may be encouraging drivers who are already comfortable going five miles per hour over the speed limit to add another five miles per hour - bringing their average speed up to 75 miles per hour. Second, these drivers may be using cell phones despite New Hampshire’s recent ban on texting while driving. Distracted driving at high speeds can cause serious accidents.

Finally, the speed limit is designed to reflect the maximum safe speed at ideal road conditions: a dry, sunny day without excessive traffic, wildlife, or other obstacles. If the posted speed limit is 70 miles per hour, however, drivers may feel it’s safe to drive faster on days with bad road conditions which may also increase the risk of crashes.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a New Hampshire car crash, the experienced Manchester car accident attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help. Call us today at (603) 624-3700 for a free and confidential phone consultation.

Both New Hampshire and its neighbor Maine set auto accident safety records this past year, logging in the lowest number of car crash deaths since the states began keeping track in 1949, according to a recent article in Maine’s Kennebec Journal.

In New Hampshire, 87 drivers lost their lives on the state’s roads in 2011, beating the previous record of 105 deaths set in 1960. Maine was down to 139 deaths, its second-lowest total since 1944, when gasoline rationing during World War II kept most people off the roads entirely. Ohio and Connecticut also saw significant reductions in crash deaths.

Nationwide, the number of car accidents that took lives in 2011 was 32,885. While this is not a national record, it does follow a trend of decreasing deaths that began in 2009.

According to researchers, several factors could be involved in lowering the rate of deadly crashes. Increased seat belt use has likely saved some lives, and better safety equipment and features in vehicles also reduce the severity of some crashes. Advances in medical care and technology may also have saved lives. And, like the rationing that took place in World War II, high gas prices are causing some drivers to drive less or to carpool, which means fewer cars on the roads.

The decrease in car accident deaths means safer roads, but it doesn’t change the immeasurable cost of losing someone you love in a crash. At Tenn And Tenn, P.A., our experienced New Hampshire car accident wrongful death attorneys are dedicated to helping families sort out what happened in an accident and hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. To learn more about how we can help, call us today at (603) 624-3700 for a free telephone consultation, or call our toll-free Injury Helpline at 1(888) 511-1010.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been passing and enforcing stricter rules when it comes to toy safety. As a result, fewer children have been injured by defective toys in the U.S. this year, a trend the CPSC expects to continue through the holiday season.

In 2010, about 181,500 children were injured and 17 were killed in toy-related accidents. Most injuries were suffered on riding toys, like scooters, and involved either bruises and scrapes or head injuries. Stricter safety standards for these toys have helped decrease some of the risks, but parents are still encouraged to put helmets and pads on children who ride scooters, bicycles, skateboards, and similar toys. Helmets in particular help protect a child’s growing brain from traumatic brain injuries.

Other toys that have caused injuries in recent years had unacceptably high levels of toxic heavy metals, like lead or cadmium. Several new CPSC regulations target the use of heavy metals in children’s toys, requiring toy manufacturers to eliminate or strictly limit the use of lead and similar toxins in toy making.

Most of the 17 children who lost their lives in toy accidents last year choked on small pieces, such as small rubber bouncy balls or pieces of broken balloons, according to the CPSC.

Following age recommendations on toys, providing safety equipment, and watching for small pieces that could cause a choking hazard are all ways you can help keep a child’s holidays fun and injury-free. For more information about your legal rights and options after an injury, call the experienced New Hampshire child injury lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. Our toll-free Injury Helpline number is 1(888) 511-1010, or you can call (603) 624-3700 for a free telephone consultation.

A two-car crash on the F.E. Everett Turnpike recently had traffic backed up in all three lanes, but spared the drivers any life-threatening injuries, according to a recent article in the Nashua Telegraph.

The accident occurred during a weekday evening’s prime commuting hours. According to police, the accident involved a car that had stopped in the median near Exit 2, apparently because it was having mechanical troubles. That car was rear-ended by another car coming down the turnpike. A third vehicle might also have been involved in the crash, but police have not come to any conclusions yet.

Both drivers involved in the rear-end crash managed to walk away from the scene, though the full extent of their injuries is still unknown. Immediately after the accident, several other drivers stopped to help, which slowed traffic on the turnpike and made the accident scene look as if it involved many more drivers than just the two who actually crashed, according to the Nashua Telegraph. Drivers trying to get around rescue vehicles to the right of the crash and trying to get off the turnpike to the left also slowed traffic.

Soft tissue injuries after a car accident can take several days to become fully obvious. Many drivers think they’re not injured immediately after a crash, only to find a few days later that they are in serious pain. If you’ve been injured in an accident, the experienced car accident attorneys in New Hampshire at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. can help you protect your legal rights. For a free telephone consultation, call us today at (603) 624-3700, or call our toll-free Injury Helpline at 1(888) 511-1010.

Each U.S. state has its own procedure for divorce, and New Hampshire is no exception. Some states’ divorce processes require waiting periods, counseling, separation periods, and other steps that can add months or even years before a divorce is final. Others offer a relatively streamlined process, without requiring the couple be married or separated for a certain time period.

Compared to other U.S. states, New Hampshire has one of the“easier” divorce processes, according to Bloomberg. That is, a divorce in New Hampshire has fewer built-in waiting periods to extend the process, making it possible to finalize a divorce much more quickly here than in some other states. This is especially true if the couple has no children and seeks a no-fault divorce.

For instance, in Arkansas, the parties must first live apart for at least 540 days, or about one and a half years, before the divorce can be finalized. Add the state’s 60-day residency requirement and the 30-day required period between filing and finalization, and a divorce in Arkansas can take nearly two full years from start to finish. By contrast, New Hampshire has no minimum separation, residency, or waiting period, so a divorce in this state can be finished in whatever amount of time the parties need to work out an agreement in regards to such matters as marital property.

Divorce can be emotionally draining for everyone involved. If you’re considering divorce, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced divorce attorneys in New Hampshire at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. We will help you through each step of the process and fight for the security and stability you need as you begin your newly single life. For a free and confidential telephone consultation, call us today at (603) 624-3700.

Speeding doesn’t just put drivers at risk for an expensive ticket; it can also cause serious injuries or even death, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). Approximately 900 U.S. motorists die each month in speeding-related crashes, and thousands more are injured. As many as one in three car accident deaths and serious car accident injuries occur in speeding-related crashes each year.

Three major factors make speeding highly dangerous. First, the faster the vehicle is moving, the quicker the driver must react when he sees an emergency and the less time he has to notice it and take action. Second, a fast-moving vehicle needs more room to stop than a slow-moving one.

Finally, speeding increases the force of the crash. The faster two vehicles are going when they collide, the more force is involved. For instance, a vehicle traveling 60 miles per hour will hit with 125 percent more force than a vehicle traveling 40 miles per hour. In many speeding-related crashes, occupants of the vehicles are injured because the vehicle cannot withstand the additional force. That power has to go somewhere, and it often goes into crumpling the passenger compartment, posing serious risks to those riding in the vehicle.

Speeding is just one misbehavior that can cause serious injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced New Hampshire auto accident attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. For a free and confidential consultation by telephone, call us today at (603) 624-3700, or call our toll-free Injury Helpline at 1(888) 511-1010.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are the busiest travel holidays in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). With more travelers hitting the roads during these holidays, the risk for accidents increases. Here are a few tips for safe highway travel this holiday season:

Prepare for your trip by printing out maps and directions, or programming your GPS system in advance. Clean any snow and ice thoroughly off your car, so it doesn’t obstruct the driver’s vision. Make sure children’s car seats or booster seats are installed and fit correctly. Pack an emergency kit that includes food, water, a first aid kit, extra clothes, and blankets.

Check the weather before you hit the road so you can be prepared for snow, ice, or other conditions. Drive more slowly if the weather is snowy, icy, foggy, or rainy, and do not use cruise control in these conditions.

Take a break or switch drivers if you feel tired or sleepy. Avoid distraction by having passengers read directions or make phone calls for you. Never drive if you have been drinking, and use caution with prescription or over-the-counter medications until you are sure they will not make you sleepy.

Driving safely can help prevent a car accident from disrupting your holidays. If you or someone you love is injured in a crash, however, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced New Hampshire car accident attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. We’ll help you handle matters after a crash, so that you can focus on healing. For a free telephone consultation, call us today at (603) 624-3700.

New Hampshire may see a record low number of highway fatalities this year, according to a recent article in the Eagle-Tribune. The New Hampshire Highway Safety Authority, which keeps track of deaths and injuries on New Hampshire highways each year, notes that the state is currently seeing a much lower number of deadly auto accidents on highways than is typical for this time of year.

Currently, the Highway Safety Authority has recorded 69 deaths as of November 9, 2011. On the same date in 2010, the agency had recorded 116 deaths. Any total number of highway crash fatalities under 100 for 2011 will set a new record for highway safety in New Hampshire, according to the agency. The current record was set in 2009, with 100 deaths; 2010 saw a total of 128 lives lost on New Hampshire highways.

New Hampshire authorities recently released its“Commute With Care” campaign, which focuses on highway safety by targeting distracted drivers and those who speed during morning and evening rush hours. Law enforcement officials say the decrease in deaths is related to the increased enforcement efforts.

That New Hampshire is seeing fewer deaths in highway crashes is good news, but accidents can still cause serious injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash, you have certain legal rights. Call the experienced New Hampshire car accident injury attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. today to discuss your options in a free telephone consultation. Our number is (603) 624-3700, or call our toll-free Injury Helpline at 1(888) 511-1010.

As the number of deaths due to distracted driving has increased, so has the number of states restricting or banning the use of cell phones while driving. These laws range from bans on certain behaviors, like texting, to bans on all cell phone use by a driver. As of January 1, 2010, New Hampshire joined the 33 other U.S. states that have banned texting while driving.

New Hampshire’s law states that “A person operating a moving motor vehicle who writes a text message or uses 2 hands to type on or operate an electronic or telecommunications device, is guilty of a violation,” the fine for which is $100.00. Scrolling through a contacts list or dialing in a phone number or name is not considered“texting” under this statute, which still allows New Hampshire drivers to make phone calls on their cell phones while driving. However, the law most likely covers typing on a laptop computer or smart phone, as well as using Twitter or other apps that require two hands, according to an article in the Boston Globe. New Hampshire joins 33 other U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Guam in banning some form of distracted driving related to cell phones or other electronic devices. Many counties and other localities in the United States have also banned or restricted cell phone use.

Distracted driving can cause serious injuries. If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced New Hampshire car accident injury attorneys at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. For a free and confidential telephone consultation, call us today at (603) 624-3700.

When a New Hampshire car accident occurs, police and rescue workers may be called to the scene, especially if someone is injured. Police investigate car crashes for many reasons, such as determining who is at-fault and trying to detect any illegal activity related to the crash. Police officers take several steps to investigate a car crash scene thoroughly.

First, police will likely secure the scene with flares or other devices so that other motorists see it in time to avoid crashing into the already-disabled vehicles. This is often done along with determining if anyone is hurt and calling paramedics or other rescue teams if needed. While checking on everyone involved in the crash, police will often evaluate them for drug or alcohol impairment.

Once the injured people at the scene are taken care of, police typically turn their attention to recording information about the crash site. They may take measurements, make diagrams, or take photos or video. Evidence like tire marks, broken glass, or vehicle parts, and the patterns of damage on the vehicles themselves, are all recorded. Police may also talk to witnesses to get their contact information and find out what the witnesses saw or heard. All this information can help police reconstruct an accident scene to determine what went wrong and who may be at-fault.

Car accidents can cause serious injuries. At Tenn And Tenn, P.A., our experienced NH car accident attorneys are dedicated to helping those who have been injured in car accidents. To discuss your accident with us and learn more about your legal rights and options, call (603) 624-3700 today for a free telephone consultation, or call our Injury Helpline at 1 (888) 511-1010.