You usually have 3 years from the date of death to file in New Hampshire, and if that deadline passes, the claim is usually gone.

Worst case, the insurer says there is no solid proof of who caused the crash, no proof the death came from the crash, and no proof of what the family or estate lost. That is how claims get lowballed or denied.

What helps most is proof in three buckets:

• Fault: Keene Police reports, New Hampshire State Police crash reconstruction, 911 calls, dashcam, surveillance video, witness names, vehicle damage photos, skid marks, deer-strike scene photos if wildlife was involved, and phone records if road rage or distracted driving is suspected.
• Cause of death: ER and trauma records, especially from Concord Hospital or Elliot Hospital in Manchester, EMS records, autopsy findings if there was one, and the death certificate.
• Losses: funeral and burial bills, final medical bills, wage records, tax returns, benefits info, and proof of what the person did for the household or family.

In New Hampshire, the personal representative of the estate usually files the wrongful death case, not each family member separately. So one key piece of proof is the probate paperwork showing who has authority to act.

Things go better when you also separate the estate's claim from the family-loss claim. The estate may seek damages tied to the person's injury before death, including medical expenses, funeral costs, and in some cases the person's conscious pain and suffering before they died. The wrongful death side can include lost income and the family's loss of the person's comfort, society, and companionship.

If the crash happened on Route 9, Route 12, or a mountain road during fall deer season, get the scene evidence fast. Cars get repaired, road conditions change, and witnesses forget details within days.