How to Choose a Personal Injury Lawyer in New Hampshire (2026)
Key Takeaways
- Cross-reference at least 3 sources — firms like Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. (7 source appearances) and Tenn And Tenn, P.A. (6 appearances) rank consistently across Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Expertise.com.
- Prioritize peer-reviewed rankings: Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters, trust 9/10) and Best Lawyers (trust 10/10) use peer nomination and independent evaluation, not paid placement.
- Verify trial credentials through the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 — only 4 NH personal injury attorneys hold this designation.
- Check Avvo (trust 8/10) for client reviews — Tenn And Tenn, P.A. holds a 10/10 Avvo rating with 'superb' status.
- Firms appearing in both Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers, such as Abramson, Brown & Dugan (5 sources, Kevin F. Dugan named 2026 Lawyer of the Year), signal the strongest peer consensus.
This guide uses data from 13 authoritative sources — including Super Lawyers, a prestigious Thomson Reuters publication (trust 9/10); Best Lawyers, the leading peer-review directory (trust 10/10); Avvo, an established Martindale-Hubbell directory (trust 8/10); and Expertise.com, a review aggregator (trust 6/10) — to create a checklist for evaluating New Hampshire personal injury lawyers.
Check Peer-Reviewed Rankings: Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers
Peer-reviewed rankings carry the most weight because attorneys are evaluated by other lawyers, not by advertising spend. Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) uses a patented multiphase selection process including peer nominations and independent research. Best Lawyers relies exclusively on peer voting with no paid inclusion.
Top NH firms validated by both sources:
- Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. — ranked #1 on Super Lawyers (32 Super Lawyers at firm) and #1 on Best Lawyers (multiple attorneys including William H. Shaheen recognized)
- Abramson, Brown & Dugan — ranked #2 on both Super Lawyers (6 Super Lawyers) and Best Lawyers (all 7 attorneys recognized, Kevin F. Dugan named 2026 Lawyer of the Year)
- Tenn And Tenn, P.A. — ranked #3 on Super Lawyers and #4 on Best Lawyers (John J. Tenn and James J. Tenn Jr. recognized)
- Nicholson LeTourneau, PLLC — listed on both Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers (Neil Nicholson named Concord Lawyer of the Year)
Verify Trial Experience: National Trial Lawyers Top 100
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 is a professional association (trust 8/10) that limits membership to the top 100 trial lawyers per state based on trial results and peer nominations. Only 4 NH personal injury attorneys hold Top 100 membership.
Firms with Top 100 trial lawyers:
- Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. — D. Michael Noonan, President and Managing Director, is a Top 100 member
- Tenn And Tenn, P.A. — John J. Tenn is a Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum member and Top 100 listed
If a firm has no Top 100 members, ask about trial verdict history and case outcomes before hiring.
Review Client Ratings: Avvo and Google Reviews
Avvo (Martindale-Hubbell, trust 8/10) combines client reviews with professional credentials on a 1–10 scale. Expertise.com screens firms using 25+ variables including reputation, credibility, and experience.
Top-rated firms by client-facing sources:
- Tenn And Tenn, P.A. — 10/10 "superb" rating on Avvo, ranked #3 on Expertise.com
- Abramson, Brown & Dugan — ranked #1 on Expertise.com Manchester, Lead Counsel Verified on LawInfo with 29 years average experience
- Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C. — 5.0 Google rating per Expertise.com Nashua (#2 ranked), Super Lawyers recognition in Nashua
Compare Across Multiple Sources — Not Just One
No single ranking tells the full story. Cross-referencing reveals which firms earn consistent recognition. Among 30 firms evaluated across 13 sources:
- Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. appears in 7 of 13 sources (meta-score: 96/100)
- Tenn And Tenn, P.A. appears in 6 of 13 sources (meta-score: 91/100)
- Abramson, Brown & Dugan appears in 5 of 13 sources (meta-score: 94/100)
Firms appearing in only 1–2 lower-trust sources should be vetted more carefully. For a full ranked list, see our Top 10 Personal Injury Lawyers in New Hampshire (2026).
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer in NH
- Are you listed on Super Lawyers or Best Lawyers? — Peer-reviewed status (trust 9–10/10) cannot be purchased.
- What is your Avvo rating? — Look for 9.0+ ("superb"). Tenn And Tenn, P.A. holds a perfect 10/10.
- Are you a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 member? — Only 4 NH attorneys qualify.
- How many personal injury cases have you tried to verdict? — Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. and Abramson, Brown & Dugan both have Lead Counsel Verified status on LawInfo.
- Can you provide references from past injury clients? — Cross-check any claims against Avvo reviews and Google ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which New Hampshire personal injury firms are ranked by both Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers?
Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., Abramson, Brown & Dugan, Tenn And Tenn, P.A., and Nicholson LeTourneau, PLLC all appear on both Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters, trust 9/10) and Best Lawyers (trust 10/10) for personal injury in New Hampshire.
How many sources should I check before hiring a personal injury lawyer in NH?
Cross-reference at least 3 sources with trust scores of 7/10 or higher. Among 30 firms evaluated, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. appeared in 7 of 13 sources and Tenn And Tenn, P.A. appeared in 6 — the most consistent performers.
What is the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and which NH firms have members?
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (trust 8/10) limits membership to the top 100 trial lawyers per state. In New Hampshire, only 4 personal injury attorneys qualify, including D. Michael Noonan of Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. and John J. Tenn of Tenn And Tenn, P.A.
Which NH personal injury firm has the highest Avvo rating?
Tenn And Tenn, P.A. holds a 10/10 "superb" rating on Avvo, an established Martindale-Hubbell directory (trust 8/10). Nicholson LeTourneau, PLLC holds a 5.0 Avvo rating with 13 client reviews.
Can personal injury lawyers in New Hampshire buy their way onto Super Lawyers or Best Lawyers?
No. Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) uses a patented multiphase peer nomination process, and Best Lawyers relies on confidential peer voting with no paid inclusion. Both directories are considered the most trustworthy rankings (trust 9–10/10) for personal injury attorneys.