Dana Smith
Top rated Workers' Compensation attorney in Manchester, New Hampshire
Ward Law Group, PLLC
Practice areas: Workers' Compensation
Licensed in New Hampshire since: 2013
Education: University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law
Selected to Rising Stars: 2021 - 2025 Call today:
603-232-5220
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Free Consultation Ward Law Group, PLLC
28 Webster StreetManchester, NH 03104 Visit website
Attorney Dana K. Smith is a Partner at Ward Law Group, PLLC and concentrates his practice solely on representing injured employees in the area of Workers’ Compensation law.
Attorney Smith graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2009, receiving a dual bachelor’s degree in Justice Studies and English/Journalism. He then went on to law school at the University of New Hampshire School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctorate in 2013. While in law school, Attorney Smith interned as a private investigator and Rule 36 Attorney with the New Hampshire Public Defender, mediated small claims cases at the Concord District Court, and did a full-time legal residency at Normand Higham in Manchester.
He is an active member of the New Hampshire Bar Association, served two consecutive terms as the Chairman of the New Hampshire Workers’ Compensation Section, held the first ever “Young Professional” seat with USA500 Club’s New Hampshire division, and previously served on the Board of Trustees for Kreiva Academy. He regularly appears in Concord before the New Hampshire Department of Labor and the Compensation Appeals Board in connection with Workers’ Compensation matters. He has also worked on a number of cases at the New Hampshire Supreme Court.
Throughout his career, Smith has earned numerous distinctions, including five consecutive selections (2021–2025) by Super Lawyers Magazine as one of New Hampshire’s Rising Stars. He’s also been recognized for his work in Workers’ Compensation, being named a Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Attorney by the National Trial Lawyers Association for eight straight years and a Top 25 Workers’ Compensation Attorney in both 2024 and 2025. Dana maintains a 10.0 attorney rating on both Avvo and Justia, both supported by consistent five‑star feedback from satisfied clients, and was awarded the Client Choice Award by Avvo in 2025.
Schedule an appointment with Dana at: https://calendly.com/wardlawnh/wcintake
Practice areas
Workers' Compensation: Claimant- 100% Workers' Compensation: Claimant
First Admitted: 2013, New Hampshire
Professional Webpage: https://wardlawnh.com/attorneys/dana-k-smith/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Co-Chaired the Workers' Compensation 101 CLE (03/14/25)https://nhbar.inreachce.com/Details/Information/cebfc2ee-6820-4fce-8839-b3b3f956224c , 2025
- Vice-Chair, Workers' Compensation Section of NH Bar Association (June 2025 - June 2026), 2025
- Clerk, New Hampshire Bar Association Workers' Compensation Section (June 2024 to June 2025), 2024
- New Hampshire Association of Justice, 2024
- Chairman, Workers' Compensation Section of NH Bar Association (2nd Term)(June 2023 to June 2024), 2023
- Chairman, Workers' Compensation Section of NH Bar Association (June 2022 to June 2023), 2022
- Member, New Hampshire Bar Association, Lawyer Referral Service, 2013
- Member, New Hampshire Bar Association, 2013
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- $115,000.00 for an injured machinist. , 2025
- $100,000.00 for an injured nurse., 2025
- $150,000.00 for an injured crane operator. , 2025
- $100,000.00 for an injured Amazon worker. , 2025
- $115,000.00 for an injured veteran. , 2025
- New Hampshire Supreme Court accepted my appeal (administrative appeals are discretionary) for a worker suffering mental health injuries as a result of a hostile work environment created by his employer. , 2025
- Wrote Brief for Appeal of Estate of Matthew Kelley (N.H. Supreme Court) - Awaiting decision from Oral Arguments, 2025
- Pre-approval for knee replacement granted by the Compensation Appeals Board for nurse who was injured in 2011 after a slip and fall in the hospital parking lot., 2025
- $80,000.00 (the cap for the city) plus $53,000.00 in a permanent impairment award for a teacher, 2025
- $130,000.00 for a firefighter, 2025
- $145,000.00 for a worker who suffered a head injury from a pole at work. , 2025
- Represented the husband/estate of a woman who passed away from a surgery that was contested as work related. Prevailed on two separate hearings, with the Department of Labor and Compensation Appeals Board finding the surgery work related, that surgery caused her death, and awarded the husband death benefits (including ongoing weekly benefit checks). From there, the client expressed a desire to resolve the workers' compensation portion of the claim so there was some money left to his kids. Was able to successfully negotiate a settlement of the workers' compensation portion of his claim in the amount of $500,000.00. , 2024
- $150,000.00 for a food and beverage director who was injured on a slip and fall accident. The matter was appealed to the New Hampshire Supreme Court and settled prior to briefs. , 2024
- $100,000.00 for a warehouse worker who suffered two back injuries and was being underpaid by workers' comp., 2024
- $100,000.00 for a woman with a back injury while working at a retailer. , 2024
- $100,000.00 settlement for woman with bilateral shoulder and bicep issues plus payment of medical who was injured at work and was being underpaid by the insurance carrier. , 2024
- $100,000.00 for a nurse with a shoulder injury , 2025
- $115,000.00 for a man injured while changing the printer at work. , 2024
- $125,000.00 and payment of all medical treatment for a man with two knee replacement surgeries. , 2024
- $100,000.00 and full payment of all medical bills for a woman with a failed back surgery that was denied by workers' compensation. , 2024
- Represented an injured worker who had never been paid a dollar by the workers compensation carrier, despite the claim being accepted and him being out of work for nearly two years. Was able to get him $139,019.00 in retroactive indemnity benefits., 2024
- Wrote the New Hampshire Supreme Court brief for the Robinson v. 1 Bouchard Realty Case (2024 N.H. 59). We were able to get a favorable ruling from the New Hampshire Supreme Court for an injured worker (Robinson), which reversed the Superior Court's decision and allowed him to proceed on his third party claim., 2024
Videos
- Alimony looks at the income disparity between the 2 parties involved. This video details the percentage considered, the time length considered, and the pros and cons of alimony., How Is Alimony Calculated in 2019, 2019
- When writing your lease agreement, it is wise to review the lease to ensure that it applies to your specific property. If you have questions, contact an attorney to review your existing lease and review your options., How Can Landlords Protect Themselves, 2019
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Justice of the Peace (active), 2025
Pro bono / Community Service
- Lawline for New Hampshire Bar Association, 2025
- Manchester Hooksett North Little League - Head Coach Farm - Summer Baseball), 2025
- Manchester Hooksett North Little League - Head Coach (Farm - Fall Ball), 2025
- Lawline for the NH Bar Association, 2023
- Board of Trustees for the Kreiva Academy Public Charter School
Educational Background
- University of New Hampshire, receiving dual bachelor’s degrees in Justice Studies and English/Journalism, 2005-2009
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- I wrote an article for the New Hampshire Bar Newspaper about mental health cases in workers' compensation. , Author, How Dodier and Pelmac Help Reshape Work-Related Mental Health Injuries, New Hampshire Bar News, Workers' Compensation, 2024
- August 2022 Article for the NH Bar News., Author, Workers’ Compensation Practice Can Be More Like “Good Will Hunting” Than “A Few Good Men”, New Hampshire Bar Association, Workers Compensation,, 2022
Honors
- Top 25 Workers' Compensation Trial Attorney, Workers' Compensation - Top 25, The National Trial Lawyers, 2025
- Client's Choice Award, AVVO, 2025
- Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff's Attorney, The National Trial Lawyers, 2025
- New England Rising Star 2025, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2025
- New England Rising Star 2024, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2024
- Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff's Attorney, The National Trial Lawyers, 2024
- New England Rising Star 2023, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2023
- Top 25 Workers' Compensation Attorney, Workers' Compensation - Top 25, The National Trial Lawyers Association, 2023
- Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff's Attorney, Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers Association, 2023
- New England Rising Star 2022, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2022
- Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff's Attorney, Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers Association, 2022
- New England Rising Star 2021, Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2021
- Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff's Attorney, Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers Association, 2021
- Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff's Attorney, Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers Association, 2020
- Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff's Attorney, Top 40 Under 40, The National Trial Lawyers Association, 2019
Awards
Avvo Client's Choice Award: This award is granted to attorneys with at least 5 reviews with 4+ stars in a given year on Avvo.com
Industry Groups
- Employees
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Attorney Smith was recently promoted to Partner. He is hard working and always puts his clients first.”
“Dana is one of NH's top worker's comp attorneys. He is presently one of the only attorneys I will send these cases to because the quality of his work is unmatched.”
“Exceptional lawyer in Workers' Compensation”
“Dana is becoming one of NH's top worker's compensation attorneys!”
“Excellent attorney, particularly in Workers’ Compensation.”
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2021 - 2025
