Car Accident Claims in Rhode Island

The driver of a vehicle in a crash that strikes, injures or kills a person, or damages an attended vehicle, must immediately — by the quickest means of communication available — notify a nearby local or state police office. No dollar threshold applies to this notice.

If a crash causes injury or death, or more than $1,000 in damage to the property of any one person (including the driver), the driver must send a written report to the Division of Motor Vehicles within 21 days, on the Division's forms. If the driver is physically unable and is not the owner, the owner must report within 21 days of learning of the crash. The Division can require supplemental reports.

A driver knowingly involved in a crash causing injury or death, or damage to an attended vehicle, must stop at or as close to the scene as possible and stay until they have given (on request) their name, address and vehicle registration number, shown their license, given reasonable help to anyone injured, and notified police. Knowingly leaving an injury crash: license loss of 1 to 5 years, plus up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine up to $5,000. Serious bodily injury (first offense): 1 to 10 years in prison, a $1,000–$5,000 fine and license revocation up to 2 years. Death (first offense): 2 to 15 years in prison, a $5,000–$10,000 fine and 3-year license revocation (higher for repeat offenses). Leaving a crash that damaged only an attended vehicle is a misdemeanor: $500–$1,000 fine, and/or up to 6 months' license suspension, and/or up to 6 months in jail.

A qualifying owner's liability policy must provide at least $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person, $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage, or a $75,000 combined single limit.

Pure comparative negligence. An injured person's own negligence, or the fact that the danger was open and obvious, does not bar recovery; damages are reduced in proportion to the injured person's share of negligence, even if it is greater than the defendant's.

Actions for injuries to the person must be filed within three years after the cause of action accrues. Claims for spoken words (slander) have a one-year deadline.

Rhode Island's limitation statutes do not list a specific deadline for property damage. Under the general rule, civil actions not otherwise specially provided for must be filed within ten years after the cause of action accrues.