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Rhode Island accident law

Rhode Island car accident settlement calculator

Rhode Island is an at-fault state that uses pure comparative negligence. You generally have 3 years to file an injury lawsuit. The calculator below applies these rules to your numbers.

Checked against official sources November 5, 20264 cited sourcesHow we calculate

Injury lawsuit deadline3 yearsR.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-14(b); 9-1-13(a); 10-7-2(c); 45-15-5
Fault rulePure comparativeR.I. Gen. Laws 9-20-4
Insurance systemAt-faultNo PIP requirement
Minimum liability25/50/25thousands of dollars

Rhode Island settlement estimate

How serious is the injury?
Moderate: months of treatment, full recovery. Typical multiplier 2 to 3.
Applied to your medical bills. Set by the injury above, adjust if you like.
Leave at 0 if unknown.
Lawyer fee, costs and liens
Estimated amount to you
$46,500

Likely range depends on the injury

Economic damages
$16,500
Pain and suffering
$30,000
Injury claim value
$46,500
After your share of fault
$46,500
Attorney fee and costs
$0
Liens repaid
$0

Rhode Island: Pure comparative negligence, at-fault (tort) state.

An estimate, not legal advice. Deadlines can be shorter in some situations, for example for claims against a city or state agency. Talk to a Rhode Island attorney about your case.

Rhode Island filing deadlines

ClaimDeadline
Personal injury lawsuit3 years
Vehicle and property damage10 years
Wrongful death3 years
R.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-14(b); 9-1-13(a); 10-7-2(c); 45-15-5. Counted from the accident date in most cases.

Property damage has no specific period, so the general 10-year catch-all applies: 9-1-13(a) "all civil actions shall be commenced within ten (10) years next after the cause of action shall accrue".

If you were partly at fault

Rhode Island follows pure comparative negligence. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can recover something even if you were mostly to blame.

  • With $100,000 in damages and 30% of the fault, you would recover $70,000.
  • With 55% of the fault, you would recover $45,000.

Source: R.I. Gen. Laws 9-20-4. Compare all states in the comparative negligence table.

At-fault (tort) state

In Rhode Island the driver who caused the crash is responsible for the damage, so you claim against their liability insurance or sue them. Your own medical payments or health coverage can pay bills while the claim is pending.

Minimum car insurance in Rhode Island

$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is optional or can be rejected in writing.

Many drivers carry only the minimum, so the bodily injury limit is often the most the at-fault driver's insurer will pay one person. Or $75,000 combined single limit. Section history ends with P.L. 2014 amendments. UM must be provided equal to bodily injury limits, but a named insured buying only the compulsory minimum may reduce UM to zero after signing an advisory notice, and UM property damage may be rejected in writing (27-7-2.1(a)-(b),. Hence umRequired false.

Damage caps

Rhode Island does not cap pain and suffering in ordinary car accident cases.

Dog bite law

Mixed rule.

Source: R.I. Gen. Laws 4-13-16. Estimate a claim with the dog bite calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Rhode Island?

3 years from the accident for an injury lawsuit and 10 years for vehicle damage (R.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-14(b); 9-1-13(a); 10-7-2(c); 45-15-5). Insurance claims should be reported much sooner, and claims against a government agency can have shorter notice deadlines.

Is Rhode Island a no-fault state?

No. Rhode Island is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries and damage.

What happens if I was partly at fault in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island follows pure comparative negligence (R.I. Gen. Laws 9-20-4). Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can recover something even if you were mostly to blame.

What is the minimum car insurance in Rhode Island?

$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25).

Does Rhode Island cap pain and suffering damages?

Not in ordinary car accident cases.

Sources

Checked against official Rhode Island sources November 5, 2026.

  1. Rhode Island statute of limitations: R.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-14(b); 9-1-13(a); 10-7-2(c); 45-15-5
  2. Rhode Island comparative fault: R.I. Gen. Laws 9-20-4
  3. Rhode Island insurance system: R.I. Gen. Laws 31-47-2 (definition of proof of financial security / owner's policy)
  4. Rhode Island dog bite liability: R.I. Gen. Laws 4-13-16