Rhode Island car accident claims
Providence Car Accident Lawyer
DiLibero & Associates handles Providence car accident claims from 130 Dorrance Street. Rhode Island generally allows three years after a personal injury claim accrues under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b), and shared fault reduces damages under § 9-20-4. We review the collision evidence, insurance and deadlines. The first consultation is free.
What to do now
After a Rhode Island car accident, get medical care, notify the police, preserve photographs and witness details, and keep your insurance and treatment records together. R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-3 addresses information, assistance and police notification at the scene; § 31-26-6 separately addresses the written DMV report. Start with the checklist below.
- Call the police and ask for a report. Rhode Island law requires a driver in a crash with injury or vehicle damage to give their name, address, registration and license on request. The driver must also help anyone hurt and notify the police immediately (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-3).
- Photograph the scene, both cars, the other driver's license, plate and insurance card, and any skid marks or debris.
- Get the names and phone numbers of witnesses before they leave.
- See a doctor and keep every record, bill and work note.
- Tell your own insurer about the crash as your policy requires.
- Do not give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement, and do not sign a release, before you get advice.
Our guide to what to do after a car accident in Rhode Island walks through each step in more detail, including the reports and the first calls from insurers.
The Rhode Island deadline and fault rule
Rhode Island generally allows three years after a personal injury claim accrues to sue under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b). Shared fault reduces damages proportionately rather than barring recovery under § 9-20-4. Other notice requirements and exceptions may apply, so have the crash date, parties and any public-property involvement reviewed promptly.
Three years sounds like a long time. It is not. Insurers rarely settle serious claims in the first months, and a lawsuit needs records, witnesses and expert review before it is filed. Claims against a city or town can also carry separate notice rules that run sooner. An injury claim blamed on a defective highway or bridge must be presented to the town within 60 days (R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-15-9), and claims against a town or city are first presented to its council (§ 45-15-5).
Rhode Island uses pure comparative negligence. Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4, being partly at fault does not bar your claim. The fact finder reduces your damages in proportion to your share of the negligence. A driver found 30 percent at fault still recovers 70 percent of the proven damages. The same statute says an open and obvious danger does not bar recovery either.
Two reporting duties apply at and after the scene. At the scene, R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-3 requires every driver involved in a crash with injury or vehicle damage to give their name, address, registration and license on request. The driver must also render reasonable assistance to anyone hurt and notify the police immediately. After the scene, R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-6 requires a written report to the Division of Motor Vehicles within 21 days. That duty applies if anyone was injured or killed, or if any one person's property damage exceeded $1,000.
| Rule | What it says | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Filing deadline | Three years from accrual for injuries to the person | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b) |
| Shared fault | Damages reduced by your share of fault; no cutoff that bars the claim | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4 |
| Duties at the scene | Give name, address, registration and license; help the injured; notify police immediately | R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-3 |
| DMV report | Written report within 21 days if injury, death or property damage over $1,000 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-6 |
| Uninsured drivers | UM/UIM coverage provided at your bodily injury limits unless you lower it in writing | R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.1 |
Our article on disputed fault after a Rhode Island car accident lists the evidence that decides a shared-fault argument.
Compare the general rules with our Rhode Island injury claim deadline checker, then discuss the dates and policy documents with counsel.
Check the general filing deadline
This checker explains the general filing and notice periods described in the selected state's statutes, including Rhode Island section 9-1-14, Massachusetts chapter 260 section 2A and Connecticut section 52-584. It distinguishes injury, death and government claims. Entered dates illustrate only the stated rule; discovery, exceptions and the proper claim route still need individual review.
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This checker explains the general filing and notice periods described in the selected state's statutes, including Rhode Island section 9-1-14, Massachusetts chapter 260 section 2A and Connecticut section 52-584. It distinguishes injury, death and government claims. Entered dates illustrate only the stated rule; discovery, exceptions and the proper claim route still need individual review.
| General rule | Official statute |
|---|---|
| Personal-injury actions generally must be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues. This illustration uses the injury date; accrual and exceptions need review. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14 |
| Wrongful-death actions generally must be commenced within three years after death. If the wrongful act, neglect or default was not known at death, the statute measures three years from discovery or when reasonable diligence should have led to discovery. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-7-2 |
| For an injury from a covered highway, causeway or bridge defect, the town obliged to maintain it must receive notice of the time, place and cause within sixty days. A lawyer must confirm whether the defect and notice rules apply. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-15-9 |
| The covered road-defect action must be commenced within three years after the injury or damage. The notice obligation and presentment process are separate requirements. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-15-9 |
| Present a particular account of the claim and how it arose to the town or city council. If just and due satisfaction is not made by the treasurer within forty days after presentment, the statute permits an action against the treasurer. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-15-5 |
| Rhode Island and its political subdivisions are subject to tort liability in the manner described in this section, subject to the limitation period in section 9-1-25 and the other limits in the chapter. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-31-1 |
| Tort actions against the state or its political subdivisions generally must be instituted within three years after accrual. Special-act claims and the statutory exceptions require separate review. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-25 |
| For a person under eighteen when a cause of action accrues, the period may run from the eighteenth birthday; ask a lawyer to confirm. This tool does not calculate a date or assume this rule postpones any notice requirement. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-19 |
| Except as otherwise provided, personal-injury tort actions generally must be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues. This illustration uses the injury date; a lawyer must confirm accrual. | Mass. Gen. Laws c. 260, § 2A |
| The wrongful-death action generally must be commenced within three years from death, or from when the executor or administrator knew or with reasonable diligence should have known the factual basis for the cause of action, subject to the further statutory extensions. | Mass. Gen. Laws c. 229, § 2 |
| A claim under this chapter generally must first be presented in writing to the public employer's executive officer within two years after the cause of action arose. The statute specifies additional recipients and exceptions; a lawyer should confirm the proper recipient. | Mass. Gen. Laws c. 258, § 4 |
| Suit generally follows written final denial sent by certified or registered mail. Failure to deny in writing within six months after presentment is deemed a final denial. The statute also addresses failure to reach final arbitration, settlement or compromise and specified exceptions. | Mass. Gen. Laws c. 258, § 4 |
| The chapter generally requires a civil action within three years after the cause of action accrued, with the statutory exceptions. Presentment and the action period are separate requirements. | Mass. Gen. Laws c. 258, § 4 |
| The Massachusetts disability provision addresses a minor when a right to bring an action first accrues. Its interaction with the claim type and government notice requirements needs individual review; no date is calculated here. | Mass. Gen. Laws c. 260, § 7 |
| For negligence, reckless or wanton injury described in this section, the action generally must be brought within two years after the injury is first sustained or discovered, or should with reasonable care have been discovered. This tool does not determine that date and calculates no date for this rule. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 |
| The section also generally sets an outside period of three years from the act or omission complained of, subject to its terms and exceptions. This outside period does not replace the earlier discovery rule. An illustration uses only the separate act or omission date entered. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 |
| A Connecticut wrongful-death action generally must be brought within two years from death. A separate outside period runs from the act or omission, and the statute contains a specified homicide exception. Each requirement needs review. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555 |
| The wrongful-death statute generally also sets an outside period of five years from the act or omission complained of, subject to its specified homicide exception. This illustration uses only the separate act or omission date entered, never the death date. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555 |
| A defective-road or bridge claim under this section generally requires written notice within ninety days of injury, describing the injury, its cause, and the time and place. The statute identifies a town selectman or clerk, a city or borough clerk, or a corporation secretary or treasurer as recipients. Responsibility and exceptions need review. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 13a-149 |
| A defective-road or bridge action under this section generally must be brought within two years from injury. Written notice is a separate requirement and has its own shorter period. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 13a-149 |
| For a covered defect in a state-maintained highway, bridge or sidewalk, this section generally requires written notice to the Commissioner of Transportation within ninety days of injury, including the injury and a general description of its cause, time and place. A lawyer should confirm responsibility and the notice. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 13a-144 |
| A state-highway defect action under this section generally must be brought within two years from injury. The separate notice requirement still needs review. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 13a-144 |
| For claims governed by the Claims Commissioner chapter, the statute generally requires presentation within one year after accrual, using its injury-sustained and discovery language. Exceptions and the proper claim route need review. This tool does not determine accrual or calculate a date. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 4-148 |
| The Claims Commissioner provision generally also limits presentation to three years from the act or event complained of, with specified exceptions and a special-act process. No act or event date is inferred here and no date is calculated. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 4-148 |
| This tool calculates no Connecticut dates for an injured person under eighteen. Ask a lawyer to identify the governing claim, the relevant parties and any age-related provision; this tool assumes no postponement of any period. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 |
- Use year-month-day if your browser shows a text field. For a rule measured from accrual, an injury date is only an illustration; a lawyer must confirm the starting date. Connecticut discovery and act dates are not inferred.
- The general period for this rule appears to have run. Exceptions exist. Talk to a lawyer before deciding anything.
- A general period shown here is fewer than 120 days away. Call to discuss the dates promptly.
- This example uses February 28 for a February 29 anniversary. Ask a lawyer to confirm the exact date.
- No dates are calculated when the injured person was under 18. Do not assume an age-related rule postpones a government notice or a different claim.
- This date is more than ten years before today. Special accrual and exception questions need individual review.
- Optional. This is a separate date; leave it blank if it is not known. Do not substitute the injury or death date.
- Calculated from the separate act or omission date entered. The exact starting date needs review.
- Calculated from the injury or death date entered, subject to the stated rule and its exceptions.
- This Connecticut option summarizes the negligence, reckless or wanton injury rule in section 52-584. It does not select a period for intentional acts, strict-liability claims, products claims or medical malpractice. A lawyer must identify the governing claim and any earlier discovery date.
- No Connecticut dates are calculated when the injured person was under 18. Do not assume childhood postpones a claim period or a government notice requirement.
- General information based on the statute text, not legal advice. Your deadline depends on facts we would need to review.
- Talk with an injury lawyer about your dates and insurance questions.
- The first consultation is free.
- General information based on the statute text, not legal advice. Your deadline depends on facts we would need to review.
- Talk with an injury lawyer about your dates and insurance questions.
- The first consultation is free.
General information based on the statute text, not legal advice.
If the crash happened in Massachusetts
For a Massachusetts crash, review that state's three-year tort period under M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A, comparative negligence rule under c. 231, § 85, and required personal injury protection under c. 90, § 34M. Lisa DiLibero, Esq., admitted in Massachusetts, handles the firm's Massachusetts matters. Coverage and reporting rules also need review.
- Deadline. Massachusetts also allows three years from accrual for a tort claim (M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A).
- Fault. Massachusetts uses modified comparative negligence (M.G.L. c. 231, § 85). You recover nothing if your negligence is greater than the combined negligence of everyone you sue. Below that line, your damages are reduced in proportion to your share. The statute presumes you were exercising due care, and the other side carries the burden of proving otherwise.
- No-fault benefits. Every Massachusetts auto policy carries personal injury protection, or PIP (M.G.L. c. 90, § 34M). PIP pays at least $8,000 per person for medical expenses incurred within two years of the crash, lost wages and replacement services, regardless of fault (M.G.L. c. 90, § 34A). If you have health insurance, PIP pays only the first $2,000 of medical bills that your health plan would otherwise cover, and the health plan picks up from there (M.G.L. c. 90, § 34A).
- The pain and suffering threshold. In a Massachusetts motor vehicle tort case you can recover for pain and suffering only if reasonable and necessary medical expenses exceed $2,000 (M.G.L. c. 231, § 6D). The threshold does not apply if the injury caused death, loss of a body member, permanent and serious disfigurement, a qualifying loss of sight or hearing, or a fracture.
- Crash report. A written report to the Registrar is due within five days of a crash with injury or death, or more than $1,000 in damage to any one vehicle or other property (M.G.L. c. 90, § 26). A copy goes to the local police.
Massachusetts also requires uninsured motorist coverage on every policy (M.G.L. c. 175, § 113L). A claim against a Massachusetts city, town or state agency must first be presented in writing within two years (M.G.L. c. 258, § 4). Our guide to shared fault in Rhode Island and Massachusetts car accidents compares the two fault rules with worked examples.
What a car accident claim can include
A car accident claim may include medical expenses, lost income, future care, reduced earning ability and pain and suffering, together with supported vehicle losses. The records determine which categories apply and how they are documented. Repair costs and diminished value need different evidence from an injury claim; the six categories below separate those records.
- Medical bills. Past and future treatment: emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, specialists and medication.
- Lost wages. Income you could not earn while injured, including self-employment income and time off for medical appointments.
- Future care and earnings. Treatment you will still need, and income you may lose if the injury affects how you can work going forward.
- Pain and suffering. The physical pain and emotional distress the injury caused, and how it changed your daily life.
- Vehicle repair. The cost to repair your car, or its value if it is a total loss, and the use of a car while yours is out of service.
- Vehicle diminished value. The resale value your car loses because the accident stays on its history, even after a good repair.
Diminished value is a separate claim with its own evidence. Read how Rhode Island diminished value claims work, or start with our answer to whether you can claim diminished value in Rhode Island. We pursue the injury claim and the vehicle-value claim from the same crash together.
What do I say to the adjuster?
Give accurate basic information, ask for questions and offers in writing, and have a lawyer review any recorded-statement request, medical authorization or release before responding to the other driver's insurer. Your own policy may require reporting and cooperation. Check those duties before declining a request from your own insurance company.
| The adjuster asks | A simple answer | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Can we record your statement? | No, thank you. Please send any questions to my attorney. | You are not required to give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement. |
| How are you feeling? | I'm getting treatment. | Saying “I'm fine” to be polite can be used later to argue you were not hurt. |
| What happened? Whose fault was it? | I'd rather not discuss the accident. My attorney will be in touch. | Fault is decided from the evidence, not from a phone call. |
| Can you sign this medical authorization? | I'll have my attorney review it first. | A broad authorization can open your whole medical history, not just this injury. |
| We can pay you today if you sign a release. | I'm not ready to settle. Please put any offer in writing. | A release usually ends the claim for good, even if your injury turns out to be worse. |
| Do you have a lawyer? | Yes. Here is their name and number. | Once you have counsel, the adjuster should deal with your attorney. |
This guidance is about the other driver's insurer. Your own policy may require you to report the crash and cooperate with your own insurance company. Read your policy, or ask us, before you decline a request from your own carrier.
A quick settlement offer often arrives before you know how badly you were hurt. Soft tissue injuries and concussions can take weeks to show their full effect. A signed release usually ends the claim for good, so do not sign one until you know the full extent of your injuries.
Kinds of crashes we handle
DiLibero & Associates handles rear-end, intersection, T-bone, sideswipe and distracted-driving crashes in Providence and elsewhere in Rhode Island. Each requires evidence about the collision, the injuries and the insurance involved. Truck, rideshare, pedestrian and uninsured-driver claims raise additional questions, so the links below explain those situations and the records to preserve.
Rideshare crashes. An Uber or Lyft crash turns on the driver's app status. Rhode Island requires at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident in liability coverage while a driver is logged in and waiting for a request. During a prearranged ride the minimum rises to $1,500,000 (R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14.2-14). Our Rhode Island and Massachusetts rideshare accident lawyer page explains each tier and the trip records to save.
Truck and commercial vehicle crashes. A crash with a tractor-trailer, delivery van or fleet vehicle can involve the driver, the motor carrier, the vehicle owner and the company that loaded the cargo. Federal trucking rules and commercial policies come into play, and electronic logs and dashcam data can be overwritten quickly. Our Rhode Island truck accident claims page covers the evidence to preserve.
Pedestrian and bicycle crashes. Where no traffic signal is operating, a Rhode Island driver must yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-18-3). The same section says a pedestrian may not leave the curb suddenly into the path of a vehicle that cannot stop. A pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk must yield to vehicles (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-18-5). Insurers lean on those rules to argue shared fault. Our Rhode Island pedestrian and bicycle accident claims page explains how those claims are built.
Uninsured and hit-and-run drivers. When the at-fault driver has no insurance, or not enough, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may apply. Rhode Island insurers must provide UM/UIM coverage equal to your bodily injury limits, and you can lower it only in writing (R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.1). The statute treats an underinsured driver the same as an uninsured one, and it protects your underinsured claim when you release the other driver with your own insurer's consent. Our Rhode Island uninsured and underinsured motorist claims page explains how to present that claim to your own insurer.
Injured passengers. A passenger rarely bears any fault. If you were hurt as a passenger, tell us which vehicle you rode in and every insurer that has contacted you. More than one policy may apply.
Compare the general rules with our Rhode Island accident insurance coverage finder, then discuss the dates and policy documents with counsel.
Which insurance should you ask about?
This finder identifies insurance policies and records to ask about after an incident in Rhode Island, Massachusetts or Connecticut. It uses each state's motor-vehicle insurance statutes, including Rhode Island section 27-7-2.1 and Connecticut section 38a-336. A location alone does not determine coverage: policy wording, insured status, elections and circumstances still need review.
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The interactive controls are unavailable. The full rules and sources remain below.
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This finder identifies insurance policies and records to ask about after an incident in Rhode Island, Massachusetts or Connecticut. It uses each state's motor-vehicle insurance statutes, including Rhode Island section 27-7-2.1 and Connecticut section 38a-336. A location alone does not determine coverage: policy wording, insured status, elections and circumstances still need review.
| Situation | The responsible driver's liability policy | Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage | Rideshare insurance and app status | Medical payments coverage | Homeowner, renter or other property liability coverage | Health coverage and repayment questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car or truck crash as a driver | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about |
| Car or truck crash as a passenger | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about |
| Motorcycle crash | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about |
| Rideshare crash | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about |
| Hit by a vehicle while walking or cycling | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about |
| Hit and run | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about |
| Dog bite | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about |
| Fall on someone's property | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about |
| Situation | The responsible driver's liability policy | Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage | Rideshare insurance and app status | Massachusetts PIP | Massachusetts motor-vehicle tort threshold | Homeowner, renter or other property liability coverage | Health coverage and repayment questions | Motorcycle coverage needs an individual policy review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car or truck crash as a driver | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Not listed for this situation |
| Car or truck crash as a passenger | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Not listed for this situation |
| Motorcycle crash | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about |
| Rideshare crash | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Not listed for this situation |
| Hit by a vehicle while walking or cycling | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Not listed for this situation |
| Hit and run | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Not listed for this situation |
| Dog bite | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation |
| Fall on someone's property | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation |
| Situation | Homeowner, renter or other property liability coverage | Health coverage and repayment questions | The responsible driver's liability policy | Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage | Rideshare insurance and app status | Optional medical payments coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car or truck crash as a driver | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about |
| Car or truck crash as a passenger | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about |
| Motorcycle crash | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about |
| Rideshare crash | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about |
| Hit by a vehicle while walking or cycling | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about |
| Hit and run | Not listed for this situation | Ask about | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Ask about |
| Dog bite | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation |
| Fall on someone's property | Ask about | Ask about | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation | Not listed for this situation |
- The responsible driver's liability policy: Ask about the at-fault driver's liability coverage. This section defines Rhode Island motor-vehicle liability policies and their statutory minimum coverage requirements. R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-47-2
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage: Ask about applicable uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for an uninsured driver, a hit-and-run driver or insufficient liability insurance. Coverage selections, insured status and policy terms require review. R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.1
- Rideshare insurance and app status: Ask for the driver's and company's policies and app-status records. Rhode Island requires different primary coverage while logged on and waiting and while providing a prearranged ride; the statute also addresses uninsured and underinsured coverage. R.I. Gen. Laws § 39-14.2-14
- The responsible driver's liability policy: Ask about the responsible driver's liability policy and the relevant compulsory and optional coverages. The statute defines the policy; insured status and exclusions need review. Mass. Gen. Laws c. 90, § 34A
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage: Ask about applicable uninsured motorist coverage for an uninsured or hit-and-run driver and any elected underinsured coverage. The statute has policy-selection and coverage limitations that differ from Rhode Island. Mass. Gen. Laws c. 175, § 113L
- Rideshare insurance and app status: Ask for the driver's and company's policies and app-status records. Massachusetts distinguishes waiting for a request from a prearranged ride, addresses PIP and uninsured coverage, and allows specified personal-policy exclusions. Mass. Gen. Laws c. 175, § 228
- Medical payments coverage: Ask about medical payments coverage for people injured regardless of fault. The named insured may reject it in writing, and the statute addresses the effect of an earlier rejection on later policies. R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.5
- Massachusetts PIP: Ask whether Massachusetts personal injury protection applies to the vehicle, occupants or a pedestrian, including a cyclist. Covered expenses, insured status and coordination with other benefits need review. Mass. Gen. Laws c. 90, § 34A Mass. Gen. Laws c. 90, § 34M
- Massachusetts motor-vehicle tort threshold: Massachusetts limits motor-vehicle pain-and-suffering tort recovery unless the statutory expense threshold or a listed injury exception is met. Ask a lawyer to review the statute and the facts; this tool makes no eligibility decision. Mass. Gen. Laws c. 231, § 6D
- Homeowner, renter or other property liability coverage: Ask whether the owner or keeper has homeowner, renter, commercial or other liability coverage and whether the incident falls within its terms.
- Health coverage and repayment questions: Ask your health plan what it pays and whether it may seek repayment from a recovery.
- Motorcycle coverage needs an individual policy review: Ask the insurer or a lawyer to review motorcycle medical coverage and PIP eligibility rather than assuming ordinary occupant PIP applies. Mass. Gen. Laws c. 90, § 34A
- The responsible driver's liability policy: Ask about the responsible driver's liability policy. Section 38a-335 describes applicable liability-policy coverage requirements and refers to the financial-responsibility provisions of section 14-112; policy terms and insured status need review. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-335 Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-112
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage: Ask about applicable Connecticut uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for an uninsured driver, a hit-and-run driver or insufficient liability insurance. Coverage selections, insured status and statutory conditions need review. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-336
- Rideshare insurance and app status: Ask for the driver's and company's policies and app-status records. Connecticut distinguishes the time logged on and available for requests from a prearranged ride and states the insurance requirements for those periods. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 13b-120
- Optional medical payments coverage: Ask whether optional medical payments coverage was purchased and whether the policy covers the incident. No statutory entitlement is stated here.
Documents to request
- Car or truck crash as a driver: Declarations pages, full policies, endorsements and any signed coverage rejections.; The police crash report and any incident number.; Every insurer name, claim number and adjuster contact.
- Car or truck crash as a passenger: Declarations pages, full policies, endorsements and any signed coverage rejections.; The police crash report and any incident number.; Every insurer name, claim number and adjuster contact.
- Motorcycle crash: Declarations pages, full policies, endorsements and any signed coverage rejections.; The police crash report and any incident number.; Every insurer name, claim number and adjuster contact.
- Rideshare crash: Declarations pages, full policies, endorsements and any signed coverage rejections.; The police crash report and any incident number.; Every insurer name, claim number and adjuster contact.; The trip record and app-status records at the time of the crash.
- Hit by a vehicle while walking or cycling: Declarations pages, full policies, endorsements and any signed coverage rejections.; The police crash report and any incident number.; Every insurer name, claim number and adjuster contact.
- Hit and run: Declarations pages, full policies, endorsements and any signed coverage rejections.; The police crash report and any incident number.; Every insurer name, claim number and adjuster contact.
- Dog bite: Declarations pages, full policies, endorsements and any signed coverage rejections.; The owner or keeper contact, incident report and relevant liability policy.; Every insurer name, claim number and adjuster contact.
- Fall on someone's property: Declarations pages, full policies, endorsements and any signed coverage rejections.; The property incident report, owner or manager contact and relevant liability policy.; Every insurer name, claim number and adjuster contact.
- Ask which policies apply to you and your household. A crash location alone does not decide which state issued the policy.
- A question to ask about the policy; no statutory entitlement is stated.
- The app was off. Ask about the ordinary vehicle policy; do not assume the logged-on rideshare tiers apply.
- The app was on and waiting. Ask about the statutory waiting-period coverage and the policies that supply it.
- A request was accepted. Ask the company for the trip and app records to establish whether the prearranged-ride period applies.
- A passenger was in the car. Ask for the prearranged-ride coverage and trip records.
- Establish app status first by asking for the trip and app-status records; do not assume a coverage tier.
- The app was off. Ask about the ordinary vehicle policy; do not assume the logged-on rideshare tiers apply.
- The app was on and waiting. Ask about the statutory waiting-period coverage and the policies that supply it.
- A request was accepted. Ask the company for the trip and app records to establish whether the prearranged-ride period applies.
- A passenger was in the car. Ask for the prearranged-ride coverage and trip records.
- Establish app status first by asking for the trip and app-status records; do not assume a coverage tier.
- The app was off. Ask about the ordinary vehicle policy; do not assume the logged-on rideshare tiers apply.
- The app was on and waiting. Ask about the statutory waiting-period coverage and the policies that supply it.
- A request was accepted. Ask the company for the trip and app records to establish whether the prearranged-ride period applies.
- A passenger was in the car. Ask for the prearranged-ride coverage and trip records.
- Establish app status first by asking for the trip and app-status records; do not assume a coverage tier.
- General information based on the statute text, not legal advice. Your deadline depends on facts we would need to review.
- Talk with an injury lawyer about your dates and insurance questions.
- The first consultation is free.
General information based on the statute text, not legal advice.
Which court hears a Providence car accident case
The amount in dispute helps determine whether a Providence car accident lawsuit belongs in District Court or Superior Court under R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-8-3. Providence County court guides identify the Garrahy and Licht Judicial Complexes. Claims are often presented to insurers first; the jurisdiction rules below apply when suit is needed.
- District Court. The Rhode Island District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions at law where the amount in controversy is $5,000 or less (R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-8-3(a)). It shares jurisdiction with the Superior Court for claims between $5,000 and $10,000, and a defendant in that range can have the case removed to Superior Court (R.I. Gen. Laws § 8-8-3(c)). Providence County cases are heard at the Garrahy Judicial Complex at 1 Dorrance Plaza.
- Superior Court. Injury claims above those limits are filed in Superior Court. For Providence County that is the Licht Judicial Complex at 250 Benefit Street.
Our court guides explain the address, parking, security and where to find the clerk's office for each building. Crashes outside Providence County are handled at the courthouse for that county, and our full list of court guides covers each one.
How DiLibero & Associates reviews a car accident claim
DiLibero & Associates begins a car accident inquiry with a conflicts check, then reviews the collision, the available records and any deadlines. We identify evidence to preserve, document the losses and address insurer communications as the matter develops. You do not need a complete file to call. The first consultation is free.
- We answer. Call 401-621-9700 or request a consultation online. We take your details and check for conflicts of interest before we discuss the crash.
- We listen. An attorney reviews what happened, the documents you have and any deadlines that may apply, then talks you through your options. Bring the police report number, your insurance information and a list of the doctors treating you.
- We preserve the evidence. Police reports, photographs, witness information, dashcam footage and traffic camera records disappear fast. We send preservation requests early.
- We build the record. Medical records, treatment costs, lost wages and the effect on your daily life are documented and presented so each part of the claim is supported.
- We deal with the insurers. We coordinate claim communications so you can focus on treatment. If the insurer will not resolve the claim on fair terms, we prepare the case for court.
A short chronology makes the first consultation more useful. List the collision date and location, the first medical visit, later providers, missed work and each insurer contact. For a Providence crash, give the street or intersection and the responding police department. For a crash that touched both states, tell us where the collision happened and the state shown on each policy. Our checklist of records to bring for a Rhode Island or Massachusetts car accident claim brings those pieces together. Ready to talk? Request a free consultation or call 401-621-9700.
Frequently Asked Questions
Three years from the date the claim accrues, under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b). For most crashes that is three years from the accident. Some claims, including those against a city, town or state agency, can involve separate notice requirements, so have the deadline checked early.
No. Rhode Island is a fault state. The driver who caused the crash, and that driver's liability insurer, are responsible for the injuries, and your damages are reduced only by your own share of fault (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4). Massachusetts is different. It requires no-fault personal injury protection benefits of at least $8,000 on every auto policy (M.G.L. c. 90, §§ 34A and 34M).
In Rhode Island you can still recover. Your damages are reduced in proportion to your share of the negligence, with no cutoff that bars the claim (R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4). In Massachusetts you recover nothing if your share is greater than the combined share of everyone you sue, and a reduced amount below that line (M.G.L. c. 231, § 85).
No honest answer exists at the first call. The value depends on the medical evidence, how long treatment lasts, whether you lost work, how the injury changed your daily life, the fault evidence and the insurance available. We review each of those categories before we put a number on a claim, and we do not quote figures from other cases.
You can confirm basic facts, but you are not required to give a recorded statement, and you should not sign a medical authorization or a release before getting advice. Tell the adjuster your attorney will be in touch. Your own insurer is different. Your policy may require you to report the crash and cooperate with your own company.
Not always, but it is worth a free call if you sought any medical treatment. Injuries that feel minor at first can develop over weeks. An attorney can also check whether an offer accounts for your vehicle's diminished value and whether a release would close the claim too early.
Next step
Talk to a Providence car accident lawyer
The first consultation is free, and you do not need a complete file to make the call. Call 401-621-9700 or request a consultation online and tell us where the crash happened and who has contacted you.