Car accident injury claims in Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, an injury claim runs through the at-fault driver's insurer — and how much you can recover turns on the state's fault rule, coverage minimums, and a filing deadline that's easy to miss. Here's what shapes an injury claim in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island at a glance
- Fault rule
- Pure comparative fault
- No-fault state?
- No
- Minimum liability coverage
- 25/50/25 (R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.1; financial-responsibility framework Title 31 ch. 32 § 31-32-2 et seq.)
- Time limit for an injury claim
- 3 years
You can recover even if you were mostly at fault — your award is reduced by your share of fault.
This is an at-fault (“tort”) state — the at-fault driver's insurer is responsible for injury damages.
Generally measured from the date of the accident.
How fault works in Rhode Island
R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-20-4 establishes PURE comparative fault: a plaintiff's contributory negligence does not bar recovery but reduces damages by the plaintiff's percentage of fault. A plaintiff at 99% fault recovers 1%; there is no fault-percentage bar. RI extends the pure-comparative cluster to 14 states.
Paying for injuries in Rhode Island
RI is an AT-FAULT (tort) state with no statutory PIP. R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.1 mandates 25/50/25 liability minimums; MedPay is optional. Recovery routes through the at-fault party's BI, UM/UIM, and the claimant's health insurer.
How Moe handles injury claims in Rhode Island
Knowing the rule is one thing — applying it against a carrier is another. Moe builds your case to Rhode Island’s rules, drafts every letter for your approval, tracks the deadlines, and only pings you when there’s a decision to make.
Rhode Island injury claims — common questions
- Is Rhode Island a no-fault state?
- No. Rhode Island is an at-fault (“tort”) state — the driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, is responsible for the injury damages. You generally pursue the at-fault driver's insurer rather than your own.
- What is Rhode Island's fault rule for a car accident?
- Rhode Island follows pure comparative fault. You can recover even if you were mostly at fault — your award is reduced by your share of fault.
- How long do I have to file an injury claim in Rhode Island?
- In Rhode Island the statute of limitations for a personal-injury claim is generally 3 years from the date of the accident. Miss it and the claim is usually barred for good — separate from any deadlines your insurer sets.
Learn more
Sources
This page summarizes Rhode Island’s car-accident claim rules for general information — it is not legal advice, and the rules can change. What applies to your claim depends on your policy and the specific facts.