What to do after a car accident in Rhode Island
Every rule below is quoted from Rhode Island law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
At fault state
The short answer
Rhode Island is an at-fault state. The driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other driver's injuries and damage, usually paid through that driver's liability insurance. If anyone is injured in a crash, the driver must stay at the scene, give their information, help the injured person, and immediately notify local or state police. You have 3 years to sue over injuries from a car crash in Rhode Island.
Deadlines in Rhode Island
- 3 years
- to sue for injuriesR.I. Gen. Laws Section 9-1-14(b)
- 10 years
- to sue for car or property damageR.I. Gen. Laws Section 9-1-13(a)
- 3 years
- for a family to sue after a deathR.I. Gen. Laws Section 10-7-2(c)
- 3 years
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involvedR.I. Gen. Laws Section 9-31-1; Section 9-1-25
Miss one of these and you can lose the right to claim, even with a strong case.
At the scene
Stop, share your information and help anyone hurt
A driver in a crash must stop immediately at the scene, or as close as possible, and stay there until they give their name, address, vehicle registration number, and driver's license to the other driver or anyone hurt. If someone is injured, the driver must also give them reasonable help.
“his or her name, address, and the registration number of the vehicle the driver is driving and shall exhibit his or her operator's or chauffeur's license”
When you must call the police
If anyone is injured in a crash, the driver must stay at the scene, give their information, help the injured person, and immediately notify local or state police.
“render to any person injured or struck in an accident reasonable assistance, and shall immediately, by the quickest means of communication known to the driver or which should have reasonably been known to the driver to be available in the locality, give notice of the accident to a nearby office of local or state police”
In the days after
Whether you must file a report yourself
If a crash caused injury or death, or property damage over $1,000, the driver must send a written report to the Division of Motor Vehicles within 21 days.
“within twenty-one (21) days after the accident, forward a written report of the accident to the division of motor vehicles”
Getting a copy of the crash report
You can get a Rhode Island State Police crash report online at BuyCrash.com, usually available 72 hours after the report was taken. By mail, send a self-addressed stamped envelope with a 15 dollar check to the RISP Accident Bureau. Fatal crashes and open investigations require contacting the Accident Bureau directly.
“In most cases, crash reports are available 72 hours after the report was taken. There is a fee for obtaining these documents pursuant to R.I. General Law Section 42-28-37.”
Who pays for the damage
Rhode Island is an at-fault state. The driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other driver's injuries and damage, usually paid through that driver's liability insurance.
“Proof of financial security means proof of ability to respond in damages for liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle as evidenced by an owner's policy of liability insurance”
Insurance rules in Rhode Island
What insurance every driver must carry
Rhode Island drivers must carry at least $25,000 in liability coverage for one injured person, $50,000 total per accident if more than one person is hurt, and $25,000 for property damage.
“twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) because of bodily injury to, or death of, one person in any one accident”
Personal injury protection (PIP)
Rhode Island does not require drivers to carry personal injury protection insurance. Only liability insurance covering injuries and damage you cause to others is required.
“Proof of financial security means proof of ability to respond in damages for liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle as evidenced by an owner's policy of liability insurance”
If the other driver has no insurance
Rhode Island requires every auto policy to include uninsured motorist coverage for bodily injury and death, which cannot be rejected outright, only reduced to the state minimum after signing a notice about the risk. You can reject the property damage part of uninsured motorist coverage in writing.
“No policy insuring against loss resulting from liability imposed by law for property damage caused by collision, bodily injury, or death...shall be delivered or issued for delivery in this state...unless coverage is provided”
Medical payments coverage
Rhode Island requires medical payments coverage on every auto policy by default, at least $2,500 per person and $5,000 total per accident, unless you reject it in writing.
“unless coverage is provided in the policy for medical payments in an amount of not less than twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each individual and five thousand dollars ($5,000) aggregate”
If an insurance company treats you unfairly
You can file a complaint against an insurance company with the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation Insurance Division through the NAIC's online complaint portal, or call the Insurance Division directly.
“File an Insurance Complaint”
The deadline rules, word for word
Deadline to sue for injuries
You have 3 years to sue over injuries from a car crash in Rhode Island.
“Actions for injuries to the person shall be commenced and sued within three (3) years next after the cause of action shall accrue, and not after”
Deadline to sue for car damage
You have 10 years to sue over vehicle or property damage from a car crash in Rhode Island. This is Rhode Island's general catch-all deadline for civil lawsuits, since the law does not set a shorter specific deadline for property damage claims.
“all civil actions shall be commenced within ten (10) years next after the cause of action shall accrue”
Deadline for a wrongful death claim
Families have 3 years to file a wrongful death lawsuit in Rhode Island, counted from the death, or from when the wrongful act was discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
“Every action brought pursuant to this chapter shall be commenced within three (3) years after the death of the person.”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
If a state or local government vehicle or road is involved, the same 3 year deadline that applies to an ordinary tort claim applies to the government too. Rhode Island does not appear to require a separate short notice of claim before suing.
“The state of Rhode Island and any political subdivision thereof, including all cities and towns, shall, subject to the period of limitations set forth in Section 9-1-25, hereby be liable in all actions of tort in the same manner as a private individual or corporation”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
- R.I. Gen. Laws Section 31-47-2(15)
- R.I. Gen. Laws Section 9-20-4
- R.I. Gen. Laws Section 9-1-14(b)
- R.I. Gen. Laws Section 9-1-13(a)
- R.I. Gen. Laws Section 10-7-2(c)
- R.I. Gen. Laws Section 9-31-1; Section 9-1-25
- R.I. Gen. Laws Section 31-26-3
- R.I. Gen. Laws Section 31-26-6
- R.I. Gen. Laws Section 27-7-2.1
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-7-2.5
- R.I. Gen. Laws Section 42-28-37
- Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Insurance Division
- R.I. Sup. Ct. Art. V, Rule 1.5(c)
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.