A car accident in Newport, Rhode Island, can turn an ordinary day into something you never saw coming. Call The Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. for a free consultation at 401-367-4655. Our Newport car accident lawyers can help you file a claim for compensation against everyone who shared liability.
We’ve been representing accident victims across Rhode Island for over four decades and are led by one of Rhode Island’s premier legal scholars. We can answer any questions you might have when we meet to review your case, so reach out when you are ready to get started.
Why Should I Hire the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. After a Car Accident in Newport, Rhode Island?
The weeks following a car accident can feel chaotic. The last thing you need is a law firm that treats your case as routine. What you need is a Newport personal injury lawyer who knows the nuances of state law and will commit the time and resources to fight for what you are entitled to.
Families throughout Newport, RI, choose the Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. for clear reasons:
- Our firm has built a reputation as one of the most respected personal injury practices in Rhode Island, having recovered hundreds of millions for past clients.
- Our founding attorney, Ronald J. Resmini, Esq., is a former Rhode Island Supreme Court law clerk and the author of the leading treatise on Rhode Island tort law.
- We bring over a century of combined legal experience to every case we accept.
- We retain top-tier experts, including accident reconstructionists and medical professionals, to support your claim when necessary.
Your car accident case deserves the full weight of a firm that has the knowledge, the track record, and the trial experience to stand up to any insurance company. Call our Newport car accident attorneys for a free case evaluation.
Steps You Should Take After a Car Accident in Newport, RI
What you do in the hours and days after a crash can have a direct impact on the strength of your legal claim. Taking the right steps early protects both your health and your ability to recover compensation down the road.
If you get into an accident, consider taking the following steps:
- Get to a safe location and call the police. Rhode Island law requires that accidents involving injury or significant property damage be reported to law enforcement. A police report also serves as a valuable piece of evidence later in your case.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if you feel fine at the scene, some injuries take time to show symptoms. Seeing a doctor right away creates a medical record that connects your injuries to the accident. If you delay treatment, the insurance company may argue that your injuries are unrelated to the crash.
- Document the scene if you are able. Take photographs of the vehicles, the roadway, traffic signs, skid marks, and any visible injuries. This type of evidence can be difficult to gather after the fact.
- Collect contact and insurance details from the other driver. If witnesses were present, try to get their names and phone numbers as well.
- Avoid giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Anything you say can be used to reduce the value of your claim. Let your attorney handle those conversations on your behalf.
- Contact a Rhode Island car accident lawyer before accepting any settlement offer. Insurance adjusters often move quickly with low offers, hoping you will settle before you understand the full extent of your injuries.
Our personal injury law firm can step in and manage the entire process from this point forward, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
How Does Rhode Island’s Pure Comparative Negligence Rule Affect My Claim?
Rhode Island is one of a small number of states that follow a pure comparative negligence standard. Per R.I.G.L. § 9-20-4, your own share of fault for the accident does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation. Instead, your damages are reduced in proportion to the percentage of fault assigned to you.
This means that even if you bear a significant share of responsibility for the crash, you can still file a claim. For example, if a jury determines that you were 40% at fault and awards you $200,000 in damages, your recovery would likely be reduced to $120,000. Unlike many other states, Rhode Island does not impose a threshold that bars you from recovering entirely.
That said, the insurance company will do everything it can to inflate your share of blame. The higher your fault percentage, the less they have to pay. This is one of the most compelling arguments for having a trusted attorney in your corner from the beginning. Our car accident lawyers in Newport know how to push back on these tactics and protect the full value of your claim.
What Causes Car Accidents in Newport?
Newport’s mix of narrow historic streets and busy connector roads creates driving conditions that lead to collisions year-round. While every crash has its own set of circumstances, certain patterns appear again and again.
Some of the most frequent causes of car accidents in Newport include:
- Distracted driving, particularly from cell phone use
- Speeding on roads that were not designed for high-speed travel
- Failing to yield at intersections or while merging
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, especially during summer months when Newport’s nightlife draws large crowds
- Tailgating in stop-and-go traffic near the waterfront and downtown areas
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Poor visibility during fog or winter weather conditions
- Reckless lane changes on Route 138 or the Newport Bridge approaches
Regardless of how your accident occurred, our team can investigate the facts and determine who is at fault. Contact our personal injury lawyers for a free case review.
What Types of Damages Can I Pursue After a Car Accident in Newport?
Rhode Island law allows car accident victims to seek both economic and non-economic damages. The state does not impose a cap on compensatory damages in private auto accident cases, which means you can pursue the full scope of your losses.
Economic damages cover the financial burden the car crash has placed on you, such as:
- Emergency room visits and ongoing medical treatment
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Lost wages from time missed at work
- Diminished earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work long-term
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses tied to your recovery
Non-economic damages account for the personal toll the accident has taken on your life, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of daily activities
- Scarring or permanent disfigurement
- Loss of consortium for spouses
Punitive damages might also be awarded, but only in rare cases that go to trial. Our car accident lawyers in Rhode Island will work to document every category of harm so that your claim reflects the true cost of the accident to you and your family.
How Much Could My Newport Car Accident Case Be Worth?
No two car accident cases produce the same result, and it would not be responsible to guarantee a specific dollar figure without knowing the facts. That said, certain factors tend to carry the most weight when determining the value of a claim in Rhode Island.
Our legal team will consider things like:
- The severity and permanence of your injuries
- Whether you have missed work due to your injuries
- Whether you can return to work in the same capacity as before
- The total extent of your medical care needs, including future treatment
- How much fault the other driver bears for causing the crash
- Whether the at-fault driver was engaged in particularly reckless behavior, such as driving drunk
- Whether you are being blamed for causing the crash
- The insurance coverage available to pay the claim
An experienced car accident attorney in Newport with our law firm can provide you with an honest evaluation of what your case may be worth during your free initial consultation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Newport, RI?
Rhode Island gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in most cases. This deadline is established by the statute of limitations, R.I.G.L. § 9-1-14(b). If you miss it, the court will almost certainly refuse to hear your case.
While three years may sound like plenty of time, evidence fades quickly. The strongest cases are built on proof that is gathered early. There are also limited exceptions that could adjust this timeline. Our auto accident attorneys can help you confirm the exact deadline that applies to your situation.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Award-Winning Newport Car Accident Attorneys
Were you or a member of your family involved in a car accident in Newport, RI? The Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. advocate for accident victims across Rhode Island. We have the proven ability to handle even the most complex car accident claims.
Call our office today for a free consultation, and let our Newport car accident lawyers get to work for you.