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Rhode Island Car Accidents Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Products Liability, Tax Law and Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: Can I own an unregistered vehicle if I don’t use the vehicle

I’m trying to buy a vehicle and I won’t be able to register it for 2 months.

Albin Moser
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answered on Dec 21, 2023

Yes, you can own a vehicle that is not registered yet. Until you register it you can't drive it.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: On Dec 6 2022 I was rear-ended on I-295 in Johnstone RI, traffic slowed d own to a stop and I was hit. My car

hasn't been fixed yet the car that hit me claims he was hit also. The insurance companies are blaming each other my insurance company payed for a rental but for only 30 days what can I do about this?

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Mar 18, 2023

A Rhode Island attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for three weeks. In these settings where there are multiple vehicles hit in the rear, the claims could drag out indefinitely, depending on how they are handled. One option is to try to set up a free initial consult to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: Is there a good chance that I can qualify for accelerated rehabilitation it being my first offense?

Also being charged for driving to endanger resulting in serious bodily injury. It is not what happened but its what I'm being told.

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Dec 21, 2022

"what I'm being told ..." Hopefully, you are being guided, informed, and represented by a licensed attorney who is helping you topprepare and defend the case. Part of that advice will likley include NOT making ANY statements in public (forum like this) to preserve your constitutional... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: Is this worth getting a lawyer for?

I was at a gas pump and when I picked up the nozzle gas started spraying all over my car because there was a hole in the hose. There was no damage but the fire department came and I had to get my car cleaned because it smelled so badly of gas.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Apr 20, 2022

A Rhode Island attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. I'm sorry for your ordeal with the gas fumes. In terms of your question whether it's worth getting a lawyer for, it doesn't look like the type of case that a law firm would handle on a... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: Do you really have to prove a driver is uninsured in a hit and run accidents in RI? My car was hit. The driver ran.

There were no witnesses. The cop said hit and run and uninsured motorist on report. But the insurance company said I must prove the unknown person had no insurance!

Is that true in RI?

Albin Moser
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answered on Mar 22, 2022

No, that isn't true. Your uninsured motorist coverage under your motor vehicle insurance policy covers a hit and run as an uninsured motorist claim. You do not have to prove that the unknown person had no insurance.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: i was at a stop sign at a intersec. both lanes stopped to let me cross. a car passed the car on the rh leting me out ?

both lanes of travel stopped to let me out at a 4 way intersection. left to me an to right the other vehicle went into brakedown lane passing 2 stopped vehicles to the right of me on the right side and hit mine. no cars was turning both lanes of travel was stopped letting me cross it is a 2 way... View More

Carl P. DeLuca
Carl P. DeLuca
answered on Jul 22, 2021

Initially, the auto insurance companies may determine that the other vehicle had the right of way because that's the way they think, but there is Rhode Island case law stating that if the car ahead of you stops for something you have a duty to determine why before proceeding. The fact that... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: I can not find a lawyer to help me any further
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jul 20, 2020

There's a section here on this site for finding lawyers. See the tab above to the left (Find a Lawyer). In addition to your own independent online searches, the Rhode Island Bar Association has resources for finding lawyers. Good luck

Tim Akpinar

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: Can a lawyer lie about the date of an incident and suspend my license? The accident was 4 years ago.

The dmv adjudication states the incident was from 2019 when the accident was 2016 i have offered to make payments twice and they wont accept it without all of my financial history. I feel uncomfortable giving this information and also on some of the documents they have sent it has my name... View More

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Jul 6, 2020

Your attorney should not lie to you and should advocate for your best interests. It sounds like you need some professional representation and assistance to understand what rights, obligations, and responsibilities you may have. I would recommend you meet with, and retain your own advocate to assist... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for Rhode Island on
Q: How do i go about amending a personal injury suit from negligence to reckless

Me in the hywy and was arrested

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jun 30, 2020

This is something that a Rhode Island attorney could advise best on, but your post remains open for three weeks. Ordinarily, most state civil procedure codes contain provisions for amending a complaint (if this is a state court-based claim, which most motor vehicle accidents involving parties from... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Car Accidents and Juvenile Law for Rhode Island on
Q: I am a 17 year old with a provisional license that is being convicted of a hit and run of an unattended vehicle.

I want to know what would happen because I was never aware of hitting that vehicle. I do remember driving that street that was very loud, narrow and full of wrongly parked cars everywhere

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Feb 17, 2020

Talk to your lawyer about making restitution and negotiating a more palatable resolution. Not remembering is likely not your best defense, especially if there is a credible witness who does. Hitting parked cars is not generally excused, even when they are "wrongly parked"

3 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents and Traffic Tickets for Rhode Island on
Q: I made a left on green and was rear ended by a speeding car. I was given a ticket. was I at fault?

I made it almost through the intersection but had to slow since a truck was in front of me. A speeding car hit the extreme back of my car. I went back afterwards to look at the crash site. She should not have hit me. I was far enough out of the intersection. I think she was on her phone or... View More

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Dec 16, 2019

Hire an attorney to assist you in defending the case.

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: As the owner of a vehicle that caused an accident while being driven by another insured adult, am I liable?
David Tapalian
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David Tapalian
answered on Apr 10, 2019

Yes you could be. The owner as well as the operator could be found liable. Make sure you notify your insurance.

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2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: totaled truck buy back repair myself under ri 31-46 -7 part c then retitle?

I want to repair my totaled truck myself. Ins co, and dmv say it can only be repaired by someone with salvage rebuilders licence. Law says I can rebuild it if title is stamped "for parts only". I hold the title. Can I repair it and then get it retitled?

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Feb 27, 2019

The title will likely remain a salvage title for the life of the vehicle.

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1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: What are penalties for 31-26-5, accident resulting in damage to highway fixtures and 31-15-1, leaving lane of travel
Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Jan 29, 2019

The costs or replacing the damaged fixtures plus what the judge decides, following the statutes, after a hearing. Your own attorney is the best thing you could take with you to court for this type of scenario. (5) Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: Can you get off on good driving policy if you have a car accident on your driving record?

No tickets on record. Just one accident

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Jan 16, 2019

In the last three years, If you were not at fault, and were not given a citation for the accident, then it is hard to imagine how that could be a prior infraction. If you were at fault, and given a citation, then this is not within the purview of the good driver's statute.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: who has right of way?

Two lanes becomes one. Right is coming off from rotary. I was in left lane. Both cars were coming off from main road but opposite direction. I enter the left lane from a traffic light. Then the two lane merged. Who has right of way? There’s no traffic sign to indicate who has to yield.

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Dec 14, 2018

A lot depends on the positions of the cars and road markings. Most are marked either by signs or pavement markings showing which lane is the through lane and which lane is being shut down, as it were. Traffic on the main lane would have the right of way unless other vehicles were entering that lane... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: What happens if I decide not to go through with medical treatment that my settlement is supposed to cover?
David Tapalian
PREMIUM
David Tapalian
answered on Dec 14, 2018

That's a good question. It could have negative implications for your health. In addition, it could affect your settlement. Furthermore if you wait too long to treat you may never be able to resume treatment.

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1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: Is there legal ramifications for almost hitting a commercial truck and passing a red light?

I accidently passed a red light and the trucker saw me and continued to try and hit me.

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Dec 19, 2017

I'm not clear as to what happened. If you weren't cited, then no legal ramnifications unless there was a crash. If the trucker saw you, and there was a collision it may or may not be his fault depending on who was where, though on balance insurance companies will look on you as at fault... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents for Rhode Island on
Q: Can a person file charges of an accident 3 years later ?
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Dec 9, 2017

Depends on the issue. RI had a 3 year statute.That means before 3 years, not after. For property damage it may be longer. Also for uninsured motorist claims. Why not contact a member of the RI Assn for Justice--they give free consults.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Traffic Tickets for Rhode Island on
Q: I live in RhodeIsland. I was driving unregistered and uninsured. It belonged to a family member. My car is now legal

I have court soon.

Neville Bedford
Neville Bedford
answered on Mar 21, 2017

Bring that evidence with your to court. You may still have to pay some fines . . . but proof of resolving the problems can't hurt.

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