Car accident
Car Accident Attorneys in Providence, Rhode Island
The firms in this guide
- Tapalian Law Call Tapalian Law: (401) 552-5000
- Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. Call Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd.: (401) 751-8855
- Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd. Call Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd.: (401) 273-8330
- Rob Levine Law Call Rob Levine Law: (800) 742-3920
- Kiselica Law Firm Call Kiselica Law Firm: (401) 421-0300
1. Tapalian Law
Practice Focus: Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, wrongful death from auto accidents, uninsured/underinsured motorist claims, slip and fall accidents
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, catastrophic injury cases, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death claims
Background: David Tapalian has over 20 years of experience practicing personal injury law. He graduated from Brown University and Roger Williams University School of Law. Admitted to the Rhode Island Bar, Massachusetts Bar, and Florida Bar. Notable settlements include $1.25 million for a motor vehicle accident, $625,000 for a bicycle accident, and $570,000 for a slip and fall case.
Location: 350 S Main Street, Providence, RI 02903
Contact: (401) 552-5000 | https://www.tapalianlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation available, contingency fee arrangement
2. Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd.
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, premises liability, workers compensation
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost wage claims, pain and suffering damages, punitive damage claims, wrongful death representation
Background: Ronald J. Resmini has over 50 years of experience in personal injury law. He graduated from Providence College and Suffolk University Law School. AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Selected to Super Lawyers multiple times. Author of Rhode Island legal treatises. The firm has recovered over $500 million for clients. Notable results include $5 million motor vehicle settlement, $5 million medical malpractice verdict, and $4.25 million pedestrian truck accident settlement.
Location: 365 Eddy Street, 2nd Floor, Providence, RI 02903
Contact: (401) 751-8855 | https://www.resminilawoffices.com
Consultation: Free consultation, available 24/7, contingency fee basis
3. Mandell, Boisclair & Mandell, Ltd.
Practice Focus: Car accidents, medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death, premises liability, catastrophic injuries, mass torts
Case Types Handled: Multi-vehicle pileups, commercial vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burn injuries, amputation cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical lien resolution, pain and suffering claims, punitive damage claims, wrongful death claims, appellate practice
Background: Mark Mandell graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 1974. Triple Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy in Civil Trial Law, Medical Negligence, and Civil Pretrial Practice. Former President of the American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA) and the Rhode Island Bar Association. Served as settlement chair for the Station Fire litigation, securing over $176 million for victims. The firm has earned more $1 million and $10 million verdicts than any other law firm in Rhode Island. Named Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2025 for Product Liability in Providence.
Location: 1 Park Row, 2nd Floor, Providence, RI 02903
Contact: (401) 273-8330 | https://www.mbmjustice.com
Consultation: Free case evaluation, contingency fee arrangement
4. Rob Levine Law
Practice Focus: Car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall accidents, wrongful death, social security disability, veterans disability
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, T-bone accidents, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, rideshare accidents, commercial vehicle accidents
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, settlement negotiations, property damage claims, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, disability claims representation
Background: Rob Levine graduated from Roger Williams University School of Law. He is a former Central Falls police officer and paramedic. With over 25 years of experience, the firm has helped more than 50,000 clients and recovered over $2 billion in total compensation. The firm operates 16 offices across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Handles personal injury cases regionally and disability claims nationwide.
Location: 544 Douglas Avenue, Providence, RI 02908
Contact: (800) 742-3920 | https://roblevine.com
Consultation: Free consultation, available 24/7, no fee unless successful recovery
5. Kiselica Law Firm
Practice Focus: Car accidents, medical malpractice, premises liability, construction accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, catastrophic injury cases, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, scarring and disfigurement cases
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, litigation, trial representation, settlement negotiations, medical expense recovery, lost income claims, pain and suffering damages
Background: Michael Kiselica has over 40 years of experience in personal injury law. California Bar #90118 (admitted 1979), Rhode Island Bar #2419 (admitted 1980). Has tried 75 to 100 jury trials in State and Federal Courts. Takes a selective approach to caseload to ensure personalized attention for each client. Former insurance defense experience provides insight into defense strategies.
Location: Downtown Providence (conveniently located near Interstate 95)
Contact: (401) 421-0300 | https://www.klflaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation, home or hospital visits available if needed
Comparative Negligence, Wrongful Death Distribution and Insurer Suit Deadlines for Providence Car Crashes
A Providence car crash claim in Rhode Island is reduced, not barred, by the injured person’s own negligence, and must be filed within three years. Rhode Island also sets how a wrongful death recovery is divided, gives family members their own action for lost society, and extends the deadline to sue an insurer directly in a listed situation.
Comparative Negligence
Under R.I. Gen. Laws 9-20-4, in an action for personal injuries, death or injury to property, the fact that the injured person may not have been exercising due care, or that the danger was open and obvious, does not bar recovery, and damages are diminished by the finder of fact in proportion to the injured person’s negligence.
The Three-Year Deadline
Under R.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-14(b), actions for injuries to the person must be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues, except as subsection (c) provides. If a city or state vehicle was involved, R.I. Gen. Laws 9-31-2 limits damages in a tort action against the state or a political subdivision to $100,000, except where the state was engaged in a proprietary function or agreed to indemnify the federal government.
Suing the Insurer Directly
Under R.I. Gen. Laws 9-1-14(c), where an injured party may proceed against an insurer under section 27-7-2, an action was properly filed against the insured on time, and process against the insured was returned “non est inventus” and filed with the court, the deadline to sue the insurer directly is extended 120 days beyond the three-year period.
Wrongful Death Distribution
Under R.I. Gen. Laws 10-7-2(a) and (b), the executor or administrator brings the action, and one-half of the recovery goes to the surviving spouse and one-half to the children, the whole to the spouse if there are no children, and otherwise to the next of kin; a separate action for loss of society, companionship or consortium belongs to the persons who sustained that loss.
Providence Car Accident Questions
How long does a family have to bring a wrongful death claim?
Three years after the death under R.I. Gen. Laws 10-7-2(c), except as otherwise provided, or three years from when a wrongful act not known at the time of death is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes. Under R.I. Gen. Laws 9-20-4, damages are diminished in proportion to your negligence rather than barred. For example, imagine $90,000 in damages and 60 percent of the negligence on the injured driver: the recovery would be $36,000.
Does an open and obvious danger defeat my claim?
No. Under R.I. Gen. Laws 9-20-4, the fact that the danger or defect was open and obvious does not bar recovery, though damages are diminished in proportion to the injured person’s negligence.