Rhode Island Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Rhode Island’s compact geography, twisting coastal roads, and dense urban corridors make riding exhilarating yet statistically more hazardous than driving a passenger car. Although the Ocean State recorded only 13 motorcyclist deaths in 2023, one of the lowest raw totals in the nation the small population means our fatality rate per 100 million vehicle-miles traveled remains above the New England average. Every serious crash is a life-altering event, and the legal terrain that follows can be as treacherous as the accident scene itself. Our personal injury lawyers will help you understand the rules, rights, deadlines, and strategies that govern Rhode Island motorcycle injury claims.

• Seasonal Swing. From late April through October, ridership spikes as tourists, college students, and commuters share the same ribbons of asphalt. Summer congestion, especially in Providence, Newport, and along US-1, raises interaction points between bikes and heavier traffic.
• Roadway Design Challenges. When roadway design contributes to a crash—loose gravel after state maintenance, a pothole left unrepaired, or a defective traffic signal—a municipality or the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) may share liability.
  • Tight two-lane arterials with minimal shoulders.
  • Bridge expansion joints and painted crosswalks that become slick in salt air.
  • Surprising elevation shifts on secondary routes such as Route 102 (the “Victory Highway”).

• Left-turn collisions at signalized intersections on Westminster, Cranston, and Post Road corridors.
• Dooring incidents in Providence’s West End and North Main Street bike lanes.
• Alcohol-involved weekend rides: Rhode Island appears on NHTSA’s short list of states with the highest percentage of impaired-rider fatalities.
• Rear-end impacts in stop-and-go Route 195 traffic.
• Tourist distractions near Fort Adams and along Ocean Drive.

Documenting the precise mechanism of injury—helmet cam footage, witness statements, E-911 call logs—becomes vital when comparative negligence is assessed (discussed below).

Rhode Island is the only state that requires every applicant, regardless of age, to complete a Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course before obtaining an endorsement. A completion certificate must be presented to the DMV within six months, or the rider must retest.

• Operators: Helmets are mandatory for anyone under 21 or for the first 12 months after endorsement.
• Passengers: Helmets are required at all times, regardless of age.
  While Rhode Island does not have a universal helmet law, failure to wear one can reduce damages through comparative negligence if it aggravated head injuries.

• Functioning daytime headlight.
• Rearview mirror on the left side.
• A muffler may not “emit excessive or unusual noise” under R.I. Gen. Laws §31-23-13.

• Lane splitting (riding between lanes of slow or stopped traffic) remains illegal as of April 29, 2025, despite recurring bills (e.g., 2024 S2209, 2025 H5658) that propose limited legalization.
• Two motorcycles may share a single lane abreast, but no other vehicle may encroach on that lane width.

R.I. Gen. Laws §31-27-4 criminalizes reckless operation; convictions can be used as negligence per se evidence in civil court.

Rhode Island follows a pure comparative negligence model. A plaintiff may recover damages even if they are 99 percent at fault, with the award reduced proportionally. Insurance adjusters, therefore, scrutinize rider conduct—speed, lane position, safety gear—to argue for percentage reductions.

• Other motorists who violated traffic rules.
• Employers of on-the-clock drivers (vicarious liability).
• Bars or social hosts who overserved an intoxicated driver (dram-shop liability).
• Product manufacturers must determine if a tire, brake, or helmet defect contributed to injury.
• Public entities are responsible for unsafe road conditions. Suits against government actors require notice under R.I. Gen. Laws §9-31-12 within three years.

Most motorcycle injury and wrongful-death claims must be filed within three years of the crash or date of death. Missing this deadline almost always bars recovery. Claims against the state or its subdivisions require earlier notice and sometimes shorter suit windows. Engage counsel promptly to preserve evidence and file notices on time.

• Call 911 and request police and EMS; a crash report (RI-TR-3) is mandatory for injuries.
• Seek immediate medical evaluation, even if you feel “ok.” Adrenaline masks concussions and internal trauma.
• Preserve your gear—helmet, jacket, gloves—for later inspection; impact marks can rebut defense theories.
• Gather witness contacts and scene photos, including skid marks and road defects.
• Notify your insurer, but avoid recorded statements until legal counsel is present.
• Consult a motorcycle-savvy injury lawyer (yes, that is our firm’s focus) before evidence disappears.

• State Minimums. Liability coverage must be $25,000 per person / $50,000 per crash for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM). UM/UIM is offered but may be waived by written election each policy period; if you do not sign the waiver, minimum limits automatically attach. Given Rhode Island’s high uninsured-driver rate, carrying robust UM/UIM is critical.
• Medical Payments (MedPay). Optional MedPay can cover first-dollar hospital bills and deductibles, regardless of fault, and prevents health-insurer liens from swallowing a settlement.
• Stacking. Rhode Island allows intra-policy stacking of UM/UIM limits when multiple vehicles are listed, unless the policy disclaims it.

If a rider dies, the executor or administrator brings suit on behalf of statutory beneficiaries. Damages include:

• Loss of future earnings and benefits.
• Reasonable burial expenses.
• Loss of consortium for spouses and minor children.

The three-year statute runs from the date of death, not injury.

• Economic: medical bills, rehab, future surgeries, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, motorcycle replacement.
• Non-economic: pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life.
• Punitive: available only for conduct showing willful or reckless disregard (e.g., drunk or hit-and-run driver).

Structured settlements and special-needs trusts can protect large payouts from premature exhaustion.

• Investigation & Claim Notice (Days 0–90)
  • Scene analysis
  • Expert retention
  • Insurer notification
    
• Pre-suit Negotiation (Months 3–9)
  • Demand package preparation
  • Liability and medical reviews
  • Mediation offers
    
• Filing & Discovery (Months 9–18)
  • Written discovery
  • Deposition
  • Independent medical exams
    
• ADR or Trial (Months 18–30)
  • Arbitration
  • Mediation
  • Jury trial (Providence, Bristol, Kent, or Newport County Superior Court)
• Post-Trial Appeals (Months 30–48)
  • Rhode Island Supreme Court review of legal errors
    

While many claims resolve before trial, serious orthopedic or brain-injury cases often require filing to achieve full value.

• Motorcycle-specific reconstruction experts to counter biased police narratives.
• Access to OEM and aftermarket part engineers when product defects are suspected.
• Coordination with RIDOT and municipal records to prove prior notice of hazardous road defects.
• Lien-reduction strategies that can put tens of thousands more in a client’s pocket.
• No-fee representation unless and until we win, plus free initial consultation anywhere in Rhode Island or via secure video.

Our attorneys at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers ride, litigate, and teach continuing legal education on two-wheel injury law. We have recovered millions for New England motorcyclists and their families.

In Rhode Island, a motorcycle crash triggers a complex intersection of state statutes, insurance regulations, and fault allocation rules. Quick, informed action preserves both health and legal rights. The team at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers is ready to shoulder the legal burden so you can focus on healing and getting back on the road, safely and on your terms.

Contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers today to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward justice and fair compensation for your injuries. Call us for a free consultation at (617) 777-7777.