Rhode Island Car Accident Report Basics

Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed December 11, 2018

While driving in Rhode Island may not be as crazy as driving in neighboring states such as Massachusetts, you're still at risk of getting in a car accident every time you hit the road. Therefore, it's important to know what your legal responsibilities are if such an unfortunate event does occur. From helping the injured to filing the right reports, read on to learn more about Rhode Island car accident report basics.

Rhode Island Car Accident Report Laws

The first steps to take after a car accident in Rhode Island are to stop, pull over, and render reasonable assistance to anyone who is injured. You must also immediately notify local or state police by the quickest means available if the accident caused injury, death, or damage to any vehicle. Failing to stop can result in serious punishments such as fines, license revocation, and substantial jail time.

If the accident involves injury, death, or damage to the property of any one person over $1,000, you must also file a report with the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 21 days of the accident. This is the case even if a police officer responds to the scene, conducts an investigation, and submits their own required accident report.

How to File a Car Crash Report in Rhode Island

To file the DMV accident report, you can contact your local office for the appropriate forms. You'll need to provide personal identification information, the other driver's information, and a description of the accident sufficiently detailed to disclose the cause, conditions then existing, and persons and vehicles involved in the accident. You'll also need to provide information regarding your car insurance in accordance with the minimum state requirements.

Rhode Island Car Accident Report Laws at a Glance

The chart below provides a summary of state laws related to Rhode Island car accident reports, including links to important code sections.

Statutes	Requirements on scene: §31-26-1 to 31-26-5 Police notification: §31-26-3.2 Accident reports: §31-26-6 to 31-26-16
Law Enforcement Notification Required	Must notify police immediately if accident involves injury, death, or damage to vehicle preventing safe, normal operation
Report Required	Must submit written or in-person report to chief of police if accident involves injury, death, or total property damage to an apparent extent of at least $3,000
Report Deadline	Within 21 days after the accident
Who Must Report	Every driver involved in the accident If driver is physically incapable of making report and is not the owner of the vehicle, the owner must file the report within 21 days of learning about the accident

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.