After a Crash
R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-1 — stop, give a name and license, render aid, call the police, and a written report within twenty-one days
- A driver knowingly involved in a crash that injures or kills someone, or damages an attended vehicle, stops at the scene or as close as possible and stays.
- On request, the driver gives a name, address and the vehicle's registration number and shows a license.
- The driver gives reasonable assistance to anyone injured, and notifies the local or state police by the quickest means available.
| Leaving the scene | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Leaving the sceneVehicle damage only | PenaltyA misdemeanor: $500 to $1,000, a suspension up to six months, or up to six months in jail |
| Leaving the sceneAn injury | PenaltyLicense lost for one to five years, up to five years in prison, or up to $5,000 |
| Leaving the sceneA serious bodily injury, first | PenaltyOne year to ten years and $1,000 to $5,000 |
Twenty-one days. A driver in a crash that injures or kills anyone, or does more than $1,000 of damage to one person's property, sends a written report to the division of motor vehicles within twenty-one days.
Insurance policies set their own notice rules. A particular crash is a question for a licensed Rhode Island attorney.
Sources for this section (4)
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-1 — Duty to stop in accidents resulting in personal injury
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-2 — Duty to stop in accidents resulting in damage to vehicle
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-3 — Duty to give information and render aid
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-6 — Drivers required to make written reports
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Rhode Island attorney.