Our skilled team of car accident lawyers in Providence, RI, can fight for the compensation you deserve if you were injured in a car accident. We can help you through the difficulties of recovering from a crash that was not your fault.
If You Were Seriously Injured in A Car Accident…
Most people in Rhode Island use a car to travel to and from work, shopping, and wherever else they need to go. Cars allow us speedy access to far-off locations, and it’s easy to see why they have become such a crucial part of daily life. Unfortunately, the sheer number of people on the road means that car crashes occur at a terrifying rate, but things get worse when drivers do not have insurance.
Auto crashes can be devastating because of cars’ speed and size. Crash accident victims have to endure pain and fear at the moment of the collision. Tragically, many people see their situation get even worse after the accident. They might face steep medical bills and have to take time off work to recover, resulting in lost wages. Their injuries might cause extreme physical suffering and emotional distress for months or years afterward. Some car accident survivors develop lasting disabilities that will negatively impact their quality of life. All of these circumstances make pursuing compensation on their own near impossible. If you are in this situation, reach out to the legal team in our downtown Providence office today.
…The Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. Can Help
At The Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd., we believe you should not bear the costs of a car accident you did not cause. State and federal laws provide legal recourse for victims of a crash resulting from another party’s irresponsible actions. If another party caused or contributed to the car accident that injured you, you might be entitled to financial compensation.
To learn more about your legal options, call us at (401) 751-8855 or contact us online. We’ll review your case and explain how we develop the attorney-client relationship, starting with a free consultation.
Car Accident Lawyers Hold Dangerous Drivers Accountable
The deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes in Rhode Island are simply unacceptable. Most automobile accidents are preventable with responsible, diligent, and focused driving. By doing away with reckless, dangerous, and negligent driving behaviors, we can save lives and prevent injuries. One way to accomplish this is by holding these irresponsible drivers accountable for their actions and making them and their insurance companies pay compensation for the damage they cause.
Of course, no amount of money can make up for the loss of a loved one or the permanent destruction of your health. However, making those who have harmed you take responsibility for their wrongdoing can deter others from unsafe driving behaviors. Money from a personal injury claim can also help ease the financial burden of an auto accident.
Our Providence personal injury lawyers know that together, one way we can deter dangerous driving and the type of negligence that results in injuries to others is to hold those who cause accidents liable to their victims. If you or someone in your family suffered severe injuries or died in a Rhode Island car accident someone else caused, you may qualify for compensation. Holding wrongdoers accountable will not only help you and your family, but it will also make Providence, R.I., and its roads safer for everyone.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Providence?
Many car accidents are the result of someone’s poor driving or hazardous conditions on the road. In either case, your car accident lawyer will investigate who caused your injuries. This process often involves calling upon accident reconstructionists and traffic safety experts to identify the factors that caused the crash.
Car Accident Injuries Related to Driver Error
There are many types of negligence that can cause a car accident. In some instances, drivers engage in dangerous behaviors that might lead to a crash. These hazardous actions include drunk or impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding or aggressive driving, or some combination thereof. On the other hand, the primary or contributing cause may be a hazardous condition on the road.
That said, crashes still occur when alert drivers make all the right decisions. Why? There are several explanations. Sometimes road conditions are so dangerous that accidents are bound to happen. Road construction companies and government groups responsible for upkeep might be liable for a crash if they allowed or created overly treacherous road conditions on construction sites.
Additionally, car manufacturers are sometimes to blame for a collision. If a driver attempts to stop but finds that the brakes don’t work, the resulting crash can be disastrous. The same is true if the vehicle rolls over. Car designers, manufacturers, and distributors are responsible for making sure vehicles are safe to operate and will function as intended.
Reach out today for a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our Providence car accident lawyers.
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Car Accident Injuries Not Related to Driver Error
Some causes of accidents and injuries not related to driver error include:
- Hazardous construction sites
- Improper or inadequate construction signs
- Objects or debris on the road
- Potholes
- Unlevel shoulder
- Faulty road design
- Missing guardrails
- Standing water
- Detached tire treads
- Snow and ice, especially black ice
- Lack of lane dividers or pavement markings, especially on winding roads
- Faulty car brakes
- Vehicle malfunctions
- Broken seat belts
- Airbags that fail to deploy
Whether your car crash resulted from negligence by a driver, a manufacturer, a construction company, or another organization, a skilled car accident attorney can help. We can identify the liable parties and help you secure the money you need.
Drunk or Drugged Driving in Providence
Alcohol or drug use does not mix with driving. This rule applies not only to illegal substances but also to many prescription and over-the-counter medications. An impaired driver is a dangerous driver.
According to Rhode Island’s Highway Safety Plan, there were three fatal impaired driving accidents in Providence during one recent year. While the Highway Safety Plan does not provide city-level data on serious injuries from these crashes, Providence has had the highest number of fatal impaired driving accidents for the past several years.
Aggressive Driving and Speeding: Slow Down!
Driving faster than the legal limit increases the danger of losing control of the car. Speeding also increases the impact force in a crash, increasing the likelihood of catastrophic injuries or death. Excessive speed is a factor in a third of all highway accidents.
Aggressive drivers often exceed the speed limit as they weave in traffic, cut others off, zoom up on other cars from behind, and tailgate. This type of driving is often accompanied by rude and dangerous behaviors such as cursing, using obscene gestures, and failing to signal.
Providence, RI, Distracted Driving Accidents
We live in a fast-paced world where multitasking has become the norm. But the highway is not the place to do anything other than drive. Anyone who gets behind the wheel of a car should focus on one thing: the road. Doing anything else while driving creates a potentially deadly distraction, even if it lasts only a few seconds. Perhaps the most dangerous distraction is texting, which increases the likelihood of a crash by 23 times.
Other distractions include:
- Talking on a cell phone
- Rubbernecking (looking at roadside events or accidents)
- Adjusting the radio
- Choosing or inserting a CD
- Eating or drinking
- Grooming, for example, brushing hair or applying makeup
- Setting the GPS
- Reading
- Consulting a map or written directions
- Disciplining children
- Unrestrained pets
- Reaching for fallen objects
- Talking to passengers
A distraction while driving at high speeds may cause a driver to:
- Drift out of the proper lane and into the path of an oncoming car traveling in the opposite direction
- Fail to signal lane changes or turns
- Change lanes without checking blind spots
- Turn the wrong way onto a one-way street
- Enter a highway ramp in the wrong direction
- Disregard a traffic signal
- Fail to notice a bicyclist or pedestrian on or near the road
These cases often involve challenging issues regarding competing causes of the accident, civil engineering, or government immunity. So make sure the law office you choose is familiar with your type of car accident.
Rhode Island Car Accident Statistics
Car accidents impact millions of lives every year in the United States, including in Rhode Island. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates nearly 39,000 people nationwide died from car accidents during one recent year. When you look at non-fatal accidents, NHTSA research shows nearly 2.3 million people nationwide suffered injuries in car accidents during that same year.
Meanwhile, the most recent Rhode Island Highway Safety Plan shows 63 people died in car accidents statewide during one recent year. The Highway Safety plan also shows that 314 people sustained severe injuries from crashes in that same year.
While Rhode Island constantly strives to decrease the number of car accident fatalities and injuries, crashes continue to claim innocent victims. Even one accident is too many for the victims involved.
Fatality Rates
Rhode Island has a car accident fatality rate that is somewhat lower than average compared to the rest of the country. However, that is little consolation to those who lost family members or suffered injuries in an accident on state roads. This is especially true when someone else’s negligent actions caused the accident.
Tragically, many car accidents are entirely preventable. Fewer crashes would occur if all drivers operated their vehicles while fully aware and alert. If vehicle manufacturers and groups responsible for road conditions would properly address safety concerns, fewer people would suffer injuries in accidents. When a person or a group acts irresponsibly, they put others in serious danger. Unsuspecting victims hurt by their negligence deserve monetary compensation so that they can cover the costs of their injuries and move forward with their lives.
Unfortunately, you can only control your own driving behavior; there is not much you can do to control what others do on the road. Careless, reckless, and negligent drivers abound. Some fail to keep their attention focused on the road and become distracted, while others get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs, disregard traffic laws, or run red lights and stop signs. Others drive past posted speed limits, or too aggressively, or fail to adjust their driving for road or weather conditions. As a result, some unlucky Providence drivers and their passengers find their lives in turmoil, their bodies broken, and their finances in shambles, all because of another’s wrongdoing.
However, if you’ve been hurt by an irresponsible driver, you can hold them accountable for their actions. A car accident attorney from The Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. can help you and your family.
Death and Disabilities From Highway Accidents
Even low-speed auto accidents can take an excruciating toll on your body. That said, high-speed collisions are more serious and can cause more severe injuries, or even death, simply because of the velocity of the two vehicles at impact. Common injuries from Providence car accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries, including paraplegia and quadriplegia
- Neck and back injuries, including sprains, strains, and herniated discs
- Burn injuries
- Bone fractures
- Torn ligaments
- Facial injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Lacerations
- Scarring
- Psychological damage: anxiety, phobias, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Chronic pain
- Death
How Do I Recover Damages Following a Providence Car Accident?
When you suffer a major injury or lose a family member in a Providence car accident someone else caused, you can file a claim for compensation. Depending on the case, you could take legal action against the person who caused the crash, the company or government entity responsible for causing or allowing a hazardous road condition, or the manufacturer of a defective vehicle.
Economic Damages
Some of the losses for which you could claim compensation include:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost earnings and earning potential
- Expenses for household services you can no longer perform
- Cost of transportation and childcare for medical appointments
- Cost of assistive devices
- Pain and suffering
- Disability
- Mental anguish
- Psychological disturbance
- Loss of affection, companionship, or marital consortium
- Diminished quality of life
- Funeral expenses (in wrongful death cases)
The compensation you could receive depends on the extent of the damage and the costs of your injuries. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you get financial compensation to cover some or all of the expenses of your injury.
A successful suit can give you the financial resources you need to handle the costs of your injury. Medical debt, even from a minor injury, can wind up being unaffordable. When you secure compensation through the courts, you ensure you have the money to handle your injuries without going into debt.
Punitive Damages
Additionally, many people seek punitive damages to hold the responsible party accountable. When the negligent person or group has to pay for the consequences of their actions, that is justice.
Being forced to pay damages can also act as a deterrent to a reckless driver or a careless manufacturer. They will be less likely to hurt others by repeating their careless actions in the future.
Reach out to our law firm today. We’re here and ready to help you resolve your case.
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What Should You Do Immediately After a Car Crash?
When you’ve just been in a car accident, you will probably feel shaken up and somewhat dazed. Take some time to regain your focus, and if you are able, take these steps to protect your immediate safety and your rights:
- Turn on your hazard lights and, if you can do it safely, move your car off to the side of the road.
- If you have passengers in your car, check on their condition. Try to determine if anyone in your car or another vehicle needs medical attention. If so, call 911 and ask the operator to dispatch an ambulance.
- If no one appears to need an ambulance, call the non-emergency police number and request an officer to make a police report.
- While waiting for help to arrive, if you can move without sustaining injuries, get more information from the other driver. In particular, write down the names, contact information, registration and plate numbers, and insurance coverage information for all drivers and owners.
- Avoid discussing how the accident happened. Do not apologize. As a polite person, you might want to say, “I’m sorry,” whether you caused the accident or not. Don’t. It could be taken (wrongly) as an admission of fault on your part.
- Take photos of the accident scene, including the damage to each vehicle. Get a picture of a geographic marker, such as a street sign, that will identify the accident’s location. Never post these pictures or discuss your case on social media.
- Get medical attention. If you asked for an ambulance, it will take you to the nearest hospital emergency room. If not, go to the ER yourself, or visit an Urgent Care Clinic or your own doctor. Let the doctor know that you’ve just been in a car crash.
- Be aware that even if you don’t believe you sustained any injuries, the adrenaline rush that occurs during an accident may mask the pain. In addition, some injuries are not immediately apparent, and you may not realize something is wrong for hours or days. If you fail to get medical attention within a reasonable time after an accident, you could risk losing the right to compensation for your injuries.
- Report the accident to your insurance company. Give them the date, time, and location of the crash without providing details on how the accident occurred.
- Call our law firm for help from an experienced Rhode Island car accident lawyer. You should always retain a personal injury attorney and their law firm as soon after the accident as possible to protect your rights. You will find the skill and experience you need in a personal injury lawyer from the law firm of Ronald J. Resmini in Providence, RI.
Expect a call from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Do not engage in any discussion of the accident or your injuries. Trying to negotiate a settlement with an insurance adjuster without the benefit of a lawyer is a mistake that could cost you dearly. Do not allow the adjuster to take a recorded statement. Do not sign anything. Refer the adjuster to your attorney.
About Car Accidents and the Law in Providence
When you decide to pursue an auto accident suit, it involves civil law. Civil law differs from criminal law in its overall intent. Criminal law cases involve accusations of illegal activity brought against a defendant by the government. These cases can result in punitive measures such as jail time or fines for those convicted.
Conversely, civil law deals with a private citizen or a group accusing another entity of negligence or wrongdoing. When the victim wins a civil case, the defendant may have to give them monetary compensation.
Imagine that you were driving to work in the rain when a speeding car collided with the side of your vehicle at an intersection. The person driving the other vehicle had tried to stop, but the rain made it impossible. In the crash, you broke your leg and experienced a mild concussion. You were forced to miss work to go to the doctor and had to take time off to heal. Medical treatments, physical therapy, and medications resulted in high hospital bills.
A skilled car accident attorney with a supportive law firm could help you pursue a civil case to make the responsible party pay for the various costs of your injuries. In this situation, let’s say the driver claims that they were following all traffic laws but the rain prevented them from stopping.
An experienced car accident attorney could secure the services of experts to establish that the other driver’s car would have been able to properly stop if the vehicle had been going the speed limit. Since the driver was breaking the law and endangering others by speeding, you would have the right to compensation for your medical treatment and any lost wages, in addition to money for your pain and suffering.
Why Should You Choose Our Providence Car Accident Lawyers?
Our experienced auto accident attorneys understand that our clients have already gone through a traumatic experience. That’s why we prioritize clear communication and compassion for everyone we fight for. We strive to make the legal process as painless and transparent as possible. Additionally, our competence matches our compassion. A long record of success demonstrates our lawyers’ and law firms’ abilities, experience, and knowledge.
For example, we have secured amounts as high as $900,000, $750,000, and $645,000 for car accident victims and their families. We are driven to work hard for you and have the results to prove it. Our fees and costs are entirely tied to your legal victory. If you don’t recover financial compensation, you don’t owe us a single cent.
Contact Us for a Free Car Accident Consultation
Call The Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. today to arrange a free consultation. Tell us about the accident and your injuries, and we’ll explain the legal process and answer all of your questions in your effort to pursue compensation. If you wait, you could miss a filing deadline and lose your right to make a claim for your personal injuries.
We accept personal injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency agreement, so you will never receive a bill for legal fees or expenses unless we win money for you.
Call a car accident lawyer at Law Offices of Ronald J. Resmini, Accident & Injury Lawyers, Ltd. at (401) 751-8855 now.
