How Much is Your Claim Worth?
How Much is Your Claim Worth?
Explore injury payouts made to actual Rhode Island car accident victims. Look for cases similar to yours.
More than 300 people are seriously injured and 60 are killed by motor vehicle accidents on Rhode Island roadways every year.¹ If you or a family member are injured in an accident, you have the right to pursue the at-fault driver for compensation.
The average car accident settlement in Rhode Island for a moderate injury claim is $19,866. Average payouts range from $5,834 for minor injuries to $909,490 for severe injuries.
We analyzed a group of injury lawsuits filed in Rhode Island courts by car accident victims. The group includes cases brought by pedestrians and motorcyclists who were hit by a moving vehicle. All plaintiffs received a payout from a jury verdict or out-of-court settlement.
Average Payout by Severity of Injury |
|
|---|---|
| Minor Injury | $5,834 |
| Moderate Injury | $19,866 |
| Severe Injury | $909,490 |
Payout Range by Severity of Injury |
|
| Minor Injury | $610 – $8,900 |
| Moderate Injury | $9,157 – $30,334 |
| Severe Injury | $100,000 – $5,100,000 |
Side-impact collisions are the most common type of traffic accident nationwide, followed by rear-end collisions.²
Average Side-Impact Collision Settlements |
|
|---|---|
| Minor Injury | $5,609 |
| Moderate Injury | $21,998 |
| Severe Injury | $477,281 |
Average Rear-End Accident Settlements |
|
| Minor Injury | $6,059 |
| Moderate Injury | $18,011 |
| Severe Injury | $150,000 |
Neck and back injuries are the most common type of injuries suffered in all kinds of motor vehicle accidents, followed by head injuries.
Average Neck and Back Injury Settlements |
|
|---|---|
| Minor Injury | $6,101 |
| Moderate Injury | $20,906 |
| Severe Injury | $396,449 |
Average Head Injury Settlements |
|
| Minor Injury | $5,008 |
| Moderate Injury | $10,500 |
| Severe Injury | $2,601,000 |
Rhode Island is an at-fault or “tort” state, meaning the party who caused the accident is liable for the victim’s damages.
Car accident victims can file an injury claim against the at-fault driver’s auto insurance, or file a lawsuit directly against the driver. Most car accident victims start by filing an insurance claim.
A multiple of one is reasonable if you spent a few days on the couch with a heating pad. A multiple of two or three is justified when your injuries interfered with your activities for several weeks or months. For example, when a broken leg kept you out of work and essentially homebound all winter.
Minor injuries from a car accident tend to be soft-tissue injuries like cuts, bruises, scrapes, and sprained or strained muscles and tendons. Stiff and sore victims might miss a few days of work, but will be fully recovered within a month.
Type of Injury: Neck and back injuries-Soft tissue
Type of Accident: Rear-End
Award/Settlement Amount: $813
Case Summary: Plaintiff was riding as a back-seat passenger. His vehicle was struck from behind by a car driven by Defendant. Plaintiff’s driver had stopped to make a left turn into a gas station. Defendant braked, but was unable to stop in time to avoid an impact. Plaintiff complained of injuries at the scene, but did not seek medical treatment until several days post-accident. Plaintiff claimed he sustained neck and back injuries. He claimed ongoing difficulties to the date of trial. Defendant contended that this minor accident did not cause any injuries. Defendant also argued that plaintiff was sent to treatment by his attorney. Jury awarded plaintiff $ 813 in damages.
Location: Gaston County, North Carolina
Case Name and Docket Number: White v. Cannon, 10CVS467
Type of Injury: Soft tissue lumbar injury
Type of Accident: Rear-end
Award/Settlement Amount: $4,337
Case Summary: Plaintiff was traveling south in bumper to bumper traffic when Defendant’s vehicle hit him from behind. Plaintiff claimed he sustained a soft tissue lumbar injury as a direct result of this impact. This accident did not aggravate his prior soft tissue cervical injury. Defendant admitted liability, but contended that plaintiff’s injury did not warrant the medical treatment claimed in view of a previous accident two months before this incident that injured the same area. Jury awarded plaintiff $4,337. Per plaintiff’s counsel, the jury had a difficult time discerning which injury was associated with this accident since plaintiff’s previous motor vehicle accident was only two months earlier and he sustained the same soft tissue lumbar injury.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: James v. Faria, PC-2004-5907
Type of Injury: Hand Injury – Fractured phalanx (finger) on his right hand
Type of Accident: Rear-end
Award/Settlement Amount: $4,700
Case Summary: Plaintiff and Defendant were operating their vehicles on intersecting streets. Defendant turned from a side street into the path of plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff veered right, but struck defendant’s vehicle on the right rear quarter-panel. Plaintiff then drove into a ditch. Two eyewitnesses testified that defendant cut off plaintiff’s lane of travel. Defendant admitted liability for causing the accident. Plaintiff sustained a fractured phalanx (finger) on his right dominant hand. Defendant did not dispute that plaintiff’s finger was fractured. However, he maintained that plaintiff had a preexisting enchondroma (bone cyst) in his finger which caused the need for surgery. Defendant argued that surgery was required because of the bone cyst, not because of the fracture. The jury returned a $ 4,700 verdict in favor of plaintiff.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Ward v. Lowenstein, PC-2004-4952
Type of Injury: Back Injury- Herniated cervical disc
Type of Accident: Rear-end
Award/Settlement Amount: $4,758
Case Summary: Plaintiff and defendant were operating their respective vehicles on intersecting streets in a residential area. Defendant claimed to have stopped at a stop sign as she approached the intersection of the two streets. When she determined that there were no oncoming vehicles, defendant entered the intersection and was struck in the right rear panel by plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff suffered a herniated cervical disc. Defendant contended that plaintiff, who was approaching the intersection from beyond a steep hill with an obstructed view, failed to keep a proper lookout for vehicles already in the intersection. Also, defendant claimed that plaintiff was exaggerating the nature and extent of his injuries. Jury determined that plaintiff was 70% comparative negligence, awarding him $4,758.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Redello v. Marks, PC1997-0233
Type of Injury: Shoulder Injury – Torn rotator cuff
Type of Accident: Side-impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $4,833
Case Summary: Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Defendant 1. Defendant2 was operating his own vehicle. At an intersection controlled by a stop sign and flashing red light, both vehicles entered the intersection at the same time, resulting in a collision. Plaintiff suffered a torn rotator cuff necessitating surgery. Defendant contended Defendant2 had an opportunity to avoid the accident, but failed to do so. Defendant2 contended that Defendant1 was solely responsible for this accident in running the stop sign. Jury awarded plaintiff $ 4,833 and apportioned liability 80% to Defendant1 and 20% to defendant2. Per Defendant1’s counsel, plaintiff had preexisting injuries to the same body parts for which she was receiving treatment at the time of this accident.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Sayward v. Wayne, PC1997-3241
Type of Injury: Neck injuries (whiplash); Back Injury – bulging disc
Type of Accident: Side-impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $5,700
Case Summary: Plaintiff was a passenger on Defendant1’s bus, driven by Defendant2. Plaintiff alleged that the bus had stopped at the side of the street to pick up passengers. Defendant2 then drove the bus into the left lane in front of a vehicle passing in that lane, causing a collision. Plaintiff hit his head on a window of the bus as a result of the collision, suffering a whiplash injury and bulging disc. Defendants contended that: the accident was caused by the driver of the passing vehicle; plaintiff exaggerated the nature and extent of his injury; and plaintiff had pre existing back injuries which were unrelated to this accident. Jury found for plaintiff, awarding him $5,700 plus interest for a total judgment of $11,000.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Martinez v. Jones, PC972030
Type of Injury: Soft tissue neck and back injuries
Type of Accident: Rear-end
Award/Settlement Amount: $8,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was driving his vehicle when he was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by Defendant. Defendant admitted causing the accident and details of the accident were not an issue. The case proceeded on the issue of damages only. Defendant’s vehicle was owned by co-defendant. Plaintiff alleged he sustained serious neck and back injuries that caused him permanent pain as a direct result of the accident. Defendants contended plaintiff’s injury was minor and should have resolved in a short period of time. Jury awarded the plaintiff $8,000 after deliberating 4 hours.
Location: Newport County, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Tollefson v. Spillane, NC-2005-0027
Type of Injury: Soft tissue neck and low back injuries
Type of Accident: Side-impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $8,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was operating a vehicle with her grandmother as a passenger. They had the right-of-way when they were struck by a vehicle driven by Defendant, driving from an intersecting street. Both plaintiffs claimed soft tissue neck and back injuries. Defendant contended that plaintiff driver failed to avoid the accident. Defendant also argued that plaintiff had recovered from her injuries. The jury awarded plaintiffs $16,000 in damages.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Sylfa v. Ruiz, PC19994900
Type of Injury: Soft Tissue – Aggravation of soft tissue neck injuries
Type of Accident: Rear-end
Award/Settlement Amount: $8,500
Case Summary: Plaintiff was operating a vehicle. Defendants were traveling in their own vehicle in the same as the plaintiff. According to plaintiff, he stopped to make a left turn and was rear-ended by defendants’ vehicle. Plaintiff claimed he suffered soft tissue neck injuries as a result of the accident. Prior to this accident, plaintiff was on disability for pain and injuries to his back and neck. He claimed this accident exacerbated those injuries. Defendants contended plaintiff’s injuries were preexisting. Jury awarded plaintiff $8,500.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Petrella v. Buchanan, PC-2003-4770
Moderate car accident injuries include extensive soft tissue injuries, simple bone fractures, herniated or bulging discs, whiplash neck injuries, and concussions. Victims with moderate injuries may be out of work for several weeks or months and could be left with residual effects.
Type of Injury: Soft tissue neck and back injuries
Type of Accident: Rear-end
Award/Settlement Amount: $9,157
Case Summary: Plaintiff was driving her vehicle. She was stopped at an intersection when she was struck from behind by a vehicle driven by Defendant. Plaintiff suffered neck and back injuries. Defendant admitted liability, but contended that the treatment plaintiff received was excessive and unnecessary. Jury awarded plaintiff $5,870 plus interest for a total of $9,157.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Blair v. Mayen, PC-2003-0407
Type of Injury: Head Injury – Concussion-loss of consciousness; soft tissue neck injuries
Type of Accident: Side-impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $10,500
Case Summary: Plaintiff was on her way to work when she was involved in a sideswipe collision with Defendant. The passenger side of plaintiff’s vehicle collided with the driver’s side of defendant’s vehicle. The parties disputed the facts surrounding the collision. Plaintiff alleged she was in the appropriate lane to continue traveling on Route A and defendant was in the adjacent lane to take the nearing exit when defendant attempted to move from the exit lane. Plaintiff argued that she suffered a concussion resulting in loss of consciousness and soft tissue neck injuries. Defendant contended that plaintiff caused the collision by attempting to make a right turn in front of her vehicle in order to take the exit. Jury found for plaintiff, awarding $10,500 plus interest for a total judgment of $23,000.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Brown v. Abajian, PD-2002-6001
Type of Injury: Soft tissue neck and back with continuing pain
Type of Accident: Rear-end
Award/Settlement Amount: $17,570
Case Summary: Plaintiff was operating her mother’s vehicle. She exited Route A and stopped at a stop sign at the bottom of the ramp, and was rear-ended by a pickup truck. The pickup truck driver approached plaintiff’s vehicle, asked her to pull off the ramp so they could exchange insurance information. Plaintiff made a right turn, but the pickup truck driver turned in the opposite direction and fled the scene of the accident. Plaintiff claimed soft tissue neck and back injuries. A month later at a gas station plaintiff saw a man she believed was the pickup truck driver who rear-ended her. The man was an employee of Defendant. Defendant denied that its employee was involved in this accident. Jury found for plaintiff, awarding her $17,570 plus interest for a total of $22,711.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Taylor v. Aime & Sons Automobile Inc., PC20013647
Type of Injury: Soft tissue shoulder injuries
Type of Accident: Side-impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $30,334
Case Summary: Plaintiff was operating her vehicle at night when defendant, who was traveling in the opposite direction, attempted to turn left across plaintiff’s lane of travel. Plaintiff’s front end struck the front of the passenger side of defendant’s vehicle. Plaintiff said she suffered soft tissue shoulder injuries resulting in a 2% permanent impairment of her left arm as a direct result of the collision. Defendant contended that plaintiff should have stopped or warned her of plaintiff’s approach and that plaintiff was exaggerating the nature and extent of her injuries. Jury sided with plaintiff, awarding $30,334. Per plaintiff’s counsel, plaintiff’s positive credibility impacted the outcome.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Rhodes v. Sebastian, PC1997-0342
Severe car accident injuries can be life-altering, leaving the victim with a lifelong disability or disfigurement. Victims often sustain multiple injuries, such as complex bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, vision or hearing loss, and internal injuries. Severe injury victims may not be able to return to their pre-accident employment or activities, and some require life-long care.
Type of Injury: Herniated cervical and lumbar discs; jaw pain
Type of Accident: Side-impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $100,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was driving her vehicle. Defendant, who was operating her own vehicle on same roadway, attempted to change lanes in front of plaintiff. Plaintiff claimed she sustained significant spinal injuries which resulted in permanent lifting restrictions such that she was unable to return to work. Defendant admitted she caused the accident, but disputed causation of plaintiff’s injuries and the extent of damages she was seeking. Defendant argued that plaintiff’s complaints were likely related to her job, which entailed lifting heavy boxes. Further, defendant claimed plaintiff should have recovered to her pre-accident status in two to three months and that she was able to work in some capacity. Case subsequently settled for $100,000 defendant’s policy limits.
Location: Newport County, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Goulet v.O’Connell, NC-2005-0424
Type of Injury: Head, neck, shoulder and wrist injuries: Post-concussion syndrome; cervical strain; bilateral shoulder strain; tinnitus and a wrist contusion
Type of Accident: Side-impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $102,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was driving on a two-lane road with a double yellow middle line. Plaintiff attempted to pass defendant on her left just as defendant attempted to make a left turn into a driveway. The vehicles collided. Plaintiff alleged defendant was parked in her vehicle along the right side of the road and attempted a left turn without activating her turn signal. Plaintiff presented the testimony of an independent eyewitness who corroborated his version of the accident. Plaintiff claimed head, neck, shoulder and wrist injuries. Defendant contended plaintiff was speeding and crossed the double yellow middle lines in an attempt to pass her vehicle. Jury awarded plaintiff $ 102,000, but found him 25% comparatively negligent. Plaintiff also received $42,077 in interest for a total judgment of $ 118,577.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Belisle v. Nieves, PC-2004-3292
Type of Injury: Fractured collarbone with shoulder joint instability
Type of Accident: Side-impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $178,328
Case Summary: Plaintiff motorist was stopped at a stop sign waiting to exit a shopping center. Directly across from her, Defendant, who was operating a vehicle, was attempting to cross two lanes of traffic to enter the shopping plaza. Defendant drove across the lanes of traffic in front of Defendant2’s oncoming vehicle, resulting in a collision. Defendant’s vehicle then fishtailed into plaintiff’s stopped car. Plaintiff claimed that she suffered a fractured collarbone with shoulder joint instability as a direct result of this accident. Defendant1 contended that he did not see defendant2’s vehicle until the time of impact, suggesting that defendan2 may have been speeding. Defendants also disputed the extent of plaintiff’s injury. Jury returned $178,328 verdict for plaintiff, with 80% liability assessed to defendant1 and 20% liability to defendant 2.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Nadeau v. Triangolo, PC19981173
Type of Injury: Leg Injury – Fractured hip resulting in additional shortening of plaintiff’s previously shorter leg
Type of Accident: Head-on
Award/Settlement Amount: $250,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff’s vehicle was struck head-on by a vehicle driven on the wrong side of the road by defendant. Defendant admitted liability for causing the accident and the details surrounding the crash were not an issue. Plaintiff fractured her hip in the accident. She acknowledged a preexisting hip condition which resulted in one of her legs being shorter than the other. However, she claimed that the hip fracture she suffered in this accident exacerbated her preexisting condition by further shortening her leg. Plaintiff claimed that the exacerbation limited her activities and she sought non-economic damages for lifestyle changes. Defendant denied that these accident injuries affected plaintiff’s activities, but agreed to a mediated settlement for policy limits of $250,000. Per plaintiff attorney, a PowerPoint presentation of plaintiff’s limited activities was effective.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: William v. Smith, 03-CV-450S
Type of Injury: Back Injury – Fracture in the fusion mass from prior paralyzing injury, resulting in urinary nerve damage and need for catheterization
Type of Accident: Side-impact
Award/Settlement Amount: $1,331,247
Case Summary: Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle when defendant exited a parking lot in front of plaintiff’s oncoming vehicle, resulting in a broadside collision. Plaintiff claimed he suffered a fracture of the fusion mass in his back from a prior paralyzing injury. He alleged that, despite his prior injury, he had urinary tracking and was not required to be catheterized until after this second accident. Plaintiff maintained that the second accident caused urinary nerve damage, which interfered with his urological function and necessitated time-consuming catheterization. Defendant denied liability and disputed that plaintiff suffered a fracture as a result of this minor accident. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff, awarding him $1,331,247 including interest. The verdict also includes future medicals of $179,000 and past medicals of $18,000.
Location: Washington County, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Stapans v. Bouvier, WC2001-0611
Type of Injury: Head Injury – Brain injury with memory loss; complete loss of sight in one eye; and minor scarring on her cheek
Type of Accident: Head-on
Award/Settlement Amount: $5,100,000
Case Summary: Plaintiff was operating her vehicle north. Defendants were operating their respective vehicles in the opposite direction of plaintiff. Defendant1 came to a stop to make a left turn. Defendant 2 swerved to avoid a collision with the rear of defendant’s vehicle and entered the oncoming traffic lane where he collided head-on with plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff suffered a permanent brain injury which prevented her from continuing to work. She also suffered the loss of sight in one eye and minor scarring to her cheek. Defendant1 argued that she had been stopped for about one minute with her turn signal activated before the collision. Defendant2 contended asserted that defendant1 stopped abruptly and suddenly. Jury ruled in favor of plaintiff for $5,100,000 plus interest for a total judgment of $6,375,370 all against defendants.
Location: Kent County, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Nichols v. Levesque, KC2001-0171
Type of Injury: Back Injury – Fracture of thoracic (back) spine resulting in paraplegia; cervical (neck) spine injury resulting in tetraplegia (frequently defined as quadriplegia)
Type of Accident: Rear-end
Award/Settlement Amount: $18,904,191
Case Summary: Plaintiff was sitting in a parked vehicle. Defendant 1, who was driving a leased car from defendant 2, struck the rear of plaintiff’s vehicle at a high rate of speed. Plaintiff’s vehicle became engulfed in flames and plaintiff was pulled from the vehicle by a bystander. Plaintiff suffered permanent paraplegia, tetraplegia and burns over approximately 10% of her body. The trial court granted a motion for summary judgment dismissing defendant 2 on the basis that defendant2 could not be held liable for defendant1’s actions. Plaintiff appealed. The Supreme Court overturned the dismissal. The case then proceeded to trial on issue of damages only. Plaintiff claimed damages in excess of $5,000,000. Jury awarded plaintiff $18,904,191. Plaintiff’s counsel reported that he believed this was the largest personal injury jury verdict in Rhode Island’s history.
Location: Providence and Bristol Counties, Rhode Island
Case Name and Docket Number: Oliveira v. Lombardi, PC20002780
The Award amount reflects the base payout paid to one individual after a reduction for shared fault and before the addition of accrued pre-judgment interest. Interest does not accrue on out-of-court settlements.
One catastrophic injury case with an $18,900,000 payout was not included in our averages calculation to avoid skewing the averages artificially high. The payout is included in the ranges.
Cases include collisions involving cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Victims include drivers, passengers, and a pedestrian.
(Your submission is secure and is kept strictly confidential.)
