Thousands of Rhode Island residents are killed or suffer serious injuries each year in road traffic accidents. While some of these accidents may be unavoidable, many others are caused by distracted, impaired or reckless drivers. If you have been injured in a traffic accident caused by the negligent actions of another, you may have civil remedies available to you.

People involved in a car accident often suffer catastrophic injuries that require intensive medical treatment and physical therapy that may continue for months or years. Many accident victims are unable to work for prolonged periods as they recover from their injuries, and those who perform physically demanding work may never be able to return to their jobs. You could seek compensation for your lost income as well as expenses such as medical costs if you have suffered injury, loss or damage to a driver's reckless behavior.

Sometimes, the negligent individual responsible for causing a car accident faces criminal sanctions or loses their life in the collision. In these situations, a personal injury attorney could file a lawsuit against their estate or insurance company. An attorney could also advocate on a client's behalf if an insurance company encourages them to settle for an insufficient amount.

Some car accident victims settle for less than they could because they do not understand how serious their injuries are or how profoundly their lives may be impacted. The full effects of brain or spinal cord injuries are sometimes not known for months or years, and other injuries may gradually worsen over time. A personal injury attorney with experience in this area will have likely encountered these situations, and they may be able to help accident victims to more fully understand their situation and options. If you would like more information about this subject, please visit our page dealing with car accidents.

Source: Karns & Kerrison, "Car Accidents", November 13, 2014