If you are injured by the negligence of more than one person in Rhode Island, as of July 14, 2021, you are entitled to settle with one of the parties without prejudicing your claim and/or claims against the other parties. This may sound obvious, but this was not the case prior to the enactment of the new Joint Tortfeasor Legislation, Rhode Island HB 5560.

Thanks to the hard work by state lobbyists fighting for the rights of the injured and R.I. Gov. Daniel McKee's signature, it is now possible to expedite partial settlements while protecting the rights of injured parties. For instance, a client may now settle their car accident case against the driver liable for causing the accident and keep open the claim against the owner of the bar who overserved the liable party, the latter of which could take years to litigate. Thus, HB 5560 has greatly strengthened the rights of personal injury victims throughout the state.

Our attorneys at Karns & Kerrison strive to stay on top of current laws and regulations to best protect our clients' rights and get them the most compensation for their injuries. We are, therefore, very pleased with the passage of HB 5560, as it allows us to better advocate for our clients.

With offices in Providence and Middletown, we accept cases throughout Rhode Island involving auto accidents, brain injuries, maritime injuries, product liability, workers' compensation, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death. If you have been injured, contact Karns & Kerrison online today for a free case review.