Cranston
751 Reservoir Ave, Cranston, RI 02910 | (401) 275-2039

Were you or a loved one injured in a car accident that was not your fault? You may be entitled to compensation to help cover your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. d’Oliveira & Associates charges no fee until you receive a settlement or award. Call us anytime at (401) 275-2039), or complete a contact form for a free case consultation.

Cranston Car Accidents: What You Need to Know

(L-R) Paul d’Oliveira (Lawyer), Laura Cameron (Lawyer), Lisa Rose (Office Manager / Paralegal), Pamela Reis (Paralegal)

Types of Car Accident Injury Cases We Handle Include:

  • Distracted driving accidents
  • Collisions caused by drunk or impaired drivers
  • Rear-end collisions
  • Hit-and-runs
  • Merging accidents
  • Multi-vehicle pileups
  • Rollover auto accidents

No Fees Unless We Win!

d’Oliveira & Associates charges no legal fees until we settle or win your case. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay until we secure a settlement or award to compensate you for your injuries and related expenses.

What Is a Cranston Car Accident Case Worth?

The amount of compensation that someone injured in a Cranston car accident receives can vary and will depend on a variety of factors. Someone injured in a car accident that was not their fault is generally entitled to compensation to help cover medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact our Cranston car accident attorneys today to maximize your settlement or award. Read more.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

  • Speeding – drivers who travel above posted speed limits pose risk of injury to other drivers and pedestrians on the road.
  • Drunk driving – A person dies in a drunk driving car accident every 39 minutes in the United States. Approximately 30% of all fatal car accidents in the U.S. involve drunk driving, amounting to more than 10,000 deaths every year. When consumed even in a small or legal amount, alcohol can cause reduced motor function and impair one’s basic decision-making abilities, posing a risk to impaired drivers and to others on the road.
  • Distracted driving – Whether a driver is adjusting a radio, setting a GPS, or being distracted by passengers, anything that takes a driver’s attention off the road can increase the risk of a car accident.
  • Poor road conditions – Bad weather, improperly maintained roadways, and construction can all pose hazards on roads to even the most cautious drivers and can result in accidents.
  • Auto part defects – Car accidents are not always caused by driver error. Some car accidents are caused by design or manufacturing defects in a vehicle. It is important to ensure you keep up with your vehicle’s regularly scheduled maintenance and that you have any recalled parts repaired or replaced right away.

What Should I Do After My Cranston Car Accident?

  • Turn on your car’s hazard lights and only move your vehicle if it is at risk of being hit by another vehicle.
  • Call 911 and request medical attention. Be sure to address any injuries before doing anything else.
  • Record the information of the other driver(s) involved in the accident including their name, address, contact information, and insurance.
  • Take pictures or videos of the accident scene, including the position of the cars and damage to your vehicle, weather, and road conditions.
  • Note the time place, and any clear traffic violations related to the accident.
  • If possible, get witness names, contact information, and statements.

Do I Need an Attorney for a Crash That Was Not My Fault?

While it is not required that you have an attorney to resolve minor car accidents, car accidents that result in medical expenses, lost income, or other costs should be discussed with an experienced car accident lawyer. d’Oliveira & Associates’ auto accident attorneys are experienced in counseling our clients and maximizing compensation to cover costs associated with personal injuries.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Settlement?

Each car accident case differs in the length of time it takes to settle. Factors that affect settlement time include severity of your injuries, communication with insurance companies, and determination of fault in the accident. While some cases are resolved within a matter of weeks, more complicated cases could take longer than a year to resolve. To discuss the specific details of your accident, contactus today.

Will I Have to Go to Court for My Cranston Car Accident Case?

d’Oliveira & Associates attorneys settle the vast majority of our clients’ car accident cases without ever having to set foot in a courtroom. However, if a settlement cannot be reached out of court, our attorneys are not afraid to fight for the compensation you deserve in the roughly 5% of our cases that do go to court.

What If the At-Fault Driver Is Uninsured or Underinsured?

If the driver liable for your accident and injuries is uninsured, or if the other driver flees the scene of the accident, you may likely collect on the uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits for the vehicle you were in at the time of your injury. You may even be able to claim these benefits for other vehicles insured by people in your household. Insurance companies cannot raise your rates if you were not at fault for the accident. In Rhode Island, the minimum uninsured motorist benefits coverage is $25,000 per injured person, and $50,000 total for the accident. Our attorneys can guide you through the uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits process. Read more.

How to Get the Most for Property Damage

On top of receiving compensation for your personal injury expenses, you may also be entitled to compensation for repairing the damage to your vehicle. Simply have your auto body repair mechanic assess the damage and communicate the cost of repair to the insurance adjuster. This will ensure that the insurance company is given an accurate estimate of the costs and prevents them from undercompensating you for the repairs. Read more.

Do I Talk with My Own Insurance Company?

It is important that you contact your insurance agent and file a claim as soon as possible following your accident. Be sure to review your policy to determine what coverage you carry and what claim or claims to file. Our Cranston car accident attorneys are experienced in guiding clients through this process. Tell your agent the specific details of your accident and provide the police accident report and insurance information of the other parties involved in the accident.

Be sure to keep all paperwork associated with your accident and claims, including medical expenses reports and repair bills.

Should I Talk with the Other Driver’s Insurance Company?

We strongly advise against speaking with the at-fault party’s insurance company unless you have first been advised by an experienced attorney. If you do choose to speak with the other party’s insurance, be aware that anything you say can be used against you to minimize your compensation later. Avoid discussing details of your accident and do not agree to any settlement offers or sign any insurance waivers until you are cleared by your treating doctor and no longer experiencing pain following the accident.

How Much Insurance Coverage Is Available in RI?

The minimum liability coverage required for RI drivers is $25,000/$50,000. This means each individual injured in the accident is covered for up to $25,000 and there is up to $50,000 coverage available total for the accident Many Rhode Island drivers carry more than this minimum required coverage and our Cranston car accident attorneys can advise you of the coverage that is available to you.

Dangerous Cranston, RI Roads and Intersections

  • RI 2 Reservoir Ave and RI 12 (Park Ave) – Not only is this intersection one of Cranston’s most dangerous, but one source ranks this roadway as the 5th most dangerous in all of Rhode Island. Within just three years, there were 234 car crashes in this area, 47 of which resulted in injuries and 186 of which resulted in property damage.
  • I–295 Exit 3 – Ranked as the 8th most dangerous roadway in all of RI by one source, this area saw 95 car accidents with 59 resulting injuries in just three years.

Why Do I Need a Cranston Car Accident Lawyer?

Studies show that people who decide to hire a lawyer to handle their personal injury claim recover 2-3 times the amount of compensation as people who decide to handle their case on their own. Insurance companies are out to profit and will likely try to undercompensate you. Let our attorneys focus on your case so you can focus on your recovery.

Why Hire Us?

  • With over three decades of experience, our firm knows all the tricks insurance companies use to try to undercompensate you and we are not afraid to negotiate a maximum settlement on your behalf.
  • Each attorney at d’Oliveira & Associates has over 20 years of experience in resolving RI and MA car accident cases.
  • We provide free case consultations.
  • We answer all phone calls 24/7
  • Our 18 offices are conveniently located throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.
  • No legal fees unless we win!

Contact Us Today

Call our Cranston office anytime at (401) 275-2039 or complete an online contact form.

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