Key facts: Rhode Island
- When the clock starts
- Generally the date of injury for personal injury claims; the date of death for wrongful death. Rhode Island follows the discovery rule for most negligence claims, which delays accrual when the injury was not, or could not reasonably have been, discovered at the time.
- Last verified
- 2026-05-22
- Source type
- Primary (state code or court opinion)
Details and exceptions for Rhode Island
Three years for both PI and wrongful death. The wrongful death discovery rule extends the deadline when the cause of death was not known at the time of death. Effective January 1, 2024, R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-7-2 sets minimum wrongful death damages at $350,000.
Related: Rhode Island comparative negligence rule
Rhode Island follows a pure comparative rule. Pure comparative negligence by statute; damages are diminished in proportion to the claimant’s fault with no percentage bar.
Read the full Rhode Island comparative negligence rule →This page is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Notice deadlines for claims against governmental units, medical malpractice, intentional torts, and other special categories run on separate tracks and can be much shorter. Confirm the controlling rule with a licensed Rhode Island attorney before relying on it.