What Is the Statute of Limitations for Medical Malpractice in Rhode Island?
In Rhode Island, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice is generally 3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.1.
Medical malpractice Deadlines in Rhode Island
How long do you have to file a medical malpractice claim in Rhode Island?
In Rhode Island, the statute of limitations for medical malpractice is generally 3 years under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14.1.
When does the clock start for medical malpractice in Rhode Island?
Three years from the occurrence of the incident.
Can the Rhode Island deadline for medical malpractice be extended?
Three statutory carve-outs: a minor may sue any time up to age 21; a person under disability by mental incompetence gets three years from removal of the disability; and where the injury could not reasonably have been discovered, three years from when it should have been discovered. Note the section also covers veterinary, accounting, insurance and real estate broker malpractice — an unusually broad grouping.
Is the deadline different if the claim is against the government in Rhode Island?
Often, yes. Written notice within 90 days under R.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-25. Section 9-1-25 requires written notice of a claim against a city or town within ninety days after the incident. That is a fraction of the three-year injury period and is easy to miss entirely. The State and its subdivisions also have damages caps. Not confirme…
How does Rhode Island compare to other states for medical malpractice?
Rhode Island's 3 years is in the middle of the range nationally. Across the 51 jurisdictions with a verified figure, the deadline for medical malpractice ranges from 1 year to 4 years, and 2 years is the most common. Compare all states →
What Does Medical Malpractice Cover?
Situations that typically fall under the medical malpractice deadline in Rhode Island:
