Other Vehicle Accidents

Rhode Island Attorney Helping Injured Victims Pursue Compensation

When people hear of vehicle collisions, they typically think of car accidents, but other types of vehicles are often involved in accidents as well. If you sustained injuries in an accident involving a bicycle, boat, bus, moped, or any other type of vehicle, it is in your best interest to confer with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney to discuss the claims that you may be able to pursue. David Tapalian is a trusted Rhode Island vehicle accident lawyer with ample experience helping victims injured in a wide range of accidents pursue damages for their harm, and he will work tirelessly to help you seek the best legal result achievable in your case.

Bicycle Accidents

Many people throughout Rhode Island ride bicycles for sport or as a means of transportation, and drivers are required to give bicyclists the respect that they are owed under the law. Specifically, the law requires that drivers must provide a safe distance when passing bicyclists, and they must check prior to opening their doors on a street or road to ensure that this can be done without interfering with other traffic, including bicyclists. When drivers fail to abide by these rules, it often results in a bicycle accident that causes devastating injuries. People injured in bicycle accidents may be able to recover damages from the driver who caused the accident if they can show that the driver was negligent. Proving negligence requires evidence of a duty owed by the driver, a breach of the duty, and harm proximately caused by the breach.

Boating Accidents

Boating is a popular activity in Rhode Island, and boating accidents are unfortunately common as well. Accidents involving boats are often caused by inexperienced or reckless operators, operating while intoxicated, or defects in a boat. Boating accidents can cause significant injuries, including fractures, hemorrhages, traumatic brain injuries, and amputations. If you suffered harm due to a boating accident, a vehicle accident attorney in Rhode Island can help you pursue claims against the driver of the boat, or if the boat was defective, the manufacturer of the boat or the party responsible for maintaining the boat. Damages recoverable may include the cost of any medical treatment, lost wages, and damages for pain and suffering.

Bus Accidents

Buses provide cost-effective and convenient transportation to many people. Bus accidents differ from other motor vehicle collisions in that a bus driver owes a different duty than other drivers. In other words, in most cases, a driver who causes an accident is held to a reasonable person standard, whereas buses are deemed common carriers. Therefore, they are required to exercise the highest degree of diligence and care to protect the safety of their passengers. Bus drivers who breach this duty can be held liable for any harm that ensues, and the bus company may be liable as well. A victim should consult a Rhode Island vehicle accident attorney who is experienced in these complex cases.

Moped Accidents

Mopeds are a fun and economical way to get around, but they are not without risks. Mopeds lack the external protection provided by other vehicles, and when a person operating a moped is involved in an accident, they can suffer catastrophic injuries. Collisions often occur when other drivers fail to notice mopeds and strike them from behind, or change into a lane where a moped is traveling. In some cases, even if a person causes a collision with a moped rider, the person will try to evade liability by arguing that the moped rider caused the accident. Under Rhode Island law, however, even if an injured person was partially at fault for an accident, he or she still may be awarded a reduced amount of damages.

Meet with an Experienced Injury Attorney to Discuss Your Accident

If you were injured in an accident involving a bicycle, boat, bus, moped, or any other vehicle, you should meet with an experienced vehicle accident lawyer in Rhode Island regarding your potential claims. Attorney David Tapalian is skilled at handling a variety of accident cases and will gather the evidence needed to provide you with a strong chance of a successful result. Tapalian Law’s main office is in Providence, with availability by appointment at additional offices in Warwick RI and in Seekonk, Massachusetts. Our firm represents injured people in the Providence area and in neighboring areas of Massachusetts. Attorney Tapalian can be contacted through the online form or at 401-552-5000 to set up a free appointment.