R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-1 (2026)

Duty to stop in accidents resulting in personal injury

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) The driver of any vehicle knowingly involved in an accident resulting in injury to, serious bodily injury to, or death of any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to it as possible, but shall then immediately return to and in every event shall remain at the scene of the accident until he or she has fulfilled the requirements of § 31-26-3. A stop shall be made without obstructing traffic more than is necessary.

(b) Any person knowingly failing to stop or to comply with the requirements under circumstances which result in injury to any person shall upon conviction be punished by a mandatory loss of license for at least one year and not more than five (5) years and imprisonment for not more than five (5) years and/or fined up to five thousand dollars ($5,000).

(c)(1) Any person knowingly failing to stop or to comply with the requirements under circumstances which result in serious bodily injury to any person shall upon conviction be punished as follows:

(i) Every person convicted of a first violation shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year and for not more than ten (10) years and by a fine of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000). The sentencing judge shall have the discretion to sentence the person to any unit of the adult correctional institutions. Additionally, the license of the person shall be revoked for a period of up to two (2) years. The license privilege shall not be reinstated until evidence satisfactory to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles establishes that no grounds exist which would authorize refusal to issue a license and until the person gives proof of financial responsibility pursuant to chapter 32 of this title.

(ii) For a second or subsequent conviction under this subsection within a five (5) year period, a person shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than two (2) years nor more than fifteen (15) years and by a fine of not less than three thousand dollars ($3,000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000). The sentencing judge shall have the discretion to sentence the person to any unit of the adult correctional institutions. Additionally, the license of the person shall be revoked for a period of up to four (4) years. The license privilege shall not be reinstated until evidence satisfactory to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles establishes that no grounds exist which would authorize refusal to issue a license and until the person gives proof of financial responsibility pursuant to chapter 32 of this title.

(2) As used in this subsection, “serious bodily injury” means physical injury that creates a substantial risk of death or causes serious physical disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.

(d) Any person knowingly failing to stop or to comply with the requirements under circumstances which result in the death of any person, shall upon conviction be punished pursuant to the provisions of this subsection as follows:

(1) Every person convicted of a first violation of this subsection shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than two (2) years and for not more than fifteen (15) years, in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge, by a fine of not less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) nor more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and his or her license to operate a motor vehicle shall be revoked for a period of three (3) years. The license privilege shall not be reinstated until evidence satisfactory to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles establishes that no grounds exist which would authorize the refusal to issue a license, and until the person gives proof of financial responsibility pursuant to chapter 32 of this title.

(2) Every person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of this subsection within a five (5) year period shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than five (5) years and for not more than twenty (20) years, in any unit of the adult correctional institutions in the discretion of the sentencing judge, by a fine of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) nor more than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) and his or her license to operate a motor vehicle shall be revoked for a period of five (5) years. The license privilege shall not be reinstated until evidence satisfactory to the administrator of the division of motor vehicles establishes that no grounds exist which would authorize the refusal to issue a license, and until the person gives proof of financial responsibility pursuant to chapter 32 of this title.

(e) This section shall apply in its entirety to any driver of a motor vehicle knowingly involved in an accident with a person riding a bicycle.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 17 cases, 1961–2012 · leading case: State v. Smyth, 397 A.2d 497 (R.I. 1979).
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State v. Smyth, 397 A.2d 497 (R.I. 1979). · cites it 3× “1956 (1968 Reenactment) §31-26-1. 1 If we answer this question in the affirmative, we are then asked to consider whether the reporting requirements of this statute violate the Rhode Island constitutional protection against self-incrimination.”
State v. Bleau, 649 A.2d 215 (R.I. 1994). · cites it 4× “1956 (1982 Reenactment) § 31-26-1. Bleau raises the following arguments on appeal: (1) the trial justice erred in not allowing him to make an opening statement following the state’s opening statement, (2) the trial justice erred in denying his motion for judgment of acquittal…”
State v. Sabetta, 672 A.2d 451 (R.I. 1996). · cites it 5× “324, § 1, and of one count of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury in violation of G.L.1956 § 31-26-1. After reviewing the memoranda submitted by the parties and after hearing their counsel in oral argument, this court concludes that cause has not been…”
Fitzpatrick v. Pare, 568 A.2d 1012 (R.I. 1990). · cites it 2× “1956 (1982 Reenactment) §§ 31-26-1 and 31-26-3. 1 On July 12, 1984, the Rhode Island Registry of Motor Vehicles notified plaintiff that his license and registration were being suspended for one year effective July 23, 1984 based on G.”
Sentry Ins. Co. v. Castillo, 574 A.2d 138 (R.I. 1990). · cites it 2× “1956 (1982 Reenactment) § 31-26-1. For the purposes of deciding whether to require coverage, therefore, we see no distinction between off-road use on a private athletic field not designed for snowmobile use and off-road use in a DEM-designated area.”
State v. Szarek, 433 A.2d 193 (R.I. 1981). · cites it 2× “1956 (1968 Reenactment) § 31-26-1, as amended by P.L. 1978, ch. 208, § 1, and it provides: “(a) The driver of any vehicle knowingly involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close…”
Fitzpatrick v. Pare, 552 A.2d 1185 (R.I. 1989). · cites it 2× “1956 (1982 Reenactment) §§ 31-26-1 and 31-26-3. Sections 31-26-1 and 31-26-3 generally require that a driver involved in an automobile accident resulting in personal injury stop, provide certain information to the occupants of the other vehicle or vehicles, and render reasonable…”
State v. Nidever, 390 A.2d 368 (R.I. 1978). “1956 (1968 Reenactment) § 31-26-1(a) which provides: "The driver of any vehicle knowingly involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then…”
State v. Rose, 311 A.2d 281 (R.I. 1973). “' 1 General Laws 1956 (1968 Reenactment) §31-26-1 reads, in part, as follows: “Duty to stop in accidents resulting in personal injury.”
State v. Watkins, 448 A.2d 1260 (R.I. 1982). “1956 (1968 Reenactment) § 31-26-1, as amended by P.L. 1978, ch. 208, § 1.”
State v. Deans, 174 A.2d 666 (R.I. 1961). · cites it 2× “1956, §31-26-1, which provides that the operator of any vehicle involved in an accident resulting in personal injuries or death shall stop and remain at the scene thereof.”
State v. Northup, 486 A.2d 589 (R.I. 1985). “1956 (1982 Reenactment) § 31-27-1; leaving the scene of an accident after personal injury, in violation of § 31-26-1 (two counts); and attempting to elude a traffic officer, in violation of § 31-27-4.”
Show all 17 citing cases →
— R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-26-1(a) — 1 case
State v. Nidever, 390 A.2d 368 (R.I. 1978). “1956 (1968 Reenactment) § 31-26-1(a) which provides: "The driver of any vehicle knowingly involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of any person shall immediately stop such vehicle at the scene of such accident or as close thereto as possible but shall then…”
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