Rhode Island Personal Injury Lawyer Practice Areas
Experience, Integrity, Trust
There are forces at work today to deprive people of fair and adequate compensation for injuries suffered as a result of someone else’s wrongdoing. It is our job as lawyers to protect those individuals who alone do not have the resources to protect themselves.
Attorney Ray Pacia's practice focuses on personal injury cases including these situations:
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact Attorney Ray Pacia as soon as possible to learn your options and protect your legal rights. We operate on a contingency basis—there is no fee until we win your case. Call us at 401-RA PACIA (401-727-2242), or contact us online to speak to a skilled Pawtucket injury lawyer who can help.
Auto accidents—car, motorcycle, truck, bus, and pedestrian
Although cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses are all motor vehicles, each one has separate considerations when involved in an accident. Rhode Island injury lawyer Ray Pacia knows the distinctions and applies his experience to help achieve the best outcome for your case.
Automobile accidents
The most common types of lawsuits in today’s courts are automobile accidents. Even a relatively minor accident can involve considerable expense in terms of vehicle damage, medical expenses, and even loss of work. A skilled personal injury lawyer in Rhode Island can make a big difference in what you recover for your damages.
Every auto accident case needs three legs to stand on.
- Liability: Someone must be at fault.
- Damages: Someone must suffer harm and losses to person or property.
- Insurance: Without insurance, the judgment may be a worthless piece of paper.
Personal injury lawyer in Pawtucket Ray Pacia does everything possible to make sure that the three legs your case stands on are as strong as possible.
As soon as Attorney Pacia takes your case, he opens three files.
- The Investigation file bolsters your proof of liability.
- The Medical file ensures that your injuries are properly monitored to make sure you are getting proper medical attention. This file contains the reports that are necessary to prove your claims and the other losses, such as lost wages, that flow from the injury.
- The Correspondence file ensures that Attorney Pacia remains in close contact with all persons involved in the claim in order to cut through all the red tape and delay. Most importantly, this file makes sure that you are insulated from any direct contact with people who may seek to take advantage of you and undermine the strength of your claim.
When your case is ready to evaluate for settlement, you will meet personally with Pawtucket personal injury lawyer Ray Pacia. He will go over everything to make sure that you get the maximum recovery for the three primary elements of damages: medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, plus all the other harms and losses that are allowed under the law. Ray Pacia will also assist you in getting money for your damaged automobile, and he will not charge an attorney fee settlement of auto property damage claims.
An expert in automobile accident cases, and highly regarded among Rhode Island injury lawyers, Ray knows how to identify the accident-related losses that you may not consider, and he can successfully present your case to ensure that you are compensated to the full extent of the law.
Motorcycle accidents
Attorney Ray Pacia has received his Freedom Fighter award from the Rhode Island Motorcycle Association. He will review your specific circumstances with you and help you understand your alternatives. If needed, he will call in experts to inspect the accident site and vehicle damages to prove liability and build a strong case to protect your interests.
Motorcycle accidents are often caused by negligence of the other driver. The courts generally view the less careful person in the accident as having liability and require that person to pay for some or all of the damages suffered by the more careful person. Unfortunately, those damages can be extensive due to the size and nature of motorcycles. If you are on a motorcycle when involved in a collision with another motorcycle or with a larger vehicle, you are likely to face significant injury and damage to your vehicle.
Trucking and bus accidents
Every year, trucking accidents account for a high percentage of fatal vehicle accidents, and the news is full of incidents involving buses. Because of their size and the extra skills required to drive them, truck and bus accidents are likely to result in more personal and property damage than collisions involving smaller vehicles.
Proving liability for trucking accidents tends to be more complex than for automobile accidents. Even attorneys who specialize in truck accidents need additional resources to prove trucking accident liability in trucking accidents. That is why skilled injury lawyer in Rhode Island Ray Pacia will call in experts when needed to help with the following aspects of the case:
- Reconstructing the scene of the accident
- Analysis of forensic evidence from the accident
- Establishing liability to support the attorney’s claims
Ray has the experts on hand to quickly assist with any required investigation and ensure you are properly compensated for your losses. Rhode Island personal injury lawyers like Ray Pacia know that these experts are a key element of valuing and proving your case.
Death claims—catastrophic injury
Wrongful death
When a close family member has been killed as the result of someone’s negligence, recklessness, or even deliberate criminal behavior, no amount of money can truly compensate for your loss. But, even if a wrongful act was already prosecuted in a criminal case, it can also be tried as a private wrongful death suit.
The types of wrongful acts that can result in death are seemingly limitless:
- Careless driving and drunk driving
- Faulty product design or manufacturing
- Poorly-maintained public or private premises
- Dangerous work facilities
- Improper restraint of pets
- Armed robbery
- Murder
If you lose a loved one as a result of a wrongful act, you can recover for lost financial and emotional support in accordance with Rhode Island state statutes.
You need the experience of Attorney Ray Pacia. He examines all details of your case, and he presents you with all of your options. He will work with you to find the best solution and maximize your total recovery. When you are seeking representation by Pawtucket injury lawyers, be sure to speak to Ray Pacia.
Catastrophic injuries
If you were involved in an accident that resulted in a brain or spinal cord injury, this is known as a catastrophic injury. These debilitating injuries are often the result of automobile accidents, falls, sports accidents, or violent acts. Even if you are partially to blame for a catastrophic injury, Rhode Island’s negligence laws can still allow you to recover a portion of the associated expenses.
You will need to face the fact that the financial costs of a catastrophic injury are high, involving these and other expenses:
- Medical costs
- Rehabilitation expenses, such as physical and occupational therapy
- In-home assistance for you
- Assistance in caring for your family
- Lost earnings
- Emotional costs
To ensure the best possible life for you and your family, you need the expertise of Ray Pacia. Ray works with you and your family to identify all costs associated with the injury and help you recover the highest possible award. He knows the details of the Rhode Island state laws, and he can even help you file an effective workers’ compensation claim in the event that the injury occurred at work.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims
Most states have uninsured and underinsured motorist laws, but the details may differ from state to state. All state laws have basic requirements in common:
- At least one party involved in an accident needs to carry a certain amount of insurance.
- Fault must be determined.
- When liability falls with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, the victim has the right to collect losses through a court or arbitration.
If you have ever been involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you may have taken the claim to your own insurance company. You pay the deductible, and your insurance company promises to subrogate your claim and eventually reimburse you. You know it is unlikely that you will ever see that money again.
A better choice is to contact Ray Pacia, who has the legal knowledge to present you with better options based on Rhode Island law. Through a civil suit or arbitration, Ray can help you recoup your losses and maximize your recovery. His skills are highly regarded among Pawtucket personal injury lawyers.
Slip and fall accidents and premises liability
The technical definition of a slip and fall accident is when the interface of the victim’s shoe and the floor fails, for whatever reason. Examples of this type of accident include the following:
- Slipping on a wet floor that was not clearly marked while wet
- Tripping on uneven flooring or rugs while walking through a public facility
- Falling down steps in a dark area of a store or restaurant
- Slipping on black ice in a parking lot
Rhode Island laws may hold both the property owner and the victim fully or partially liable for the accident. While the owner has a duty to keep the property safe, the victim is also seen as having a duty to exercise a reasonable degree of care.
When you know you exercised reasonable care at the time of the accident, it is important to contact a lawyer who has the resources to examine the accident site and provide the expert witnesses who can testify that the property owner is fully or partially at fault.
Ray Pacia will use the necessary resources to ensure that your case is properly handled. His extensive knowledge of Rhode Island’s comparative fault laws will make sure that you do not accept any less than the rightful and legal amount of liability and that you recover all appropriate losses.
Defective products
Defective products can result in major injury or even death. Frequently manufacturers of these defective products put profit over people and fail to eliminate hazards or warn of dangers. Attorney Ray Pacia is experienced in product liability laws and knows how to protect your rights.
Of course, product liability is not just limited to computers or small appliances. It can easily result in major injuries or even death. Consider just a few situations:
- A faulty break system in a new car results in a deadly crash.
- Heavy equipment used by employees at a construction site is improperly maintained, either by the employer or by the business contracted to maintain it, causing severe injury to a worker.
- The poor design of a toddler’s toy causes severe injuries to a child.
- The instruction materials provided with a lawnmower were poorly written or did not provide sufficient warnings, so the lawnmower is improperly used and causes injury.
While product liability laws often pertain to retail items, they actually cover anything that can be sold. These laws hold anyone involved in creating and distributing products liable for their safety if they knew or should have known about product defects.
Ray Pacia is an expert in Rhode Island’s detailed product liability laws, and knows how to protect your rights by demonstrating the following important points:
- All parties responsible for the product had a duty to make sure the product was fit for your uses at the time of the accident.
- Reasonable care during the design, manufacturing, and inspection process for the product would have brought the defects to light before an injury occurred.
- You were properly using the product for reasonable purposes when the injury occurred.
Workers’ Compensation injuries
Every state has its own Workers’ Compensation laws, but all companies in the United States are required to carry Workers’ Compensation insurance for every employee. While it would seem a simple matter to file your own claim when you are injured on the job, it may be helpful or even necessary to seek legal assistance because of these possible factors:
- It can be difficult for an individual to deal with the paperwork and red tape imposed by the insurance company, particularly if you have been seriously injured.
- Your employer can deny liability for the accident, even though you know that a condition on the premises was at fault.
- While your employer might have been liable for the accident, a third party may also be partially at fault, requiring a civil suit in order to collect all damages due to you. For example, if you were struck by a car while walking through your employer’s poorly lit parking lot, your employer and the driver may share the blame.
If you are injured on the job and suspect that your situation may require expert legal assistance, call Ray Pacia. During your free initial consultation, he will determine if your case will require his help.
Medical malpractice
Medical malpractice causes the deaths of thousands of Americans annually. Even more people experience seriously or permanent injuries due to malpractice. Attorney Ray Pacia knows how to handle the details of these often complex cases—critical when you or a loved one has been injured due to medical malpractice.
Medical malpractice encompasses a wide range of negligent acts, including these:
- Failure to diagnose or delaying diagnosis
- Incorrect diagnosis
- Negligence when performing a surgical procedure
- Birth injuries or trauma
- Ignoring undesirable prescription drug reactions
- Misuse of prescription drugs or medical devices
- Inappropriate patient treatment after a correct diagnosis
Attorney Ray Pacia understands medical malpractice laws, and he can determine when you or a loved one has experienced a valid medical malpractice situation.
Construction site injuries
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) expects over 1,000 construction workers to suffer a work-related fatality this year. Many others will be injured in avoidable accidents.
If you are a construction worker, or even if you regularly must walk or drive near a construction site, you need to be aware of all the possible causes of construction injuries. Here are just a few examples:
- Falling debris can injure anyone—workers or pedestrians alike—near the site if proper protective measures are not in place.
- If proper barriers are not in place, anyone can be hit by heavy equipment.
- Workers can be injured by defective equipment.
- Improperly maintained equipment can also injure workers.
- Defective scaffolding can tip or collapse, causing severe injuries or even death.
Most injured workers can receive workers’ compensation benefits for medical costs and lost wages from their employers, but they may be unable to file a lawsuit against a negligent employer. There are often other parties who may be responsible for the accident.
Whether you are an employee or even an innocent passerby who was injured at a construction site, Ray Pacia knows the Rhode Island laws governing these situations. He can unravel potentially complex construction site liability issues to ensure that you are fairly compensated for all injuries you sustain.
Boating and recreational injuries
Boating and other recreational activities are meant to be fun. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 213,000 people are treated each year for injuries sustained in outdoor recreational activities. Even more disturbing: more than half of those injuries are sustained by young people between the ages of 10 and 24.
While it is your responsibility to make sure you are properly educated in safe recreational practices, if you are involved in an accident, others may be liable for the incident:
- Your boat may have defective parts that caused a collision.
- A rented boat may not have been supplied with proper life vests or other safety equipment.
- Public nature trails may have been improperly maintained, or significant dangers, such as a sudden drop, may have been unmarked.
If you followed the safety rules but were injured during a recreational activity, you should discuss your legal options with Ray Pacia. He knows the liability laws, and he can help you recover your costs.
Child injuries—bicycle accidents, dog bites
Your child’s safety and health are more important to you than your own. In a perfect world, you would like to personally supervise your child every moment, but children go to school, visit friends, and participate in normal activities every day under the supervision of others. Even when you are watching, unforeseen events can happen, such as a bicycle accident or an attack by a vicious dog.
Bicycle accidents
Not all bicycle accidents are your child’s fault. Consider these situations:
- Improper bicycle construction causes it to collapse.
- Sharp objects along a bicycle path rupture one or both tires.
- A hired child supervisor is not paying attention and fails to correct an improper act by your child.
If you have even a slight concern that your child was hurt due to the negligence of others, call Ray Pacia as soon as possible. He can tell you if you have a case, and he has the resources to find out what really happened.
Dog bites
About 4.7 million people suffer dog bites in the United States every year. The news is full of stories of dog attacks on children. A large percentage of those dog bites require medical attention, and some are actually fatal. Rhode Island is a strict liability state in dog bite law. This means that dog owners are generally considered liable for any injuries caused by their dogs.
Even in a strict liability state, however, there are times when liability can fall to the victim. Ray Pacia knows the details of Rhode Island’s dog bite laws. He will fight to recover all damages that are legally due to you, including money for disfigurement and scarring.
Hit and run and pedestrian accidents
When you walk rather than drive, you may feel you have made the safer choice. Unfortunately, when involved in an accident with a motor vehicle, a pedestrian is likely to sustain serious injuries. In many cases, the driver remains at the scene and even calls for medical help. All too often, however, the driver runs away, perhaps as a result of shock, or perhaps as a malicious act.
According to Rhode Island law, the driver of any vehicle is required to remain at the scene of an accident where personal injury is involved. When hit and run drivers are found, they potentially face serious criminal charges.
If you are injured as a pedestrian, you need legal help. And, if you are injured by a hit and run driver who has been identified, you need to realize that the criminal charges will not help you to recoup your medical and other expenses from the incident. You need to contact Ray Pacia. He has the experience you need to thoroughly handle every detail to build your case, including these:
- Obtaining police records associated with your case
- Calling upon expert medical experts to testify on your physical and emotional condition
- Identifying all costs that have been and will be required to allow you to return to your life, even in the event that you have suffered permanent disability
Insurance law and bad faith claims
Dealing with insurance companies can be daunting, especially when they fail to pay a justified claim or pay only a portion of that claim. Insurance companies are required by law to deal fairly with their customers. They are not permitted to fabricate reasons for denying claims that are cited as covered in your policy. And, if the policy language is confusing, you may actually have a case for having your claim paid outside of the actual policy stipulations.
When an insurance company does not pay fairly, you may have a bad faith claim against the insurance company. If you suspect that you are dealing with a bad faith claim, keep in mind that insurance companies have legal teams in place—you cannot handle this without expert legal assistance. Ray Pacia is an expert in insurance law and bad faith claims. He will examine your claim and your policy to determine the best approach to winning your case, and potentially recovering related costs as well.
Burn injuries
Burn injuries are typically thought to be a result of exposure to fire. In fact, burn injuries can be caused by many different sources:
- Friction
- Electricity
- Gas explosions
- Chemicals
Unlike many injuries, burn victims face a longer recovery and the possibility of multiple surgeries to minimize the physical and cosmetic damage, and they often have to deal with the fact that complete recovery is not possible. In addition to the physical scars, burn victims experience extensive emotional trauma. The experience is even more painful when the accident was the result of negligence. Attorney Ray Pacia understands the unique issues associated with burn injuries. He will use all legal avenues to build a strong case to get you the compensation you need.
General negligence
Injury is often the result of negligence, which can happen in virtually any imaginable situation. By law, negligence is defined as having four elements.
- Duty: A person is responsible for acting properly in a given situation.
- Breach: The person failed to act properly.
- Causation: The negligent conduct caused injury to person or property.
- Damages: The harms and losses must be quantified into a specific amount of money that provides full and adequate compensation to the injured person.
In addition to all the areas you have seen on this page, here are a few more (but certainly not all) examples of situations that would be defined as potential negligence cases.
- Drowning accidents
- Injuries due to public transportation accidents, including buses, trains, and planes
- Medical malpractice
- Assault
The bottom line is that if you are injured as a result of someone’s negligence, no matter what the situation, you need a lawyer who knows how to prepare and present your case. Let Ray Pacia help you get back on your feet with the award you deserve.
Free initial consultation and interview with a skilled injury lawyer in Rhode Island
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact Ray as soon as possible to learn your options and protect your legal rights. We operate on a contingency basis—there is no fee until we achieve fair and adequate compensation for your harms and losses. Call us at 401-RA PACIA (401-727-2242), or contact us online to speak to one of the top personal injury lawyers in Rhode Island. Out-of-state clients can call toll free 800-933-0390.
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