(a)  Any owner of a for-hire motor vehicle or truck who has given proof of financial responsibility under this chapter or who in violation of this chapter has failed to give proof of financial responsibility, shall be jointly and severally liable with any person operating the vehicle for any damages caused by the negligence of any person operating the vehicle by or with the permission of the owner. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an owner who has furnished proof of financial responsibility or any person operating the vehicle from making defense in an action upon the ground of contributory negligence to the extent to which the defense is allowed in other cases.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 31-34-4

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Motor vehicle: means any vehicle driven or drawn by mechanical power for use on the public streets, roads, and highways;

    (2)  "Odometer" means an instrument for measuring and recording the actual distance a motor vehicle travels while in operation;

    (3)  "Person" means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or business trust including, but not limited to, private individuals and motor vehicle dealers, both wholesale and retail, whether the private individual or dealer is a dealer in the ordinary course of business or not;

    (4)  "Repair and replacement" means to restore to a sound working condition by replacing the instrument or any part thereof or by correcting what is inoperative;

    (5)  "Transfer" means to acquire ownership by purchase, gift, bequest, or any other means. See Rhode Island General Laws 31-23.2-2

  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6

(b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, or any provisions contained under this title to the contrary, the valid and collectible liability insurance or self-insurance providing coverage or liability protection for third-party liability claims arising out of the operation of the rental vehicle shall be primary for the lessor or any person operating the motor vehicle, with the express permission of the lessor unless otherwise stated in at least ten-point (10) type on the face of the rental agreement. That insurance or self-insurance is primary only up to the limits required under § 31-47-2(13)(i)(A).

(c)  “Lessor” includes any entity in the business of renting motor vehicles pursuant to a written rental agreement.

History of Section.
P.L. 1950, ch. 2595, art. 20, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 31-34-4; P.L. 1965, ch. 214, § 1; P.L. 1997, ch. 353, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 115, § 2; P.L. 2003, ch. 117, § 2; P.L. 2004, ch. 219, § 6; P.L. 2004, ch. 224, § 6; P.L. 2005, ch. 137, § 6; P.L. 2021, ch. 398, § 6, effective July 14, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 399, § 6, effective July 14, 2021.