Rhode Island International Flight Injury Lawyer

If you live in Rhode Island and were injured on an international flight, your claim against the airline is usually governed by the Montreal Convention, an international treaty with its own rules on liability, deadlines and where you can sue. Muggeo & Associates represents passengers from across New England in international flight injury claims against U.S. and foreign airlines. Attorney Louis J. Muggeo brings more than 2,000 hours of civilian flight time to the firm’s aviation work.

How Rhode Island Travelers Fly Internationally

Rhode Island’s main commercial airports include Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport in Warwick. T. F. Green has offered seasonal international service, including flights to the Azores, and Rhode Islanders also fly internationally from Boston Logan, about an hour away. The Montreal Convention generally governs injuries on international itineraries from either airport.

Montreal Convention Basics

Accident: The airline is liable for bodily injury caused by an “accident” on board or during embarking or disembarking, meaning an unexpected or unusual event external to the passenger.
Strict liability: Since December 28, 2024, the airline is liable without proof of fault up to 151,880 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) per passenger, and above that amount unless it proves it was not negligent or the damage was caused solely by a third party.
Two-year deadline: Suit must be filed within two years of arrival at the destination, or of when the flight should have arrived.
Where to sue: Article 33 limits the places a claim can be filed, including the destination on the ticket and, for injury or death, the country of the passenger’s principal and permanent residence if the airline serves it.

Read our step-by-step guide on how to make a claim under the Montreal Convention.

Common International Flight Injuries

Falling bags from overhead bins
Severe turbulence
Hot drink and meal burns
Beverage cart injuries
Falls in the aisle, on air stairs or on the jet bridge
Injuries during wheelchair assistance
Hard landings and emergency evacuations

See how courts analyze each in our guide to airline injury types.

Injuries Outside the Convention

If the Montreal Convention does not apply, Rhode Island’s general limitations period for personal injury is three years, with special rules for some claims against public entities.

Representing Rhode Island Passengers

Our attorneys are admitted in Rhode Island, and we can represent Rhode Island residents in state and federal proceedings there, as well as in Massachusetts, New York and Florida where appropriate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are your attorneys licensed in Rhode Island?

Yes. Our attorneys are admitted in Rhode Island as well as Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Florida.

I was hurt on a flight to the Azores. Does the Montreal Convention apply?

Generally yes for a trip between the United States and Portugal, which includes the Azores, because both are parties to the Convention. The claim must be filed within two years of arrival.

Can I sue a Portuguese airline in the United States?

Often. The destination on the ticket, or your principal and permanent residence if the airline serves the United States and does business here, can provide a U.S. forum under the Convention, subject to personal jurisdiction.

Hurt on an international flight? Call Muggeo & Associates at (978) 741-1177 or request a consultation. Montreal Convention claims must be filed within two years of arrival, so do not wait.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Whether the Montreal Convention applies, where a claim can be filed and what can be recovered depend on the ticket, the itinerary and the facts. Our attorneys are admitted in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Florida; where a case must be filed elsewhere, we may work with local counsel. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes. Last reviewed November 2026.

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