Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 28-36 - Workers’ Compensation — Insurance
Section 28-36-11. - Direct liability of insurers other than under workers’ compensation law.

§ 28-36-11. Direct liability of insurers other than under workers’ compensation law.
(a) Every policy subsequently written insuring against liability for personal injuries to employees, other than payment of compensation under chapters 29 — 38 of this title, shall contain provisions to the effect that the insurer shall be directly liable to the injured party and, in the event of his or her death, to the party entitled to sue, to pay him or her the amount of damages for which the insured is liable. The injured party or, in the event of his or her death, the party entitled to sue, in his or her suit against the insured, may join the insurer as a defendant or, in case of suit versus the insurer, may join the insured or the employer, in which case judgment shall bind either or both the insured and the insurer; or the injured party, or in the event of his or her death, the party entitled to sue, after having obtained judgment against the insured or the insurer alone, may proceed on the judgment in a separate action against the insured or insurer. Payment in whole or in part of that liability by either the insured or the insurer shall, to the extent of the payment, be a bar to recovery against the other of the amount so paid. In no case shall the insurer be liable for damages beyond the amount of the face of the policy. This section shall not apply to policies of insurance against loss from explosion of boilers or flywheels or other similar single catastrophic hazards.
(b) All policies made for the insurance against liability described in this section shall be deemed to be made subject to the provisions of this section and all provisions of those policies inconsistent with this section shall be void.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of law or any regulation to the contrary, no workers’ compensation insurer that primarily writes insurance to agricultural employers shall be assessed charges or premiums for an assigned risk pool. For purposes of this section, “agricultural employer” includes any employer that receives eighty percent (80%) or more of its gross income from farming.
History of Section.P.L. 1912, ch. 831, art. 5, § 9; P.L. 1915, ch. 1268, § 1; P.L. 1921, ch. 2095, § 9; G.L. 1923, ch. 92, art. 5, § 9; G.L. 1938, ch. 300, art. 5, § 9; P.L. 1950, ch. 2603, § 1; P.L. 1954, ch. 3297, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 28-36-11; P.L. 1991, ch. 348, § 13.

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