DUI causing serious bodily injury is always a felony in Rhode Island. DUI causing minor injury may be charged as a misdemeanor (DUI with injury) or escalated to felony depending on the severity. The line between "minor injury" and "serious bodily injury" is fact-specific and determined by the prosecution based on medical records, witness statements, and accident reports. Cases that look like minor injuries at the scene sometimes escalate to felony charges if hospital evaluation reveals more serious damage. Defense work in injury DUI cases often focuses on contesting the severity classification or the causal connection between impaired driving and the injury.
