Yes. In Rhode Island, your brother can usually change lawyers mid-case, and the other driver's insurance company does not get to choose his treating doctor for a regular car crash claim.

Here is how it breaks down, because the answer changes depending on what kind of "doctor" this is:

If the insurer sent him to an exam doctor: that is usually an IME or insurer exam, not real treatment. The liability carrier may ask for an exam to challenge injuries, especially in a Providence work-zone crash on I-95, Route 10, or near lane shifts and flaggers. That doctor is there to evaluate, not to manage care. Missing the exam can hurt the claim, but your brother still generally chooses his own treatment providers.

If he is getting regular treatment through his own doctor or specialist: the insurer can question it, but it usually cannot force a switch. Gaps in treatment, changing providers repeatedly, or waiting weeks after the crash can create problems, especially with back and neck injuries that show up after the adrenaline wears off. Dense fog on bridge approaches and sudden construction backups around Providence make delayed-symptom claims common, but the records need to connect the symptoms to the crash.

If this was a work-related crash - for example, Grubhub delivery or another on-the-job driving situation - workers' comp rules can complicate doctor choice. The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training may be involved, and the employer's carrier will have more say than an ordinary auto insurer.

On the lawyer issue, he can usually fire the current lawyer and hire a new one. The old lawyer may claim a lien for work already done and case costs, but that does not trap him. He should get a copy of the file, check whether suit has already been filed in Providence County Superior Court, and make sure no exam, deposition, or filing deadline is about to hit.

If bills are piling up, also check whether there is MedPay, health insurance reimbursement rights, or a hospital lien issue. Rhode Island's minimum auto coverage is only $25,000/$50,000/$25,000, so medical bill strategy matters early.