Hilo Personal Injury Lawyer

Located on the northeastern side of Hawaii, the town of Hilo, HI, is breathtakingly beautiful and offers various amenities to both residents and visitors alike. The area is located on the flip side of the Kohala Coast and is blessed with fertile rainforests, dramatic waterfalls, and blooming gardens. 

Although visiting the area can be fun and rejuvenating, there are instances, like anywhere else, where people are involved in accidents that leave their lives forever altered.  Whether you have been injured as a result of a car accident, due to medical malpractice, or as a result of another type of accident, it is important that you are aware of your legal rights. 

After an accident, you may be able to file a claim for compensation, so you have the financial resources that you need for medical bills, lost wages, and more. Seeking help from a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible can help to ensure that you are able to maximize the compensation you recover. 

At Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner, our personal injury lawyers are fully dedicated to helping each client we represent seek the maximum amount of compensation possible following their accidents. Our team has decades of experience and has represented clients on some of the most complex legal claims. We have a track record of success in helping our clients recover the maximum compensation for their personal injury cases. If you are interested in seeing how our team can help you throughout the legal process, schedule a free consultation with our personal injury lawyers today. 

Statute of Limitations for a Personal Injury Claim

In Hawaii, people who are injured in accidents due to someone else’s negligence are able to file personal injury cases against those who caused them harm. These cases must be filed within the statute of limitations. In general, an injured person has a period of two years to file a personal injury claim following their accident. The time begins on the day of the accident. If a person ends up passing away as a result of their injuries, the statute of limitation begins tolling on the day the person passes.  This type of personal injury claim is a wrongful death lawsuit. 

It is crucial to understand that there are various factors that can both shorten and lengthen the time that a person must file a personal injury claim against the responsible party. For this reason, you are strongly advised to reach out to our personal injury attorney to get a better understanding of the time that you have to file a personal injury claim. 

Our dedicated legal team can help you seek the maximum amount of compensation possible for your personal injury claim. It is crucial that you reach out to our personal injury law firm at your earliest convenience to schedule a free consultation. 

Cases Our Personal Injury Attorneys Handle

Every year, thousands of people in Hilo, Hawaii, and across the state of Hawaii are left with serious injuries as a result of accidents. If you are unfortunate enough to suffer injuries as a result of an accident, it is important that you are able to take legal action against the responsible party.  

A personal injury claim can provide you with the true financial relief that you need to cover the costs and losses you face. In order to provide yourself with the best chance of getting justice, you must seek help from a personal injury law firm that has extensive experience handling claims like yours. 

Our dedicated personal injury lawyers at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner have decades of experience fighting to protect the legal rights of injury clients who have been harmed in accidents through no fault of their own. Some of the types of personal injury cases that our Hawaii attorneys handle include: 

Motor vehicle accidents

• Car accidents 
• Truck accidents 
• Drunk driving accidents 
• Moped and motorcycle accidents 
• Pedestrian accidents 
• Bicycle accidents 

Medical malpractice

• Medication errors 
• Birth injury 
• Informed consent violations 
• Medical device errors 
• Misinterpretation of lab results 
• Misdiagnosis 
• Anesthesia malpractice 
• Medication / Pharmaceutical error 
• Laboratory error 

Premises liability accidents

• Slip and fall accidents 
• Dog bites or animal attacks 
• Toxic substance exposure 
• Construction site accidents 
• Fire hazards and burn injuries 
• Electrical accidents 
• Construction site accidents 
• Swimming pool accidents 

Product liability cases

• Marketing defects 
• Design defects 
• Failure to warn 
• Improper labeling 
• Defective packaging 

Recreational Activity Accidents

• Helicopter accidents 
• Ocean drowning incidents 
• Scuba and snorkeling accidents 
• Parasailing and other boating accidents 
• Bicycle tour accidents 
• ATV tour accidents 

We understand that an injured person’s life can be severely impacted by a serious personal injury. For this reason, our dedicated legal team is fully committed to helping each client we represent achieve the best possible outcome for their personal injury cases.  

We are not only committed to protecting the legal rights of our clients, but we fight to ensure their best interests are protected as well.  

You do not have to move forward alone after suffering injuries in an accident on the Big Island. Contact our personal injury law firm now for a free consultation to see how our team can help you. 

Common Injuries From Personal Injury Accidents

Even though no accident is the same as the next one, there are many instances where people suffer common types of injuries. Unfortunately, any injury has the potential to cause overwhelming pain and suffering and requires extensive medical care. Common injuries that we see here in Hawaii following accidents include: 

Internal organ damage: These injuries generally affect the organs inside the body. We often see patients involved in accidents left with injuries to the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. These injuries can be incredibly life-threatening, especially if they are not treated in a timely manner. Unfortunately, when internal organs are injured or damaged, they do not function properly. As a result, they may not be able to perform their essential role in the body. This can have life-altering consequences and force accident victims to rely on medication indefinitely. 

Permanent scarring or disfigurements: These injuries entail permanent physical changes to a person’s appearance as a result of an accident. Not only can permanent scarring and disfigurements be incredibly painful, but they can cause overwhelming emotional trauma as well. These injuries can be incredibly challenging to manage and may require surgery, such as skin grafting or other medical procedures. 

Loss of limbs: Being involved in an accident can very well result in the complete loss of a limb. The type of limb that a person can lose in the accident depends typically on the type of accident in which they are involved. It also depends on the location of the injury. Unfortunately, there are many instances where people lose their hands, arms, feet, and legs as a result of accidents that take place here on the Big Island. 

Inhalation injuries: These serious injuries impact the respiratory system of a person who suffers from them. Unfortunately, inhalation injuries can be caused by exposure to chemicals, smoke, and other substances. There are many instances where people suffer these injuries as a result of construction site accidents, explosions, house fires, and even chemical spills. Inhalation injuries can result in shortness of breath, breathing problems, and a burning sensation in the lungs. 

Back injuries: Back injuries are those that affect the spine and the muscles in the back. These injuries can include strains and sprains, herniated discs, and fractures. In some cases, accident victims may suffer from sciatica due to their nerves being compressed or irritated during an accident. Many people who suffer from back injuries as a result of accidents require extensive medical care. Unfortunately, back injuries are one of the leading causes of permanent disabilities in the country. 

Facial injuries: There are countless instances where people involved in accidents suffer from facial injuries. These injuries include cuts and lacerations, fractures, and other injuries that impact the eyes, mouth, nose, and surrounding tissue on the face. These injuries can be severe burns, dental injuries, trauma to the eye, and severe fractures. Treatment for facial injuries can depend significantly on the severity of the injury and the type of the injury that a person suffers from. Treatment options can include medication, surgery, and caring for the wound. In some cases, facial injuries can result in long-term complications, such as vision loss or even nerve damage. 

Neck and soft tissue injuries: These debilitating injuries affect the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissue in the neck region. There are many types of neck and soft tissue injuries that we see injured parties left with. These can include whiplash, pinched nerves, next sprains, herniated discs, and even strains. Neck and soft tissue injuries can be incredibly debilitating and result in overwhelming pain. Many people who suffer from these injuries experience a range of motion limitations. In some cases, injured parties have to go through months of therapy and rehabilitation while relying on education. In severe cases, surgery may be required. 

Broken bones/compound fractures: Suffering a severely broken bone as a result of an accident can be debilitating. We see many people who are forced to wear casts for several months after their accidents. In severe cases, surgery may be required to address the broken bones and to help with the healing process. 

Burn injuries: Burn injuries are incredibly painful. When people suffer from severe burns as a result of accidents, they often have to undergo surgery. The unfortunate truth is that burns can result in significant scarring. In severe cases, people who suffer from severe burn injuries may experience nerve and muscle damage. 

Severe cuts and lacerations: Severe cuts and lacerations can be incredibly debilitating. These injuries may result in excessive loss of blood and can leave people with permanent scars. Cuts and lacerations can cause damage to the nerves and muscles in severe cases. Unfortunately, these injuries often require emergency medical treatment and may require long-term care in some cases. People who suffer from these injuries also run the risk of experiencing severe infections, which may be life-threatening. 

Crushing injuries: Crushing injuries typically occur when a limb is compressed between two objects. They may also become crushed under a heavy object. These injuries can result in severe nerve injuries, tissue damage, and even the loss of blood flow. Many people who suffer from crushing injuries require amputations. 

Unfortunately, these injuries can have an overwhelming impact on the lives of those who are harmed. A serious personal injury can impact your ability to work or even engage in other activities that you enjoyed prior to your accident. 

Justice for Accident Victims with Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries that are caused by accidents can be incredibly traumatic and life-altering.  Catastrophic injuries can leave those harmed permanently disabled and in extreme pain indefinitely. The physical and emotional pain and suffering inflicted on those harmed can be immeasurable. For this reason, it is important that you seek justice by filing a personal injury claim against the person who is responsible. Although no amount of money can alleviate the pain and suffering that you have been forced to endure, it may be able to provide you with some relief when it comes to moving forward. 

Our dedicated personal injury lawyers at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner have a proven track record of success when it comes to representing those who have been harmed due to the negligence of others. Our team can fully assist you with gathering evidence and negotiating compensation with the insurance company. If necessary, we will take your case to trial. 

Over the years, we have represented clients in Hilo, HI, and all across Hawaii who have suffered injuries as a result of negligent parties. Some of the catastrophic injury claims that we have handled for our clients include those involving: 

• Multiple bone fractures 
• Organ damage 
• Eye injuries 
• Hearing loss 
• Traumatic brain injury 
• Spinal cord injuries 
• Amputations 
• Burn injuries 
• Paralysis 
• Chronic pain conditions 

Whether you have suffered a brain injury, spinal cord injury, or any type of serious personal injury, it is critically important that you are able to get justice after being harmed due to the negligence of another person. Our personal injury lawyer will provide you with the support and compassion you need as we move through the litigation process and fight for justice on your behalf. 

Damages You Can Recover

Being involved in an accident can result in physical and emotional stress and struggles. Unfortunately, many people are left with significant financial consequences as well. The financial burdens that injured parties and their families face can be challenging to overcome. 

After suffering a serious personal injury, it is important that you seek legal guidance from our personal injury attorney right away. After your accident, our dedicated legal team will be able to help you seek financial compensation by filing legal action against the responsible party. 

Our team has decades of experience handling personal injury cases for residents of Hilo, HI, helping them to recover fair compensation after suffering injuries and accidents through no fault of their own. Some of the damages that our team will help you recover through personal injury litigation include compensation for: 

• Medical expenses: After being involved in an accident, you may require emergency medical care. Depending on the severity of these injuries, medical bills can quickly add up and become a significant financial burden for accident victims and their families. For this reason, you can seek financial compensation for the medical expenses you face following your accidents. 
• Cost of transportation for medical treatment: After being harmed in an accident, making regular trips to the doctor’s office, for physical therapy, or for other medical needs, it can be challenging to get to appointments. Unfortunately, the cost of transportation can quickly add up. In most cases, those harmed in accidents do not take into consideration the expenses associated with transportation to appointments. In Hawaii, injured parties can recover compensation for the transportation costs that they face in association with the medical treatment that they need for their injuries. 
• Pain and suffering: The physical and emotional pain and suffering that a person experiences after being involved in an accident can be incredibly severe. In some cases, the injuries that people are left with can have an overwhelming impact on their ability to work and even enjoy their life. For this reason, personal injury law in Hawaii provides those harmed with the ability to seek compensation for the pain and suffering that they deal with as a result of their accidents. 
• Emotional distress: Emotional distress is another damage that can be recovered in a personal injury lawsuit. Emotional distress generally refers to the psychological trauma and emotional suffering that a person experiences after being harmed in an accident. Having strong evidence in support of your claim can help to ensure that you are able to maximize the compensation you can recover for this damage. 
• Lost wages: After being involved in an accident, you may have to spend significant time off work. A personal injury lawsuit allows you to seek compensation for any of the lost wages you have been forced to endure, after having been unable to work for a period of time after being involved in an accident. 
• Future earning capacity: If an accident renders you unable to return to work or limits your ability to earn a living, you may be able to recover compensation for lost earning capacity. It can be incredibly hard to calculate the lost earning capacity that an injured party will experience over their lifetime. For this reason, our personal injury attorneys seek help from financial experts who can calculate the lost earnings based on age, education level, occupation, and the potential for promotions. 
• Loss of consortium: Being involved in an accident can cause significant strains between spouses, children and their parents, and between other familial bonds. For this reason, those who are injured as a result of accidents in Hilo have the ability to pursue compensation for loss of consortium. These damages are designed to compensate for the negative impact that injuries and accidents cause.
• Cost of household services: After suffering a personal injury, you may not be able to complete routine household tasks. This can include cooking, cleaning, and even doing laundry. This can result in additional expenses related to hiring someone to take on these tasks for you. In a personal injury lawsuit, injured parties are able to seek compensation to cover the cost of household services that they have endured as a result of their accident. 
• Loss of enjoyment of life: It is undeniable that a serious injury can have an overwhelming impact on your life. Suffering a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, or another significant injury as a result of an accident can prevent you from working and can severely impact your ability to engage in various activities. You may not even be able to engage in hobbies like you used to. For this reason, Hawaii courts provide an injured person with the ability to seek compensation for the loss of enjoyment of life that they experience as a result of their accident. The loss of enjoyment of life can encompass both physical and emotional aspects. It can be challenging to prove the loss of enjoyment of life, so it is important to seek help from an experienced personal injury attorney immediately. 
• Disfigurement and scarring:  Disfigurement and scarring are frequent outcomes of personal injury accidents. This can include burns, severe lacerations, and even bone fractures. These injuries can be emotionally distressing and affect your quality of life. Depending on the severity of the disfigurement or the scarring, compensation can vary. If the scarring or disfigurement is permanent in nature and it impacts your ability to work or socialize, then it may have a significant value in your legal case. 

After being injured in an accident, it is crucial that you work with a knowledgeable attorney who can guide you through the litigation process and fight for the maximum compensation possible for your personal injury claim. 

Our dedicated personal injury lawyers at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner are fully committed to helping each person we work with achieve a full financial recovery after being injured in an accident. 

Helping Families Through Wrongful Death Claims

The loss of a loved one can be incredibly difficult to deal with. Unfortunately, there are many instances where innocent people die as a result of the careless and negligent actions of others. If your loved one has died due to an accident caused by another person, your family has the right to file a wrongful death claim against the responsible party. 

In Hawaii, there are various parties who can pursue wrongful death claims after losing loved ones and accidents. In general, these parties include the following family members of the decedent: 

• Surviving spouse 
• Surviving children 
• Surviving parents 
• Any person specifically identified as the personal representative of the deceased victim’s estate 

Filing a wrongful death claim can help your family seek financial compensation for some of the damages that you face moving forward. A wrongful death claim can provide your family with financial relief for: 

• Medical expenses 
• Loss of companionship
• Pain and suffering that the deceased experienced prior to their death 
• Punitive damages 
• Funeral and burial expenses 
• Loss of financial support 

It is in your best interest to seek legal counsel if you are interested in filing a wrongful death claim after losing a loved one. Our dedicated lawyers will fight to ensure you achieve the best possible outcome for your claim.  

At Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner, we will fight to ensure your family is able to get justice after losing a loved one unnecessarily. Contact our law firm today to discuss your case in the legal options that are available to help your family move forward during this very difficult time. 

Proving Liability in a Personal Injury Case

When it comes to proving liability against the defendant in a personal injury case, you must be able to prove negligence. Under Hawaii law, negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care for another person. There are four elements of negligence that must be clearly demonstrated in court in order for a defendant to be held liable for the damages you have suffered. 

The first element of negligence is duty. When it comes to duty, it is the understanding that any person has a legal responsibility not to harm others through any direct act or omission. For example, drivers have a duty not to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

The second element is a breach of duty. After showing the defendant owed you a duty of care, you must demonstrate that they breached it. In other words, they do something they should not have done or did not do what they should have done. When a person breaches their duty of care, it can cause harm or injury to another. 

The third element is causation. This generally means that there is a direct link between the actions of the defendant and your accident and injuries. In most cases, this can often be difficult to prove. For this reason, our personal injury lawyers generally seek assistance from others to provide expert testimony for your claim. 

Next, you must be able to demonstrate you suffered damages. Damages refer specifically to financial losses that you face as a result of the accident that was caused by the defendant. 

Having a thorough understanding of these four elements will help you build your personal injury case against those responsible for your injuries and ensure you get fair compensation for any damages that you have suffered. 

Negligence Laws in Hawaii

The state of Hawaii follows the comparative negligence doctrine. This law states that an individual is able to seek compensation for damages that they suffered as a result of their accident. However, the compensation that they are able to recover will be provided to them may be reduced in proportion to the fault that they shared. For example, if you were found to be 30% at fault for your accident and were awarded $100,000 in damages, your award would be reduced by 30%, leaving you with $70,000. 

It is also important to understand that you must be less than 51% at fault for the accident. If you are found to hold the majority of responsibility for the accident taking place, you are generally barred from seeking compensation for any of the damages that you have suffered. 

The unfortunate truth is that insurance companies know about the comparative negligence laws in our state. For this reason, they use this law as a defense against innocent people. The insurance company will try to do everything in its power to say that you are to blame for the accident. They do this in an attempt to minimize the money that they give you or to deny you any fair compensation for your losses and damages. For this reason, it is in your best interest to seek help from our personal injury lawyer right away. 

How Our Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

Dealing with the aftermath of a serious personal injury accident can be incredibly time-consuming and challenging. Trying to deal with towering medical bills, pain and suffering, and other tasks in the aftermath of an accident can be overwhelming.  The last thing on your mind is probably pursuing a personal injury claim against the person who caused you harm. 

Unfortunately, waiting to take legal action can prevent you from recovering the maximum amount of compensation possible for your claim. For this reason, it is in your best interest to seek help from our personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to ensure you are better able to protect your legal rights and get justice. 

While working with our dedicated personal injury law firm, you can rest assured knowing that we will do everything in our power to protect your legal rights as you focus on overcoming your injuries. Every client that our law office represents is provided full-service legal representation. Our team strives to go above and beyond when it comes to protecting the legal rights of our clients throughout the personal injury litigation process. Some of the services that you can expect from our team at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner include: 

Protecting you against the insurance company: Many people believe that their insurance company is on their side and will do whatever it takes to help them financially recover from the incident. However, this is far from reality. Insurance companies are in the business of making money. They do so by collecting premiums and paying out as little as possible for personal injury cases. Unfortunately, this means that they will ultimately try to minimize or deny your claim altogether. Hiring our personal injury attorneys can help to ensure that your rights are protected. We will fight to ensure you are not subjected to unfair treatment from the insurance company. We know how these companies operate, and we have extensive experience negotiating with them on behalf of personal injury clients. We will do everything in our power to ensure you are not taken advantage of.   

Helping you better understand your legal rights after being harmed: After being injured in an accident, it is important that you understand your legal rights. If you have never gone through the personal injury litigation process before, you may not know your rights and responsibilities. For this reason, our dedicated personal injury attorneys will work with you every step of the way. We will explain complex legal processes and concepts to you in a way that you can understand. Our ultimate goal is to educate you with regard to your rights so you are able to make informed decisions throughout the legal process regarding your case.

Determining the value of your personal injury claim: It is important that you are able to recover full and fair compensation for all of the damages that you face following your accident. For this reason, our personal injury lawyers will determine the value of your personal injury claim. We will take several factors into consideration and assess the worth of your case. We will reach out to financial experts, who will be able to aid in calculating your total lost earning capacity. We will also reach out to others who can help prove the damages that you have suffered. We will compile the evidence on your behalf to prove any costs and losses that you face. 

Handling the negotiation process: Negotiating fair compensation is a critical part of the personal injury litigation process. Our extensive knowledge of personal injury law and decades of experience equips us with the knowledge and dedication needed to handle the negotiation process fearlessly. During negotiations, our personal injury lawyers will present strong evidence on your behalf, including medical records, witness statements, and even the police report. We will employ aggressive litigation tactics to obtain meaningful compensation for all of the losses and damages resulting from your accident. 

Representing you inside and outside of the courtroom: When it comes to personal injury cases, sometimes the negotiation process does not go as well as planned. In these cases, our team is fully dedicated to representing our clients in court. Right from the beginning, our personal injury attorneys will prepare your case thoroughly. We will ensure that all of the necessary evidence is gathered and presented clearly and concisely. Our team has decades of experience presenting complex personal injury claims in court in a way that makes sense to judges and juries. We will work hard to ensure that they understand how your injuries have impacted your life and why you deserve every dollar that we are demanding on your behalf. 

Our legal team at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner will remain by your side throughout the entire litigation process to ensure your best interest and legal rights are protected at every step.  

Our dedicated personal injury law firm offers free consultations for all potential clients. If you have been injured as a result of another person’s reckless or negligent actions, there is no better time than now to take legal action and hold them accountable. 

If you have experienced a personal injury due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, it is important to seek the help of an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. 

Call Our Personal Injury Law Firm Today

Being involved in an accident can undoubtedly interrupt your life and possibly change it forever. During this very difficult time, it is crucial that you have a strong personal injury lawyer by your side to ensure you can get justice, and that the person who caused you harm is held accountable. 

Our personal injury team at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner has extensive knowledge and experience representing clients in personal injury cases. Our skilled and fearless personal injury lawyers understand how difficult it can be to overcome the physical, emotional, and financial challenges after being involved in an accident. For this reason, we fight to ensure accident victims’ rights are protected. We offer personalized legal care that is tailored specifically to your unique situation for greater understanding as we work together for a just and equitable outcome.