Honolulu Personal Injury Lawyer

The city of Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii and the largest city in the entire state. Not only is the breathtaking city of Honolulu the chosen destination for millions of tourists from across the globe each year, but nearly one million people call this city home.

Although the city of Honolulu has a lot to offer residents and visitors alike, there are instances where people suffer catastrophic injuries in accidents. When these accidents are a result of negligence, injured parties may have legal options available to help them get justice.

Reaching out to a personal injury attorney in Honolulu as soon as possible is your best bet when it comes to protecting your legal rights and getting the justice you deserve.

Since 1971, our Honolulu personal injury lawyers at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner have provided the most knowledgeable, fearless, and passionate legal services for clients who have been injured in accidents due to the negligence of others. We excel at injury law simply because we are passionate about helping injured victims protect their legal rights and pursue personal injury cases against those who cause them harm.

If you have been injured in an accident, our law office can help you protect your legal rights and hold the person who caused your injuries and damages accountable for their actions. Contact our Honolulu personal injury lawyer today to schedule a free consultation at your earliest convenience to discuss your case.

What to Do Following a Personal Injury Accident in Honolulu

If you have been injured in an accident, you must take various steps to ensure your health and wellbeing are protected. These steps include:

• Call the police: No matter how minor your accident may seem, it is important that you have law enforcement respond to the scene and create a police These reports can provide you with an investigative report as to what took place, the information of involved parties, and other important information.
• Get medical assistance: You will want to seek medical care right away for your A thorough medical examination can help to identify all of the injuries you have from your accident, even if you are unable to see them.
• Call a personal injury lawyer: Working with a skilled, knowledgeable, and aggressive legal team will ensure you are in the best position possible to recover compensation following your accident.

Our Hawaii personal injury law firm at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner offers each prospective client a free consultation to discuss the accident and potential legal options available to help victims get justice. We value each attorney-client relationship we establish and we are committed to helping our clients protect their legal rights and best interests after being harmed.

What to Expect at a Free Initial Consultation

If you have been injured in an accident, you can schedule a free consultation with our personal injury lawyer in Hawaii to discuss your case. If you have never been involved in a personal injury lawsuit before then you may be curious about what to expect.

At your free consultation, our personal injury lawyer will discuss your accident with you in full detail. We will ask you to explain what happened in the accident that caused your personal injury from start to finish. If you sustained injuries over a period of time instead of just during a single accident, such as a repetitive injury from the workplace, we will need you to describe what has happened over time as specifically as possible.

Hiding any details, preexisting injuries, and other information about your accident and case can have a negative impact on your ability to recover financial compensation. Therefore, providing as much evidence, information, and details can be extremely beneficial for your case right from the beginning.

We ask that you bring any evidence that you have with you to the initial consultation. Building strong personal injury cases is a process that depends heavily on the evidence available to support your claim.

Some of the evidence that you should bring, if you have it in your possession, includes:

• Medical records: Bring with you any medical bills, discharge instructions, medication lists, and any other documents that detail the treatment you have received as a result of the accident.
• Income records: Personal injury cases are beneficial to victims because they allow injured victims to recover compensation for the lost earnings they endure from being forced out of work for any period of time. Records of your income can be used to calculate the total lost wages you have faced as a result of your accident. If you are forced out of work indefinitely due to your injuries, this information will be used to calculate the lost earning capacity you experience over your lifetime.
• Witness information: If anyone witnessed your accident, they can provide valuable testimony surrounding what they saw take place. It is important that you have the names of witnesses and contact information for them so they can possibly provide valuable
• Photographs: If you have any pictures of the scene of the accident, any vehicles, or other property damage. Pictures of any visible injuries and other evidence at the scene can help provide a clearer understanding of the immediate impacts you endured from your accident.
• Police report: If a police report is available for your accident, it is important that you obtain a This report contains information surrounding what took place, who was involved, and other critical information.
• Insurance information: Bring a copy of your insurance information and other relative insurance This can help us better understand some of the limits and coverage that may be available for you.

If you were in contact with an insurance company, bring any documents or forms that they sent to you. A record of any and all communications can be beneficial as well.

Depending on the length of the free consultation, and the number of documents you bring, our Honolulu personal injury lawyer may not review everything in detail immediately. However, we will be sure to review all of the documents and information to gain a better sense of the scope of the incident, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of your case.

Although victims have up to two years from the date of their accident to file a personal injury claim, waiting can negatively impact their ability to get justice. Schedule a free consultation with our personal injury law firm in Honolulu as soon as possible. Our personal injury attorney can meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss your accident and ways that we can help you get justice and compensation.

How to File a Personal Injury Case in Honolulu

Anyone who has suffered serious injuries and damages as a result of another person’s reckless, negligent, careless, or malicious actions can file a personal injury lawsuit against them in Honolulu. There are some basic requirements for all personal injury accident cases. These include:

Preparing the complaint

The complaint is the initial document filed in a personal injury case that explains to the court what happened at the time of your accident. It further details why the court should compel the defendant to provide you with a specified amount of financial compensation.

In your complaint, it is imperative to allege the necessary elements of negligence existed at the time of the accident in order to make a prima facie case. Essentially, you must clearly assert that the defendant had the duty to act with care and they breached this duty, which directly caused you harm. You will need to describe how the breach was the cause of your injuries, and you must explain the injuries and damages you have suffered in great detail.

A petition for relief must be filed with your complaint that details how much compensation you need for your recovery. This complaint must be filed in the appropriate state court in order to move forward.

At the time of filing, the court clerk will give you a summons, which is a notification to the defendant that the lawsuit was filed.

Serving the Complaint

After the complaint is filed in court, you are required to serve the defendant with a copy of the complaint and a summons. The service must be made by a neutral party. Proof of service must then be filed with the court that confirms that the service of the summons and complaint occurred.

Although you are not required to retain legal counsel when it comes to handling personal injury matters, working with a skilled Honolulu personal injury lawyer can make a significant difference when it comes to your ability to get justice and receive compensation.

Damages Available for Personal Injury Claims

Victims who are injured in accidents due to the negligent, careless, or negligent actions of others may be entitled to compensation that they can use to cover the overwhelming costs they face as they focus on recovering and moving forward.

Our Honolulu personal injury law firm, Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner, can help you recover monetary compensation for both economic and non-economic damages you face, including compensation for:

• Medical bills
• Medical expenses for long-term care needs
• Lost wages
• Lost earning capacity
• Car accident repairs, whenever necessary
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish

Our Hawaii personal injury law office is committed to helping each client we work with obtain a fair settlement to cover these and other damages they face. We put together solid legal claims on behalf of our clients to ensure they are able to get the maximum compensation available to cover the costs they face from their personal injury accidents.

If you suffered a serious injury in an accident that was caused by someone else’s reckless, negligent, or malicious actions, do not wait to protect your legal rights. Contact our law office in Honolulu to schedule a free consultation with our experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your accident and the legal options available to help you.

How to Win Your Personal Injury Case

If you were injured as a result of another person’s actions, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against them to recover compensation for your damages. In order to prevail, you must be able to present evidence that clearly demonstrates that several factors existed at the time of your accident. These factors include:

• Duty: You will need to demonstrate that the defendant owed you a duty of care. This duty is circumstantial depending on the type of accident that took place. For example, if you were involved in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, they had a duty to drive in a responsible manner to ensure others around them are not harmed.
• Breach: Once you successfully establish that the duty of care existed, you will need to show that the defendant violated the This can happen by obtaining clear and convincing evidence of wrongdoing, such as being impaired while operating a vehicle.
• Causation: Once you demonstrate that the defendant breached their duty of care, you must then establish that the breach was the direct cause of your This is typically not hard to show in court. However, a personal injury lawyer will greatly benefit you when it comes to clearly prooving the chain of events leading up to your accident.
• Damages: After proving that the defendant’s actions were the cause of your injuries, you must further demonstrate that you suffered damages. Proving damages is generally done by showing hospital bills, repair bills, income statements, and other pieces of evidence.

With decades of experience helping personals injury victims across Honolulu, you can rest assured knowing your legal rights are protected with Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner. Our lawyers will meticulously analyze your accident and put together the strongest case possible that shows that these elements of negligence were present and the cause of your injuries and damages.

Our Honolulu personal injury attorney can meet with you at your earliest convenience to review the circumstances surrounding your accident, identify all liable parties, and help you hold them accountable for their actions.

Damage Caps for Personal Injury Cases in Honolulu

In Honolulu, individuals who sustain injuries in accidents are able to file personal injury cases to recover compensation to help alleviate some of the damages they have endured as a result of their injuries. Although there are no limits to the amount of compensation that victims can recover from economic damages, like lost wages and medical expenses, the amounts that they can recover from non-economic damages can be limited under Hawaii state law.

In particular, the amount of non-economic damages that victims can recover for cases, including those involving medical malpractice, is capped at $375,000.

There are certain elements, such as incidents resulting in multiple at-fault parties or intentional acts of harm, where cases may not be subjected to damage caps.

If you would like to discuss your case, our personal injury lawyer in Honolulu can meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss your case. Schedule a free consultation with our law office today.

Comparative Negligence Rules in Hawaii

Hawaii follows a doctrine of comparative negligence when it comes to handling any type of personal injury lawsuit. This doctrine states that the amount of compensation that is available for victims can be reduced in proportion to their percentage of fault in the accident.

For example, if a victim was eligible to recover $10,000 for their personal injury claim, and they are found to be 20% at fault for the accident, they would only be able to recover $8,000 of the award. So long as the injured person is less than 51% at-fault for their accident in Honolulu, they can recover compensation for their personal injury claims.

If you are found to be more than 51% at fault for your accident, you would not be entitled to collect any compensation for your personal injury claim. Given the fact that the success of your claim can depend on a single percentage point, it is crucial that you seek the guidance of a skilled, knowledgeable, and fearless personal injury lawyer in Honolulu as soon as possible.

Our team at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner has extensive experience practicing law in Hawaii and protecting victims who have been injured in personal injury accidents. Our lawyers are committed to helping injury victims secure fair compensation that they can use to cover the costs they face after being harmed.

Common Injuries from Personal Injury Accidents

If you are involved in an accident, you may suffer from severe injuries that require emergency medical care. Quite often, victims not only have to go through emergency surgery, but they require several weeks or even months of therapy, rehabilitation, and other forms of treatment.

Our lawyers at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner understand the challenges that victims face after suffering a serious injury in an accident. For this reason, we are committed to helping each of our personal injury clients get the justice they deserve.

Some of the most common injuries that victims suffer from as a result of accidents in Honolulu include:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones/compound fractures
• Inhalation injuries
• Back injuries
• Neck and soft tissue injuries
• Burn injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Facial injuries
• Permanent scarring or disfigurements
• Loss of limbs
• Lacerations

The type of injuries you can suffer from will depend on the type of personal injury accident that you are involved in. Any type of serious injury can result in tens of thousands of dollars in medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering, and other severe consequences.

If you suffer these or other severe injuries in an accident as a result of another person’s actions, contact our Honolulu personal injury law firm to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and the legal options available for you.

At Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner, our personal injury attorney in Honolulu works hard to ensure our clients are able to get the compensation they need to treat these and other serious injuries resulting from their accidents. Our lawyers gather medical records, bills, and care plans to build the cases for our personal injury clients to help them get justice.

The Dangers of Tourist Hot Spots

Every year, millions of people from across the globe flock to Hawaii for their dream vacations. The very last thing that anyone wants, regardless of whether you are visiting or living in Honolulu, is to become involved in an accident.

There are a few places on Oahu that have gained a bad reputation for being dangerous for visitors. Two of the most common locations cited for injuries and death include:

Sandy Beach Park: Although this beach is one of the most beautiful sights on the southeastern tip of Oahu, it has a year-round crushing shore that most locals and tourists are unable to withstand. Every year, we see many people attempt to swim and body surf in the area. As a result, they suffer serious sprains, broken bones, neck compressions, and other severe injuries that require emergency medical care.

Hanauma Bay: This popular tourist attraction is located on the east side of Oahu. It is a hotspot for tourists because it offers a unique area for tourists and locals to snorkel and swim with fish and other sea animals. Unfortunately, this area provides a false sense of security to those who dive in. Although the bay is mostly closed off, ocean currents and inexperienced swimmers make this a dangerous location. Despite the fact that this body of water has the most number of lifeguards, we continue to see people injured and killed in this location at an alarming rate.

Although these areas attract millions of people every year, it is important that guests visit them with extreme caution. Should you be injured in an accident at either of these locations, our Hawaii personal injury lawyer can meet with you to discuss the legal options that may be available to help you.

Injured in a Motor Vehicle Accident

Motor vehicle accidents in the state of Hawaii leave more than 10,000 people injured every year. We see many accidents right here in Honolulu that send people to hospitals with severe injuries that require extensive medical care.

There are various types of motor vehicle accidents that we see here in Honolulu that cause serious injuries to those involved. These include:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Drunk driving accidents
• Moped accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Single-vehicle accidents
• Multi-vehicle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Bicycle accidents

Regardless of the type of accident you sustained a personal injury in, it is important that you take the first step toward protecting your legal rights. After reaching out to our Honolulu car accident lawyers at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner, our law firm will get started on building the strongest personal injury case on your behalf so we can hold the person who caused you harm, to account.

Hawaii is a “No-Fault” State for Auto Accidents

The state of Hawaii is one of the few remaining states that follow a strict no-fault system when it comes to motor vehicle accidents and how insurance coverage is used to compensate victims for their losses.

In Hawaii’s no-fault system, anyone who is harmed in a motor vehicle accident should reach out to their own car insurance company to file a claim, regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

There are certain thresholds in no-fault states that victims are required to meet before they are able to step outside of the confines of a no-fault system.

In general, you may only file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver if any of the following situations occur.

• The accident resulted in more than $5,000 in medical expenses or other damages under your no-fault policy, or
• You suffered seriously and permanently disabling injuries as a result of the In specific, you have lost the use of a body part, are unable to perform a specific bodily function, or you are permanently and seriously disfigured as a result of the crash and suffer from mental and emotional distress.

Our well-versed personal injury lawyer in Honolulu can meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss your car accident case and the legal options available to you. Schedule a free consultation with our law office as soon as possible to get started on your case.

Injured as a Result of a Negligent Property Owner

The city of Honolulu has thousands of residential structures, homes, businesses, hotels, and other properties that are both public and privately owned. Although property owners are required to maintain properties that are safe for their guests, we continue to see people harmed in accidents at an alarming rate.

Some of the most common types of premises liability cases our Honolulu personal injury lawyer handles include:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Dog attacks/dog bite cases
• Inadequate maintenance accidents
• Defective conditions of the premises
• Inadequate securing incidents
• Inadequate lighting accidents
• Swimming pool accidents
• Water leak/flooding accidents
• Toxic chemical/fume exposure incidents
• Fire incidents
• Elevator and escalator incidents

If you have been injured as a result of an accident at a home, business, or while on another property that belongs to someone else, you may have legal options available to recover fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Contact our personal injury attorney in Honolulu to schedule a free consultation with our team to discuss your personal injury case.

Construction and Worksite Accidents

Construction is considered the most dangerous job in the United States. This industry requires workers to perform the duties of their job in unpredictable conditions. Unfortunately, mishaps involving heavy construction equipment, scaffolding, chemicals, electrical systems, and various other hazards happen far too often at construction sites. These incidents can, and often do, lead to serious injuries. If a contractor, employer, subcontractor, or another party failed to ensure the safety of workers and passersby, they can be held liable for any resulting injuries and damages. Some of the most common causes of construction site accidents we see in Honolulu, include:

• Violations of workplace safety rules and regulations
• Missing protective gear and other safety equipment
• Poorly maintained equipment
• Equipment that is missing safety guards and other safety components
• Wet surfaces that lead to serious fall incidents
• Electrocution incidents
• Unsecured objects that can fall on workers and other people in the area

Accidents on construction sites often lead to catastrophic injuries. These injuries can impact the health and wellbeing of victims indefinitely. They can negatively affect a victim’s quality of life and their ability to work. If you were injured as a result of a construction site accident, contact our personal injury lawyer in Honolulu as soon as possible. Our law firm can help you recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Injured as a Result of Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice is the cause of more than $250,000 deaths across the nation each year. Here in Honolulu, we see many people suffer severe and fatal injuries due to negligent medical professionals.

Some of the most common acts or omissions that give rise to a claim for medical negligence include:

• Birth injuries
• Anesthesia errors
• Misdiagnosis or failure to diagnoses
• Delayed treatment
• Retaining foreign objects
• Administering the wrong type of treatment
• Surgical errors
• Medication errors

When it comes to medical malpractice, there are various parties that can be subjected to lawsuits after injuring patients. These can include:

• Doctors
• Lab technicians
• Radiologists
• Nurses
• Surgeons
• Specialists
• Anesthesiologists

When doctors, nurses, surgeons, and other medical professionals engage in reckless and negligent practices while providing care to patients, it can have life-altering consequences. If you were harmed as a result of medical malpractice in Honolulu, our lawyers can meet with you for a free consultation to discuss your case.

How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You

Our lawyers fully understand your situation. We know that dealing with painful injuries caused by an accident can make doing anything else daunting. Suffering a serious personal injury can completely alter the course of your life. The Honolulu personal injury lawyers at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner know this and we will help you fight to protect your health, your future earnings, and your overall quality of life.

While working with a personal injury lawyer from our law firm, you can rest assured knowing your legal rights and best interests are protected. Our team will provide you with an array of legal services to ensure you have the best chance possible to get justice.

We have extensive experience representing victims of motor vehicle accidents, premises liability accidents, and injury victims who have been harmed in various other types of accidents in Honolulu.

We provide each of our clients with an array of services to ensure they have the best chances of protecting their legal rights after suffering a personal injury. Some of the ways we will help you with your personal injury case include:

• Investigating all aspects of your personal injury claim
• Gather evidence from a variety of sources, including:
  • Taking statements from people who witnessed your accident take
  • Taking pictures of the scene of the
  • Obtaining surveillance footage of the accident.
  • Obtaining police reports surrounding what occurred at the time of your accident.
  • Taking statements from emergency responders who provided you with medical care at the scene.
  • Gathering hospital records, reports, billings, and other evidence pertaining to your
• Working with experts who can calculate the extent of economic and non-economic damages you endure from your accident.
• Filing all of the required petitions, evidence, and documents in court and on schedule to ensure you are able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the defendant.
• Aggressively negotiating full and timely compensation on your behalf with the insurance
• Providing the most fearless and knowledgeable representation in the courtroom, whenever

Our Honolulu personal injury lawyer will stand by your side every step of the way to ensure you obtain full and timely compensation, justice, and the best outcome possible for your lawsuit.

Whether we are able to reach a settlement agreement with the at-fault party, or we have to fight for justice in a trial, we are committed to helping you win your case.