Mountain View, Hawaii Personal Injury Lawyer

Accidents of all different kinds happen regularly in Hawaii in many different settings, including homes, businesses, and roadways, and they sometimes result in severe injury or even death. In many cases, these accidents are due to the negligence or misconduct of someone else. An unforeseen accident resulting from another person’s reckless or negligent actions can permanently change your life. Although no amount of money can guarantee that you will make a complete recovery, it can provide economic relief and give you a sense of justice.  

The hard-working personal injury lawyers at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner have established their reputation in the Mountain View, Hawaii community for successfully representing their personal injury clients for more than 50 years. Our Mountain View personal injury lawyers will help you fight for the maximum amount of financial compensation from the person or business responsible for your pain and other damages. 

What Is a Personal Injury? 

When someone is harmed by a business, government agency, insurance company, or another person, there is a set of laws in place designed to help that person recover their damages. These are called personal injury laws. Although Hawaii’s personal injury laws are in place to protect you, they are complex.  

Attaining the justice and financial compensation that you deserve can be a tedious and frustrating process. Working with a legal team that has extensive resources and years of experience can help you achieve a favorable outcome for your case.  

How Do I Know If I Need a Hawaii Personal Injury Lawyer? 

If one or more of the following scenarios apply to your case, then you should speak with our Mountain View personal injury attorney to get their opinion on how you should move forward.  

• Your Injury Is Serious: A serious injury can lead to long-term disability, meaning you cannot work or provide for your family. In that case, a personal injury attorney may be able to help you achieve compensation for your lost wages, current and future. 
• The Insurer Acts in Bad Faith: The grim truth is that insurance carriers do not have your best interests at heart following an accident. It is common practice for them to refuse to pay a fair settlement or outright deny legitimate claims.   
• Liability Is Unclear: In a personal injury case, it is not always clear where the fault lies. The other person might even be trying to put the blame on you. A skilled attorney can investigate the accident on your behalf and collect evidence that will help you obtain a favorable settlement award, even if you were partly to blame.  
• You Have Questions: At any point, if you find you are confused about your rights or feel you would benefit from some sound legal advice, then you should speak with a Mountain View personal injury attorney.  

How is My Claim’s Value Determined? 

This is one of the first questions most people ask about their personal injury case. The reality is that every case is unique, so there is no straightforward answer, but in general, a claim’s worth is determined using the following variables: 

Liability: In a personal injury case, the main element that adds value is liability. This refers to whether the at-fault person can be proven liable, either wholly or partially, for the accident. The injured party will have to show that the other party was negligent and that this negligence directly caused their injury. This can be proven through the gathering of evidence, including photographs from the scene of the accident, witness testimony, expert opinions, medical records and so on. 

Damages: Another important element is the amount of loss you incurred. If you did not sustain any monetary damages, then you have no case. In the field of personal injury, there are three kinds of damages: economic, non-economic, and punitive. Any economic damages, like current and projected medical bills, current and projected time away from work, reduced earning capacity, and other quantifiable expenses will affect your claim’s overall value. 

Based on the nature and degree of your injuries, you might also be eligible to claim non-economic damages. These include things like pain, suffering, emotional anguish, disability, or diminished quality of life. Non-economic damages are subjective. Estimating their worth requires a skilled personal injury lawyer to negotiate the best compensation possible in this area. 

In certain cases, those involving particularly reckless actions committed by the person liable, punitive damages could be awarded. Punitive damages are non-compensatory and are designed to deter similar conduct from happening again and serve as a warning to others.

The only reliable way to determine the value of your particular case is to speak with a Hawaii personal injury attorney who is able to give you an unbiased assessment and ensure you don’t settle for less than you deserve.  

Hawaii Personal Injury Cases We Handle 

We handle a wide spectrum of personal injury cases. Here are some of the most common types of accidents that we see at our law firm: 

Pedestrian Accidents 

Hawaii is slowly becoming a more and more dangerous place for pedestrians, with most pedestrian-involved accidents happening at intersections. Since a walker or jogger is completely exposed without the protection a vehicle offers, pedestrian accidents often result in serious injuries and even death. In Mountain View, Hawaii personal injury lawyer can help ensure your rights are protected while seeking the maximum amount of financial compensation. We take pedestrian accidents very seriously. 

Car Accidents 

Hawaii sees thousands of serious car accidents every single year. Many times, these are the result of distracted drivers. The consequences of a crash are very stressful and complicated for everyone involved. Our Mountain View car accident attorneys can help you and your family secure the financial compensation you need and deserve.  

Wrongful Death 

If another person’s negligence was the direct cause of the loss of a family member, our Mountain View wrongful death lawyers will help you bring a claim of wrongful death and hold the responsible party accountable for compensation.  

Medical Malpractice 

Medical mistakes are one cause of accidental death in the United States. Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers are held to a specific standard of care. If they deviate from this accepted standard, they could be responsible for any resulting injuries. Some common medical mistakes include prescription errors, surgical errors, failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis, and birth injuries. Our Mountain View medical malpractice lawyers have seen first-hand how these preventable mistakes can devastate a person’s life.   

Burn Injuries 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1.1 million people get burned badly enough every year to require medical attention. Those with burn injuries are usually left disfigured or with permanent scars, emotional distress, and in some instances, permanent disabilities. 

Traumatic Brain Injuries 

Traumatic brain injuries happen often in personal injury accidents. They are normally the result of a strong blow to the head. Traumatic brain injuries can cause considerable cognitive and physical handicaps, as well as serious financial burdens. A Hawaii traumatic brain injury attorney can assist you in getting the compensation you need for your current and projected medical care. 

Slip and Fall Accidents 

Property owners and landlords are legally required to maintain their properties to keep them in a reasonably safe condition for visitors on their property. If you were seriously injured in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, the manager or owner could be responsible for any injuries that were caused by their negligence. 

Bicycling Accidents 

Drivers are expected to show bicyclists the same consideration and right of way as they would another motor vehicle. Unfortunately, bicycle accidents often take place because drivers fail to do so. Our Hawaii bicycle accident attorneys can help you build your case when it comes to holding the negligent driver responsible. 

Dog Bites 

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs every year in the United States. It is not uncommon for dog bite victims to endure severe injuries that demand extensive medical care while also being forced to deal with permanent emotional and physical scarring. Some even lose their lives after a dog attack. If you need a Hawaii dog bite attorney, reach out to our law offices. 

Spinal Cord Injuries 

An injury to the spinal cord is almost always catastrophic for the injured party and their family. In spite of months of continued medical treatments and physical rehabilitation, many still end up with permanent handicaps. The most common causes of spinal cord injuries are motor vehicle collisions, acts of violence, falls, and high impact recreational activities and sports.  

Drowning Accidents 

Sadly, drowning accidents are not unusual in Hawaii, particularly among young children. They normally happen when the operator or owner of the pool is negligent in some way, like failing to provide a safe environment, adequate supervision, or install appropriate walls or fences around the pool.  

Our Focus Is On Our Clients 

We know how financially overwhelming getting injured can be for you and your family. That is why we represent you and your best interests on a contingency fee basis. This means that you do not pay any initial fees. There are no upfront costs, and you pay nothing out of pocket unless we make a recovery. If our attorney fails to secure a favorable jury verdict or settlement award on your behalf, you owe us nothing. 

What Are The Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit? 

If a fair and reasonable settlement amount cannot be agreed upon during initial negotiations with the opposing party, you and your Hawaii personal injury attorney can choose to file a personal injury suit. The next steps in the personal injury process include: 

File the lawsuit 

Your personal injury lawyer will file the complaint with the applicable court on your behalf, stating your case. The person you are suing will then be required to file an answer to your complaint. 

Discovery 

The next phase is discovery. This is when the attorneys for both sides trade evidence and documentation they have about the case. This is where having an attorney is extremely important because the amount of evidence and how it is presented can hugely affect how much you are able to financially recover in damages. 

Mediation 

At this point, the court might request that the parties attempt a mediated settlement. Meditation is when both parties meet with a mutually chosen, impartial party who serves as a mediator by facilitating negotiations between them. This is when a settlement is likely to occur, when both sides agree to a final amount and a trial can be avoided. 

Trial 

If a settlement has still not been agreed on, it will then move to trial. Both parties will present their strongest case and a judge or jury will decide the result. This is where damages will be awarded if the case is found in your favor. Most insurance companies would prefer not to go to trial, especially if they feel you have a skilled lawyer who has built a strong case. 

Appeal 

Both sides are entitled to appeal the jury’s or judge’s decision, which will ultimately delay your award. You will have to wait until the appeals process is finished before getting the final word on your financial compensation.   

Why Choose Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner? 

The success of our hardworking team of Mountain View personal injury lawyers is the outcome of decades of experience across Hawaii, tireless advocacy, and a desire for justice.  

• We help our clients regain their quality of life by providing them with outstanding legal representation 
• We combine big firm resources with small firm-style attention to every case 
• We are not afraid to take your case to trial in our fight for maximum financial compensation 
• We know how expensive an injury can be, so we represent our personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay until we obtain compensation for you. 

If you or a member of your family was seriously injured, reach out to us as soon as you can. 

Contact a Mountain View, Hawaii Personal Injury Attorney Today 

If you or a family member were seriously injured, or if you have experienced the loss of a loved one due to someone else’s negligence, the skilled Mountain View personal injury lawyers from Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner will help ensure you receive the total financial compensation you need and deserve.  

After decades of practicing law, we know the strategies that work, what approaches are the most effective, and how to build a solid legal case. Reach out to us using the form on our website or call us at (808) 537-2525 to schedule your free consultation.