Princeville Personal Injury Lawyer

Princeville is home to some of the Island of Kauai’s most luxurious hotels. It is also known for having world-class golf courses that attract people from across the globe. Whether you live in or are visiting Princeville, you deserve to be able to move about safely and without issue. Unfortunately, due to the negligent or reckless behavior of some, accidents happen in which people get badly hurt. 

If you have suffered injuries in an accident through no fault of your own, you may have legal options available. You should reach out to a Princeville personal injury attorney right away to find out more about how we can help.

Comparative Negligence Laws in Hawaii

In Hawaii, individuals who are harmed in accidents due to the negligent or reckless actions of others have the right to pursue personal injury claims to recover compensation for their damages. However, the amount of money that is paid to them will be determined according to their percentage of fault in the accident. This addresses the issue of cases where more than one person may be somewhat at fault for the accident.

Comparative negligence laws make it so that the total damages you can claim for compensation will be reduced by how much you are at fault. If your own negligence contributed to the cause of the accident, comparative negligence laws come into play. For example, if you are found to be 10% at fault for the accident, but the defendant is 90% at fault, you will be able to collect 90% of the total cost of your damages, usually involving medical bills, property damage, and lost wages. 

Insurance companies are well aware of the comparative negligence laws in our state and they take every opportunity to use it to their advantage to deny claims or pay out as little as possible. This makes it essential that you have a team of local personal injury attorneys who know how to fight against these tactics to get you the best possible recovery. 

Damages You Can Claim

After being hurt in an accident, you will have many expenses crop up. Filing a personal injury claim can provide you with the financial relief that you need to cover the damages you face during this very difficult time. Some of what you are legally allowed to claim compensation for include any of the following, depending on the circumstances of your case: 

• Lost Wages: After being hurt in an accident, it is likely you will have to spend time off work to recover, resulting in lost wages. A personal injury claim allows you to request compensation for this loss. Additionally, you can recover compensation for the lost wages you experience due to medical appointments and other reasons related to your accident. 
• Pain and Suffering: Suffering a serious injury after an accident is no picnic. It is highly likely that you will deal with ongoing pain and suffering, both emotional and physical. The good news is, you have the right to be compensated for it.
• Property Damage: If your car was destroyed, your home was damaged, or you suffered some type of loss of personal property, you can seek compensation to repair or replace it.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: If the quality of your life has been significantly diminished due to emotional distress, you may be compensated for this loss. This can include cases where you can no longer perform tasks or engage in activities in the same way that you did prior to your accident.
• Lost Future Earnings: If you were left permanently disabled as a result of the injuries that you have suffered, you have the right to recover lost earnings. This complex calculation takes into account your current job, any chances of promotions, and how long you had left to work before reaching the age of retirement.
• Permanent Scarring: If you are left with permanent scarring as a result of an accident in Princeville, you may experience emotional challenges. This can include loss of self-confidence, which leads people to isolate themselves from others. Courts recognize the overwhelming impact that permanent scarring can have on a person’s quality of life and well-being. For this reason, if your injuries left you with scarring and disfigurements, you can seek full compensation for this damage. 
• Medical Expenses: Medical costs are often one of the most significant expenses that individuals face after being involved in accidents. You can request compensation for all of your medical expenses. This can include immediate medical costs and any anticipated costs for care in the future.

Wrongful Death

If your loved one died due to the injuries they suffered in a personal injury incident, certain family members or the estate representative can seek to be compensated for damages associated with the loss. This may include any or all of the following:

• Funeral and Burial Costs: You have the right to seek compensation to alleviate the impact of funeral and burial expenses on your family.
• Loss of Services: You can request compensation to alleviate the impact that your family faces as a result of the loss of services that your loved one provided.

You must seek guidance from a Princeville personal injury attorney right away to ensure you are in the best position possible to protect your legal rights after you suffer an injury or lose a family member due to an accident. While a wrongful death case is not a criminal matter and cannot result in jailtime for the person responsible, it can still go a long way toward holding the responsible party accountable as well as help your family gain some degree of closure. 

No amount of money can ever replace your loved one. But there is no reason why you should face severe financial strain on top of the grief you are already dealing with. While no one loves the idea of having to file a lawsuit against anyone, it may be the best way for you to get the funding you deserve after your family experiences a wrongful death.

What Happens During the Personal Injury Process

When filing a personal injury claim after being harmed in an accident due to the negligence of another person, it is important to understand how the legal process works. Whether you were injured as a result of medical malpractice, a car accident, or another type of preventable accident, there is a standard litigation process. This usually includes the following steps:

• Investigation: Your personal injury lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation into the accident on your behalf. Your attorney will gather evidence from various sources. This can include speaking to witnesses and taking testimony, getting a copy of the police report if available, working with experts who can re-create the accident to uncover various details, and even taking evidence straight from the scene in some cases. Your attorney will compile all of this evidence into a claim on your behalf that clearly establishes the liability of the defendant.
• Demand for Compensation: After the personal injury lawsuit is compiled, your lawyer will present it to the insurance company of the person who is responsible. Your attorney will create a demand letter for compensation on your behalf. Your personal injury lawyers will highlight how the defendant caused your injuries and the accident and why they should pay you the compensation that is being demanded on your behalf. They will also explain how they arrived at the number they are demanding.
• Compensation Negotiations: After the demand for compensation is presented, your attorney and the attorney for the insurance company or the defendant will spend some time negotiating back and forth to arrive at a number that is as fair as possible. If they are able to agree to a settlement amount, your attorney will move forward on drafting an agreement that highlights all of the terms.
• Filing the Lawsuit: If your personal injury attorney is unable to come to a settlement agreement with the insurance company for the defendant, your attorney will prepare to take your case to court. If the lawsuit has not already been filed by this point, it will be now.
• Trial: Not many civil cases go all the way to trial, but in the event that an agreement cannot be reached, it may be necessary. During the trial, your team of personal injury lawyers will present evidence on your behalf in front of the judge and jury and demonstrate why you are entitled to the compensation claimed.
• Settlement or Verdict: When a settlement or a verdict is reached, it can take several weeks to receive the actual money if your case is ultimately successful. Your attorney will deduct fees for representation and other fees that were incurred during the course of the case from the amount of money that is awarded and pay you the remaining balance. They will also provide you with a detailed explanation of all deductions.

Having a skilled personal injury attorney by your side who is committed to advocating on your behalf every step of the way can make a significant difference in how much you are left with once everything is said and done.

A Princeville Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

After being hurt in an accident, you should not attempt to deal with the aftermath alone, and you don’t have to. Having a skilled legal team in your corner that can help you navigate the process will help ease your stress levels throughout the process and ensure the best possible resolution. You will be able to focus more on recovery while your lawyer focuses on securing fair compensation for you.

Our personal injury lawyers at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner have the resources, experience, and skills necessary to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding your accident and determine who is liable. 

You will also benefit greatly from having your attorney handle all your communication with any relevant insurance companies on your behalf. It is no secret that insurance companies often try to minimize payouts to those harmed in accidents. Your attorney knows how to avoid getting victimized by their shady strategies by saying the wrong thing or accepting a settlement that is too low to truly cover all of your damages. Our team will make sure that no stone goes unturned in examining all the ways you have experienced loss and deserve to be compensated after getting injured.

Finally, you will benefit by having legal representation without having to worry about any costs upfront. Our personal injury firm handles this type of legal action on a contingency fee basis. This essentially means that your attorney will only receive payment for legal representation if your case concludes with a successful outcome including a payout to you. This arrangement allows you to access legal representation without worrying about upfront costs. You will not have to pay any hourly rate or retainer; you will only pay a percentage out of the final settlement or award. 

Get Individualized Representation When You Need It

Although we hope that you never have to experience suffering a personal injury accident or the wrongful loss of a loved one, we want you to know that our whole team here at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner are here to guide you through this very difficult time, one day at a time.

Our national trial lawyers have decades of experience representing clients who have suffered injuries and accidents in casess similar to yours. We know how to maximize financial recoveries to help families move on in the best possible way after enduring something so terrible. We truly care about every single person we represent and strive to serve all of our clients with compassion, integrity and care. 

There is no reason to wait another day to call for your free consultation. You can discuss your case in detail with a member of our team and get real input from seasoned lawyers about the best way to move forward. Call our Hawaii personal injury law firm today at 808-537-2525 to schedule your appointment and take the first step on the path toward justice for you and your family.