Hawaii Co, HI – Woman Killed, Three Hurt in Head-on Collision on DKI Hwy

Hawaii County, HI (March 18, 2024) – One elderly woman was killed, and three elderly men were injured in a serious three-vehicle collision on the Daniel K. Inouye (DKI) Highway.

At around 2:05 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, the DKI Highway was the scene of a reported traffic collision. Authorities discovered that a 2023 BMW sedan collided head-on with a 2013 Ford SUV that was traveling in the opposite direction. The Ford SUV subsequently collided with a 2007 Chevrolet pickup vehicle traveling east. The collision caused severe damage to all three vehicles.

All three drivers were hospitalized, and a female passenger was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center, where she was transported after being discovered unresponsive at the scene. After the collision, the East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit was dispatched to the location. Police request that anyone with information about this collision contact Officer Laurence Davis.

We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased woman. Our thoughts are with the injured victims in hopes of their full recovery.

Wrongful Death Incidents in Hawaii

When a person’s wrongdoing, negligence, action, or inaction results in another person’s death, the surviving family members of the deceased are entitled to file a wrongful death claim against the liable party.

A wrongful death action is a civil claim. This means they are handled in civil courts and are separate from any criminal case that involves the defendant. They focus on adjudicating whether or not the defendant is answerable for the damages sustained by the victim and their surviving relatives. 

Similar to other kinds of civil injury cases, families who file a wrongful death suit will have to prove that the defendant is responsible for the death of their loved one through negligence or, according to liability laws, is otherwise accountable.  

For instance, a person could be found liable for wrongful death if:

• Their negligence caused the victim’s death, as in a fatal car crash
• They were a physician, nurse, or other health care provider who committed medical malpractice by failing to meet the standard of care when treating the victim
• They were a designer, manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or other commercial entity liable for a dangerous or defective product
• They were the owner of a property that had an unaddressed danger that led to a guest’s death
• Knowingly and willingly committed assault or murder

Even though there is no amount of money that can turn back the clock to before your loved one dies, a successful wrongful death claim offers surviving relatives justice and the financial compensation for damages that they deserve.  

Depending on the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident, compensation may be available for damages including:

• Funeral and burial expenses/Cremation 
• Medical bills amassed prior to death
• Lost wages and lost financial aid
• Loss of household services
• Loss of consortium and companionship
• Loss of guidance and care

At the law firm of Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner, our experienced team is dedicated to providing prudent and personalized legal services to wrongful death victims and their grieving families.

A sympathetic attorney from our law firm can give you the tenacious legal representation you need after experiencing the sudden loss of someone you love. If the death was caused by a driver under the influence, elder abuse, a loose handrail in a stairwell, a faulty smoke alarm, or any other wrongful or negligent act, taking swift legal action will ensure that your lawyer has ample time to investigate the events surrounding the death and build a strong case. Contact our attorneys by dialing 808-537-2525, and start on your claim today.

Notes: Our team of writers uses secondary sources such as news reports, and local and state police incident reports to create these posts. We have not independently verified all of the facts surrounding this particular accident so if there is any information that is incorrect, please contact Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner right away so that we can update the post right away to reflect the most accurate information available. 

Disclaimer: This post is not a solicitation for business. The photo used in this post was not taken at the actual accident scene. None of the information in this post is intended to be legal advice or medical advice. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical assistance immediately.