Hawaii Personal Injury Accidents and Your Island Vacation

While enjoying a fun-filled Hawaii vacation, the last thing you and your family need to concern yourselves with is a sudden and serious injury. Sadly, things don’t always work out the way we had planned. Now your island escape has gone terribly wrong, and you don’t even have the benefit of knowing your surroundings or anyone you can call for help. So, what do you do?

What steps should I take after being injured in an accident while on vacation?

Although being injured in a place you are unfamiliar with can be extremely unnerving, finding out whether or not you are entitled to financial compensation is an important step in your physical and mental recovery. Contact a Hawaii personal injury lawyer from Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner to schedule your free case review. You can find out if you have a valid claim and, if so, what your legal options are moving forward.

Common Vacation Accidents

In Hawaii, some of the most common vacation accidents are:

• Automobile accidents
• Bike accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Watercraft accidents
• Boating accidents
• Premises liability accidents
• Scuba diving accidents
• Swimming pool accidents

If any of these have happened to you or someone in your family, we may be able to help. Many times, these accidents happen due to someone else’s negligence, which gives you the right to hold that person or entity accountable financially for your losses.

What Do I Do if I am Hurt on Vacation?

The first thing you should do following any serious accident is to call 911 to inform the police and request medical services if needed. Next, you need to:

• Take photos or videos of any visible injuries, where the accident took place, and anything else that may have played a role.
• Seek immediate medical care even if you think you were not injured.
• Save and make copies of all of your hospital bills, medical records, and other damage-related expenses.
• Refrain from posting on any of your social media pages. Ask family and friends not to tag you in posts or pictures.
• Be very careful what you say to anyone from the insurance company. You are not required to give a recorded statement and have every right to request that they speak to your attorney instead of you.
• Hire an experienced vacation injury lawyer from Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner.

Who Might Be Liable for My Vacation Injury?

If the accident that left you injured was caused by someone else, they could be held responsible for your medical expenses, lost income, lost earning capacity, and more. Parties that could potentially be liable for your vacation injuries are:

• Hotel or resort owners, managers, and employees
• A business or property owner
• Companies that offer equipment rentals to tourists or operate recreational activities, such as horseback riding and scuba diving
• A negligent driver
• Construction companies
• State or local government entities
• The manufacturer or distributor of a defective product

Our skilled personal injury attorneys can evaluate your case and outline a plan to determine who is liable for your injuries.

Can I Still File a Claim Even Though I am Not a Hawaii Resident?

After a negligence-based accident, Hawaii law entitles both residents and non-residents to pursue financial compensation for their injuries and other damages. Hawaii’s negligence and personal injury laws apply to anyone involved in an accident within the state.

The more substantial impediment to filing a personal injury suit in Hawaii is its no-fault insurance laws. Hawaii’s laws state that you have to prove that your injuries meet a specific benchmark or that you spent a predetermined amount of money on necessary medical treatment before you are able to bring a suit. The personal injury lawyers from Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner understand the ins and outs of Hawaii’s insurance laws and can effectively gather the relevant evidence you need to build a compelling claim.

Why Do I Need a Local Lawyer When I Don’t Live Here?

In order to be able to represent you in a lawsuit, a lawyer must be licensed to practice law in Hawaii. Not just any lawyer can practice law anywhere. Even if you have a family attorney that you have relied on for decades in your hometown, they will not be able to help you unless they happen to be licensed to practice law in Hawaii.

Additionally, each state has its own unique set of laws concerning personal injury lawsuits. You want a lawyer who completely understands the laws as they stand in the state where your accident took place. Even if one could represent you, an out-of-state attorney would put you at a pretty serious disadvantage when it comes to collecting the compensation you deserve.

Lastly, a local lawyer will be able to represent you during your court hearings so that you don’t have to attend. Traveling back and forth between Hawaii and your home state numerous times throughout the duration of your lawsuit is impractical, inconvenient, and extremely expensive. A local attorney will be nearby and available to manage your case.

Seeking Financial Compensation for Your Vacation Injuries

There is most likely more than one path toward recovering financial compensation for your vacation injuries. Based on the kind of accident you were involved in and the nature and scope of your injuries, you might be able to use your health insurance, car insurance, or another insurance policy to cover some of your immediate expenses. You might also be able to file a personal injury suit against the party whose negligence caused your injuries. You can seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage and even your pain and suffering. Speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Hawaii for more information regarding your various legal options.

Tips to Avoid Vacation Accidents

Although it is impossible to completely eliminate your odds of being injured in an accident while you are on vacation, you can reduce them considerably by:

• Not drinking and driving
• Limiting distractions. Keeping your phone out of your reach and your focus on the road can be all that is needed to prevent a devastating car crash.
• Being aware of bicyclists and pedestrians, particularly in overcrowded areas.
• Not running on pool decks.
• Wearing athletic footwear to lessen the odds of a slip-and-fall accident.
• Never renting equipment or tools that you don’t know how to work.
• Ensuring that a company is properly licensed before engaging in potentially unsafe recreational activities such as scuba diving, hang gliding or parasailing.
• Following warning signs.
• Checking the weather forecast before engaging in any outdoor recreation.

Contact a Hawaii Personal Injury Attorney Today

It is our hope that you can visit Hawaii safely and without any issues. However, if you were injured while on vacation in Hawaii and feel that someone else was to blame for the accident, you may be eligible to collect financial compensation. Let us help you determine your options. Reach out to our Honolulu vacation injury lawyers at Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner by calling 808-537-2525 and scheduling your free consultation today.