What to Do After a Car Accident on the Hana Highway in Maui
July 8, 2026
Stretching along Maui’s lush northeastern coastline, the Hana Highway is famous for its breathtaking ocean views, cascading waterfalls, winding curves, and hundreds of narrow bridges. While the drive can be unforgettable thanks to the unmatched natural scenery, its challenging conditions also contribute to car accidents, making safety an important consideration for any driver planning this iconic Hawaiian road trip.
A car accident on the Hana Highway can leave you stranded on one of Maui’s most remote stretches of road, far from immediate medical help and unsure of your next steps. If you or someone you love was hurt on this route, understanding your rights under Hawaii law is the first move you should make.
Why the Hana Highway Is One of Maui’s Most Dangerous Roads
The Hana Highway runs approximately 64 miles from Kahului to the town of Hana along Maui’s northeastern coastline. The route crosses more than 59 bridges, many of them single-lane, and negotiates over 620 curves as it winds through dense rainforest and past steep ocean cliffs.
Rental car drivers unfamiliar with its narrow lanes face a significantly elevated risk of head-on collisions, run-off-road crashes, and rear-end impacts when traffic stops without warning at one-lane bridge approaches.
Hana Highway has 617 hairpin curves and 59 one-lane bridges, making EMS response times notoriously long. Injured victims may wait considerably longer for emergency services than they would in Kahului or Wailuku, making rapid medical attention after any crash both critical and difficult to obtain.
Immediate Steps to Take After a Hana Highway Crash in Maui
The actions you take in the minutes and hours after a Hana Highway accident can significantly affect your ability to recover compensation later. If you are able, follow these steps:
- Call 911 so that Maui County Fire and Public Safety can dispatch emergency services to your location.
- Photograph the scene, vehicle positions, road conditions, and any visible injuries before vehicles are moved.
- Obtain the other driver’s name, license number, insurance information, and vehicle registration.
- Collect contact information from any witnesses who stopped at the scene.
- Seek medical evaluation at Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku, which operates as a Hawaii State Designated Level III Trauma Center and is the only acute care hospital on Maui, even if your injuries appear minor at first.
Delaying medical care is one of the most common mistakes accident victims make on the Hana Highway because they feel shaken but not severely hurt. Some injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and soft tissue damage, do not produce obvious symptoms for hours or days after a crash.
How Hawaii’s No-Fault Insurance Rules Affect Your Hana Highway Car Accident Claim
Hawaii is a no-fault state for auto accident bodily injury claims. That means your own Personal Injury Protection coverage, with a minimum benefit of $10,000 per person per accident under HRS §431:10C-103.5, pays for your initial medical bills and rehabilitation expenses regardless of who caused the crash. Basic PIP does not cover lost wages, pain and suffering, or general damages without optional add-on coverage.
To pursue a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the at-fault driver, your injuries must meet one of the tort thresholds set out under HRS §431:10C-306(b). You can step outside the no-fault system if the accident results in death, a significant permanent loss of use of a part or function of the body, or a permanent and serious disfigurement that causes mental or emotional suffering.
You also meet the threshold if the personal injury protection benefits you incur reach or exceed $5,000, which is well below the $10,000 aggregate PIP limit.
If your injuries meet one of these thresholds, you may be able to recover general damages, including compensation for pain, suffering, and long-term disability, through a tort claim against the responsible party.
Under Hawaii Revised Statutes §663-31, Hawaii follows a modified comparative negligence rule. An injured person may recover damages as long as their share of fault is not greater than the combined fault of the parties they are suing. This means you can be up to 50% at fault and still recover, but if a court finds you 51% or more responsible, you recover nothing. Any award you do receive is reduced in proportion to your own degree of fault.
Common Causes of Car Accidents on the Hana Highway
Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys often try to place fault on the injured driver when a Hana Highway crash occurs. Understanding the actual causes of these collisions can help you defend your claim. Common contributing factors include tourist driver unfamiliarity with single-lane bridge protocols, failure to yield at narrow passages, distracted driving while sightseeing, excessive speed on blind curves, and inadequate vehicle maintenance on rental cars. Road conditions such as wet pavement after rain, fallen debris from the surrounding jungle, and reduced visibility in low-lying fog also play a role in many crashes.
When the crash was caused by another driver’s negligence, you may have a valid personal injury claim under HRS §663-1, which holds all persons liable for injuries caused by their negligent conduct. A thorough investigation of the accident, including police reports from Maui County Police Department and any available dashcam or witness evidence, is critical to establishing fault.
How Long You Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Maui, Hawaii
Hawaii’s general personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury under HRS §657-7. The discovery rule may extend this deadline if your injury was not immediately apparent, starting the clock from when you knew or reasonably should have known of the harm. Missing this deadline means losing your right to sue, regardless of how serious your injuries are.
Claims involving government vehicles or road defects may have different notice requirements, particularly when a county or state agency is involved. Your Hawaii personal injury law firm can help you identify all potentially liable parties and meet every applicable deadline.
Comparison: PIP Only vs. Filing a Tort Claim After a Hana Highway Accident
| Factor | PIP Coverage Only | Tort Claim Against At-Fault Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Medical bills | Up to $10,000 (minimum PIP) | Additional recovery possible if threshold met |
| Lost wages | Not covered under basic PIP | May be recoverable in a tort claim |
| Pain and suffering | Not covered | May be recoverable if tort threshold met |
| Fault determination | Not required | Must prove other driver’s negligence |
| Timeline | Paid by your own insurer | Litigation or settlement process |
| Deadline | Per policy terms | 2 years from injury (HRS §657-7) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if EMS takes a long time to reach me on the Hana Highway?
Stay at the scene, call 911, and keep the injured person as still as possible if a spinal or head injury is suspected. Do not attempt to transport an injured person in a private vehicle unless directed by emergency services.
Can I sue the rental car company if their vehicle was defective?
If a vehicle defect contributed to the crash, a product liability or negligent maintenance claim against the rental company may be possible. An attorney can evaluate the facts and identify all liable parties.
Does my car accident on the Hana Highway have to go to court?
Most personal injury claims settle before trial. However, having an attorney prepared to litigate often results in stronger settlement offers from insurance carriers.
What if the other driver was also a tourist with out-of-state insurance?
Out-of-state drivers must carry Hawaii’s minimum required insurance, and their policy follows them into Hawaii. Your attorney can help you pursue a claim against an out-of-state insurer.
If you were hurt in a car accident on the Hana Highway or anywhere on Maui, contact Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner today for a free consultation. Our legal team works on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. You can contact our Maui County car accident attorney at (808) 537-2525 to help you understand your options after a serious Hana Highway crash.
Last reviewed: July 2026
Attribution: This post was reviewed by Attorney James T. Leavitt.
Disclaimer: Content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Hawaii attorney for guidance specific to your situation.