Hawaii Personal Injury Attorney

Recovering Compensation for Personal Injuries in Hawaii

Personal injuries can range in severity but may include spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), broken bones, lacerations, road rash, internal organ damage, and more. These injuries can take a significant toll on victims and may even lead to long-term care needs.

A Hawaii personal injury lawyer will examine the full scope of your injury’s impact on your life. They may speak to medical or financial experts to understand the long-term effects of your injuries and what you may have to deal with in the future. They do this to fight for you to get the fair compensation you may qualify for.

Compensation may be recoverable for such losses as:

• Medical Expenses: For doctor appointments, trips to the emergency room, diagnostic testing, physical or rehabilitative therapy sessions, medications, and more.
• Future Medical Needs: These may include upcoming surgeries or long-term care for assistance with your activities of daily living (ADLs).
• Home Modifications: For updates to your home to accommodate new mobility changes due to your injuries.
• Job Losses: For lost wages, loss of possible benefits, and diminished earning capacity.
• Property Damages: For damage done to a bicycle or car in an accident.
• Non-Economic Damages: For pain and suffering, diminished quality of life, and loss of consortium.

How The Goldwater Law Firm Can Help in Your Hawaii Personal Injury Case

At The Goldwater Law Firm, we offer the Gold Standard of Injury Law. We want you to feel like you are being treated with the empathy, respect, and dedication that you deserve. You deserve a firm representing your best interests, and we’re determined to connect you with the right firm for your needs.

Some of the personal injury cases our partners can help you with include the following:

• Motorcycle accidents
• Truck accidents
• Car accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Traumatic brain injuries

Our law firm partners will advocate for you to get the maximum compensation you may qualify for and ensure you feel supported throughout the case. A Hawaii personal injury attorney can:

• Communicate with all involved parties, including insurance adjusters and the at-fault party’s lawyers
• Gather and analyze evidence to support your claim
• Answer your questions
• Keep you up to date on your case’s progress
• Negotiate with insurance companies
• Guide you through settlement offers and advise on whether you are being offered a fair settlement
• Represent you in court if it becomes necessary

Contact The Goldwater Law Firm today to discuss your legal options.

Who Is to Blame in Your Hawaii Personal Injury Case?

In personal injury cases, you must prove that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. Doing so can be complicated, requiring evidence to support the claim. A Hawaii personal injury lawyer will thoroughly investigate your accident and gather evidence for support. Examples of negligence in personal injury cases include:

• A motorist operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Someone not following traffic rules
• Store management not promptly addressing tripping hazards
• A mechanic improperly installing brakes in a car
• A trucking company having lax training standards for its drivers

In some cases, multiple parties may be at fault in your accident. This can make proving negligence even more complex. A Hawaii personal injury lawyer may do so through some of the following ways:

• Obtaining video footage of the accident, such as from security cameras at a business
• Taking photos of the accident scene
• Interviewing eyewitnesses
• Consulting with experts, such as accident reconstructionists and highway safety experts
• Reviewing police reports
• Examining physical evidence from the scene of your accident, such as skid marks or debris

Gaining access to evidence, such as surveillance footage or witness statements, can be hard to do alone. A Hawaii personal injury lawyer can help. Contact The Goldwater Law Firm today.

What Hawaii Laws Impact Your Personal Injury Case?

Hawaii uses a modified comparative negligence rule in most personal injury cases. This means that if you hold some level of responsibility for your injuries, you can still recover compensation from other at-fault parties. However, if you are 51% responsible or more, you cannot recover compensation for your injuries.

Another important law to pay attention to is Hawaii’s statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits. Under Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7, you typically have two years (from the date of the accident that caused your injuries) to pursue a personal injury lawsuit.

If a loved one passes away due to a personal injury, the statute of limitations for filing a wrongful death lawsuit is also generally two years. A Hawaii wrongful death lawyer can help you pursue financial compensation for their loss during this difficult time.

A Hawaii personal injury attorney will ensure your paperwork is filed correctly and within legal deadlines.

Helpful Actions to Take After a Personal Injury in Hawaii

When accidents happen, the most important thing you can do is check that you and anyone with you get emergency medical services for injuries. Injuries can be exacerbated if not given prompt and correct medical care, so taking steps to avoid worsening your injuries is essential.

If you are safe to do so, here are some helpful actions you can take, in addition to seeking medical care, after an accident occurs:

• Call the police
• Take photos of the accident as well as any visible injuries you may have
• Get contact information from eyewitnesses

If you are unable to take these actions, that’s okay. Your Hawaii personal injury lawyer can do so on your behalf.

It’s also important to avoid taking some that may harm your personal injury case. When possible, avoid:

• Taking blame for the accident when talking to police or insurance companies
• Posting about the accident on social media
• Confronting anyone else involved in your accident

If you have hired a Hawaii personal injury attorney, direct any communication from an insurance company or the other party’s lawyers to them.

What If a Settlement Offer Received in a Hawaii Personal Injury Claim is Too Low?

If you have received a settlement offer that does not cover your financial needs, you are not required to accept it. Many insurance companies will try to offer the lowest possible settlement, but that does not mean it is fair for your circumstances.

When receiving a settlement offer you do not want to accept, you will need to formally reject the offer. Your lawyer can help you draft this statement.

Further negotiations may mean you will need more evidence to support your claim. In many cases, medical records and copies of bills may be used to support your need for more compensation.

If you have received a low settlement offer, contact a Hawaii personal injury lawyer today.

What If Your Hawaii Personal Injury Claim Is Denied?

If your personal injury claim is denied, it may come as a shock, or you may feel like you’ve lost any chance at regaining control over your life. However, a denial is not the end of the line. A Hawaii personal injury lawyer can build a strong appeal for compensation.

The first step you will need to do is to read over the denial letter. They are required to give a reason for why your claim was rejected. In many cases, it may be something like a lack of evidence.

Your personal injury lawyer will address the reasons for denial in their appeal. For example, if a claim was denied because of lack of evidence, they may submit additional evidence to support your claim.

In some cases, additional issues may be at play, such as bad faith practices on the part of the insurance company. If this is the case, a Hawaii personal injury lawyer can review your legal options with you.