With its beaches, natural scenery, and year-round outdoor recreation, Hawai‘i remains one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. In 2024 alone, nearly 10 million people visited the Aloha State.
While Hawai‘i is undeniably a great place to vacation, it also comes with certain risks. In addition to the types of incidents that can happen anywhere, like car accidents, there are also dangers associated with recreational activities, like boating, surfing, swimming, scuba diving, and ATV riding. If you get hurt while on vacation in Hawai‘i, our Honolulu personal injury lawyers will represent your best interests long after you return home and help you get the compensation that you deserve.
Miyashita & O’Steen represents both locals and visitors who are hurt in all types of accidents across Hawai‘i. Whether you have been hurt in Hilo, Honolulu, Kahului, Kailua-Kona, Līhuʻe, Pearl City, Waimea, or Waipahu, we will fight to get you full and fair compensation for your injuries. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation with a Honolulu personal injury attorney, contact our law offices today.
Common Causes of Accidents in Hawai‘i
Like any travel destination, Hawai‘i presents certain risks, including some that are closely tied to its geography, climate, and recreational activities. In fact, unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death in Hawai‘i. These include falls, motor vehicle crashes, pedestrian accidents, drownings, and motorcycle accidents.
Hawai‘i also presents risks that may be less common in other states. Across the state’s eight main islands (Hawai‘i, Maui, O‘ahu, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Niʻihau, and Kaho‘olawe) residents and visitors regularly encounter ocean, mountain, and roadway conditions that may be unfamiliar to travelers from the mainland.
For example, car accidents are a major concern in Hawai‘i because tourists may be unfamiliar with their rental vehicles or with local roads and traffic patterns, which can increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents.
Hawai‘i also offers many recreational activities that carry inherent risks. These include:
- Boating
- Moped riding
- Surfing
- Jet skiing
- Parasailing
- Scuba diving
- Snorkeling
- Swimming in pools and the ocean
- ATV riding
- Ziplining
- Riding in helicopters
- Horseback riding
- Hiking
If you are hurt while engaging in a recreational activity in Hawai‘i, our law firm can help. We are adept at representing tourists who are injured on vacation in Hawai‘i. We can handle your case for you after you return to your home state or country, working hard to get you the compensation that you are entitled to under Hawai‘i law.
What Should You Do If You Are Hurt While on Vacation in Hawai‘i?
If you are injured while visiting Hawai‘i, there are certain steps that you can take to protect yourself and your legal rights. Of course, your ability to take these steps will depend on the severity of your injuries and the circumstances of the accident. For example, if you are seriously injured, you may not be able to gather witness information or take pictures and videos of the area.
The first thing you should do after an accident is to get medical attention as soon as possible. This may involve calling 911 for an ambulance or visiting urgent care or the emergency department after the injury. Getting medical treatment is crucial because some injuries may not be immediately apparent (especially if you are in shock).
Immediate medical care helps you get the proper diagnosis and treatment. It can also help document the connection between the accident and your injuries. Too often, insurance companies try to claim that a person’s injuries were pre-existing or caused by something else. When you get medical attention promptly, it helps to create a connection that can be important evidence in a personal injury claim.
Second, report the incident to the appropriate person. Depending on how and where you are hurt, this might mean filing a report with the owner of the property or attraction or simply filing a report with the local police by calling 911.
Third, if you are able to do so, start to gather evidence by taking photos and videos of the accident scene and your injuries if you are able to do so. You can also get the names and contact information of any witnesses who may have seen what happened.
Fourth, while you are still in Hawai‘i, you should schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney. Having local counsel can be especially important in these claim. They will be able to thoroughly investigate the case by:
- Gathering police reports
- Seeking photos and videos of the accident scene
- Talking to local experts
- Interviewing witnesses
- Collecting medical records
They will also be able to start negotiations with local insurance adjusters, working toward getting you a settlement that represents the true value of your losses. If the insurance company will not offer you a fair settlement, they can also file a lawsuit in the appropriate local court.
Most personal injury lawsuits are resolved without going to trial. That being said, Hawai‘i has a two-year statute of limitations for most personal injury cases. Filing a lawsuit is often necessary to protect your legal rights and ability to pursue a claim.
You will need local counsel to file that lawsuit and navigate the litigation process, including discovery and court hearings. Even if your case is resolved before trial, having a Honolulu personal injury lawyer is key to representing your best interests while you are recuperating at home.
Our law firm regularly represents tourists who are injured while on vacation in Hawai‘i. We take extra care to keep our clients fully informed throughout the process so they can feel confident that their matters are being handled appropriately. For both locals and visitors, we will work hard to help you get the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.
Hurt While Vacationing in Hawai‘i? Contact Us for a Free Consultation.
The last thing that anyone wants to deal with while on vacation is an injury. If you do find yourself hurt after an accident in Hawai‘i, we will advocate for you within the Hawai‘i legal system and help you get full and fair compensation for your injuries. We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency basis, which means that you will never pay a fee unless we recover money for you.
Based in Honolulu, Miyashita and O’Steen represents clients throughout Hawai‘i who have been hurt in all types of accidents, including car crashes, medical malpractice, product liability, and recreational accident claims. We offer experienced, compassionate legal representation to our clients, working hard to get them the best possible outcome. To learn more or to schedule a free initial consultation with a Honolulu personal injury law firm, call our law firm at 808-300-0068 or fill out our online contact form.
