Tourists and Traffic: The Growing Need for Car Accident Attorneys in Hawaii's Busy Tourist Spots

Most fatal car accidents take place on the island of Oahu, which also leads the state in pedestrian accidents, motorcycle accidents, and annual tourists. Sadly, this is not a coincidence.

 
If you or a family member were injured in a traffic accident, a Hawaii car accident attorney can help you seek the financial compensation you need to put your life back together. Call today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.

Hawaii Car Accident Statistics

The average annual statistics from the past five years show how serious the issue of motor vehicle accidents is in Hawaii. Data shows that from 2017 to 2022:
- 109 people were killed in car accidents
- 432 people sustained serious car accident injuries
- 36 fatalities were caused by drivers under the influence
- 50 deaths were caused by accidents related to speeding
- 26 motorcyclists were killed
- 10 car accident fatalities were drivers 19 years old or younger
- 31 deaths were pedestrians
- 3 cyclists were killed

Drunk driving and speeding are two of the three leading causes of car accidents in Hawaii. The majority of speed-related deaths took place in Honolulu County and Honolulu, the most populated area in the state.

 
Another main cause of motor vehicle accidents is distracted driving, which is due in no small part to the state’s constant influx of tourists. In one recent year, distracted driving comprised almost 21% of Hawaii’s accident-related deaths, well above the nation’s 8% average. Driver inattention is a huge issue across the islands, due primarily to:
- Cell phone use
- People driving vehicles they are unfamiliar with
- Drivers not knowing the layout of the roadways
- Drivers trying to use their cell phones or program their GPS for directions while driving
- Pedestrians reading maps or taking in the sights instead of watching where they are going
- Drivers operating rental bikes and scooters with no prior operating experience

Additionally, drug use has become a more common factor in fatal car accidents. In fact, the number of fatal drugged driving crashes recently surpassed the number of fatal drunk driving accidents.

How Can a Hawaii Car Accident Lawyer Help Me?

Following a serious car accident, receiving the maximum amount of financial compensation is almost never as easy as filing your claim and waiting for a check from the insurance company to arrive in the mail. In reality, pursuing fair financial compensation is often a challenging and time-consuming battle.

For instance, when it comes to car accidents, Hawaii is a no-fault state. This means that car accident victims are required to first pursue compensation through their own insurance company before bringing a claim against the at-fault driver. However, injured victims still have the right to file a lawsuit, provided that their injuries meet certain criteria.

 
In Hawaii, a car accident victim may file a claim against the at-fault driver if:
- More than $5,000 was paid out through the no-fault policy
- The victim sustained severe or permanent injuries that resulted in serious mental trauma

Determining whether or not you need to file a lawsuit in order to collect fair compensation is not something you should figure out on your own. A Honolulu car accident lawyer can help you prepare your insurance claim and negotiate for full and fair financial compensation for your injuries and other damages.

 
You may be eligible to collect compensation for many types of expenses, including your medical bills for injuries related to the crash, any follow-up care you will require, including physical therapy, property damage to your vehicle, or anything else that may have been ruined as a result of the crash, lost wages from having to miss work to recover from your injuries, and so much more.

 
You may also be able to collect compensation for things like pain, suffering, and the strain placed on your relationship with your spouse. An attorney can help you make sure you collect the maximum possible settlement or award for your damages so that you don’t experience financial fallout for a wreck you did not cause.