Top-Rated Hawaii Truck Accident Lawyers

Truck crashes are responsible for some of the most severe injuries seen on roadways in Hawaii. Though injuries may range from broken bones to fatalities, many catastrophic injuries, or those that are life-changing for accident victims, can result from truck accidents.

This means the victim does not lose their life (wrongful death), but may see other kinds of losses, such as the ability to walk (paralysis), loss of limb (dismemberment), the ability to work, or others.

Spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries are some of the most common serious injuries caused by truck accidents in victims who file personal injury claims. Others include back and neck injuries, whiplash, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries.

Causes of truck accidents in the state of Hawaii vary depending on the circumstances. If the accident was caused by the truck driver’s negligence, the cause may have been driver fatigue or driver error, such as failure to check their blind spots.

Or, if the accident resulted from improper truck maintenance, the cause may have been faulty brakes. Similarly, if the truck crash happened to due an error during the large truck manufacturing process, the cause might have been manufacturer error which caused the truck to malfunction.

A Hawaii truck accident lawyer can help you determine the possible cause of the accident, which will in turn help them identify the party or parties responsible.

The truck driver is not necessarily always at fault for a Hawaii truck accident. As described above, there may be any number of contributing factors for truck crashes, some of which have nothing to do with the trucker.

Sometimes, trucking companies fail to properly vet their driving candidates, or train truck drivers once they’re hired. If you are in a truck accident and investigations lead to the discovery of improper training or hiring practices, this could be considered negligence.

You may also be considered partly at fault for the accident. For example, if the truck accident happened because the truck driver did not check their blind spots, the truck driver may be at fault. But, if you were traveling in the blind spots because you were texting while driving and not paying attention to the roadway, you may also be considered at fault for your injuries.

Hawaii is considered a no-fault state for car accidents, according to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. In the 13 no-fault states in the U.S., injured motorists must file claims with their own insurance company first, using their personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.

You can only file a truck accident lawsuit against the liable party if you sustained serious injuries in the crash.

The types of damages you may receive for a personal injury case in Hawaii after a truck accident will depend on individual factors. Your lawyer will gather all the details related to your case in order to help you claim damages for all accident-related costs.

The most common type of damages to receive are compensatory damages (those which compensate you for a particular cost). This category of damages breaks down into economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages apply to the costs which have a specific dollar value, such as the medical care costs, property damage amount, in-home care costs during recovery, or lost wages. Non-economic damages apply to costs that are harder to calculate, such as how much you should receive to atone for the loss of a limb or to set you up for an injury that caused you to be permanently unable to return to your job.

Your lawyer will be able to figure out what you should cite on your claim for damages to give you the best chance at receiving a fair settlement offer.

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Hawaii is two years from the date the truck accident occurred. This means you must file your accident claim within two years or you forfeit the right to seek compensation.

The statute can run out quickly, even though two years may seem like ample time. Because of this, it helps to work with experienced truck accident attorneys, who will help ensure you don’t miss your deadline.

To succeed in truck accident cases, your legal team must prove that negligence was involved. Beyond that, they must show how negligence contributed to the accident and how the accident caused your injuries.

Without negligence, you may not have a case. Negligence proves that you are not responsible (or not fully responsible) for your injuries and the resulting costs.

To prove negligence, your law firm will call on all forms of evidence. This could include talking to any witnesses to the scene of the crash, looking at photos of the accident scene, the police report, and your medical records.

If your case goes to court, they may call on expert witnesses to back up different forms of evidence, such as doctors who can state that your injuries could only have been caused by a devastating accident.

Working with a Hawaii truck accident lawyer can provide you a number of advantages that may help you secure compensation. Firstly, your lawyer can communicate on your behalf with the insurance companies, the defendant’s lawyers, and any other involved parties.

This helps ensure you don’t say anything that might impact your ability to receive compensation. Secondly, your lawyer will know the truck accident laws that apply to your case and can explain them in a way you understand.

Finally, your lawyer can provide top legal advice and guidance, from the initial consultation to the end of your case, putting your mind at ease and steering you toward the maximum compensation you deserve.