3 Considerations for a Winning Personal Injury Lawsuit

If someone has accidentally or intentionally injured you or a family member you may have a personal injury claim.  You should always have your situation evaluated by a personal injury lawyer.  However, there are three main factors to consider before filing a lawsuit: 

1.  Do you have a valid lawsuit?
Personal injury lawsuits are legally referred to as tort claims.  A tort is a civil wrong that causes you loss or injury.  Injury can occur in a variety of ways and usually involves physical injury to yourself.  In certain circumstances, you may also be able to sue for mental trauma or injury to a family member.  There is rarely a valid claim for loss or injury to a pet or animal companion. 

2. Who is at fault?
Your injury must have been caused by someone else.  If the injury was your fault, you cannot force someone else to pay for your damages.  You may still have a case if it is unclear who caused your injury or if you are responsible for only part of the damages. 

3.  Is your judgment collectible? 
Even if your situation meets all the requirements for a winning lawsuit, you must consider whether you will be able to collect compensation.  Initiating a lawsuit and obtaining a judgment will be of no use if the person who caused the accident does not have any money or assets.  If the defendant has nothing to collect and no insurance, a lawsuit could be a waste of time and effort. 

 Here are some examples of common personal injury lawsuits:

- Injuries incurred from car accidents caused by drunk drivers, distracted drivers texting or talking on cell phones or simply drivers who are negligently not paying attention. 

- Defective product lawsuits such as defective vehicles, tires, appliances or other products.  A product may have been made defectively such as an ignition key that fails to shut the car off or a product that is designed incorrectly such as a swimming pool filtration system that traps a swimmer at the bottom of the pool.  

- Wrongful death lawsuits from airplane crashes, boating accidents or train crashes. 

- Injuries from dog bites.  Pet owners are often liable for injuries caused by their animals. 

- Lawsuits against drug companies who market and sell dangerous pharmaceutical products. 

Personal Injury Claims

Personal injury claims in Hawaii encompass a tremendous variety of incidents including boating and pool accidents, slip and fall injuries, negligence involving dog attacks and car accidents. 

Even though injuries vary widely, methods to preserve your personal injury claim are similar no matter how your accident occurred.  The following steps will help ensure that you are compensated for your losses and medical expenses.

The first step, and your highest priority after an accident, is to obtain medical treatment.  See a doctor if you have not already and thoroughly explain your injury.  Follow through with treatment and be sure you medically stable before you proceed with step two. 

Gathering information is the second step.  Take pictures, collect contact information from witnesses and talk to other people involved in the accident including rescuers and onlookers.  Save all medical information as well, including bills and copies of prescriptions.  Keep a journal through your treatment to make sure you remember everything. 

The third step is to make an appointment with a personal injury lawyer in your area to preserve your legal rights.  With every personal injury claim there is a time limit to file a lawsuit.  Do not wait until the time limit has almost expired. See an attorney as soon as possible to help investigate your case, evaluate how much your case is worth and to write a demand letter to the person or company responsible. 

Personal Injury - Traffic Accidents on Maui

Historically, national statistics on traffic accidents have shown a decline in fatalities over the last several years.  The national rate averages to 12.07 fatalities per 100,000 people according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).  National Traffic Statistics

Maui County's traffic fatality rate is slightly higher than the national average at 12.9 according to NHTSA records.  Maui County Traffic Statistics

Available traffic fatality statistics for Maui include many categories.  The following chart visually demonstrates one category: single vehicle crash fatalities in Maui County.  The five years shown on the chart average to 12.8 fatalities per 100,000 people.  Complete information for 2013 is not yet available but preliminary data indicate that traffic fatalities may have declined in 2013. 

If you or your family have experienced a loss due to a traffic accident, call our office today for a free consultation to see if we can help you recover compensation. 

Negotiating a Personal Injury Case

Negotiating a settlement in a personal injury lawsuit can be extremely complex.  Just as you would not try to perform complex surgery on yourself, you should also not try to negotiate your own personal injury case.  Always consult an experienced personal injury attorney to make sure you have considered all of your legal options. 

The following factors are just a few of the many considerations when negotiating a personal injury settlement. 

1. Case Evaluation
How much is your case worth?  A good case evaluation will take into consideration your medical expenses, any permanent injury, your age, ongoing medical treatment and property damage.  You must determine a range of value for your case before you begin negotiating.  If you have not decided on a value, an insurance company will be happy to tell you how much your case is worth.  This value is likely to be much less than what you should actually receive.

2. Timing
Settling a personal injury claim too quickly can result in lost damages.  Your attorney must adequately investigate the possibility of lost earnings and employment, properly evaluate any injury to determine if it is permanent or temporary and make sure you are "medically stationary" before sending a demand letter to an insurance company.  A proper investigation must be completed before settling your case.

3. Statute of Limitations
Every personal injury claim has a statute of limitations.  This is the period of time after an injury occurs within which you must file a lawsuit or you will be prohibited from recovery.  Contact an attorney soon after you have been injured to begin an investigation, make sure you are receiving proper medical care and to preserve your rights. 

4. Demand Letter
Drafting an demand letter is an art.  An effective letter will include relevant facts regarding the extent of your injuries, specific reasons why the insurance company should pay you and it will convey the fact that you are serious about your claim. 

5. The most important factor is whether you should even accept a settlement.  Your case may be worth more than the insurance company is offering in settlement.  An experienced litigation attorney can explain all of your legal options, including your chances at trial.

Car Accidents and Personal Injury Lawsuits

Hawaii is one of about a dozen “modified no-fault” states in the nation that require insurance companies to pay for many of the injuries in a car crash regardless of who was responsible.  No-fault insurance was a trend among states in the 1970’s with the goal of reducing the number of lawsuits and lowering insurance premiums.  In many areas, the no-fault system actually increased insurance premiums and some states are now moving away from the no-fault concept. 

Hawaii requires vehicle owners to carry a minimum amount of insurance.  If you are in an accident on Maui, your insurance company will pay for your injuries up to the limit of your policy which is called the personal insurance protection (PIP) limit. 

Even though insurance will pay for some injuries and damages in an accident, in many situations, Hawaii law allows recovery from the driver at fault.  As a result, Hawaii is a “modified no-fault” state and not a “pure no-fault” state.  You may be able to sue the other driver for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering from your injuries.  You may also be able to sue for serious bodily injury or death. 

Remember, if you are going to file a lawsuit, you must do so within two years of the accident to meet the statute of limitations requirement.  

For more information on no-fault insurance in Hawaii, follow this link.  Hawaii motor vehicle insurance information.

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