Why hire a Kona Car Accident Lawyer?
After a car accident, you may be tempted to handle the insurance claims process on your own. Since most victims and their families have little to no experience dealing with insurance companies on auto accident claims, experienced insurance adjusters will use that inexperience to gain a financial advantage.
Put simply, insurance companies are motivated by profit. The auto accident claims process is designed to minimize the amount of money the insurance company pays to victims and their families. Insurance company adjusters may seem nice and accommodating at first.
However, once the conversation turns to money, the adjuster’s true colors are revealed. Examples of ways an insurance adjuster will try to minimize compensation include: (1) alleging that the victim is at fault, or bears partial fault for the accident even when fault is not at issue; (2) alleging the injuries suffered in the accident were present prior to the accident; (3) alleging gaps in medical treatment or a delay in seeking treatment mean there was no injury or the injury was not severe; (4) alleging that a lack of visible damage to the automobile means the injuries were exaggerated; (5) failing to disclose the amount of insurance money available. Without a skilled legal advocate on your side, victims and their families could lose out on medical bill reimbursement; lost wages; pain and suffering; and various other money damages that they may be entitled to under Hawai’i law.
A Kona car accident lawyer can level the playing field by:
Conducting a thorough investigation to gather evidence, establish liability and retain top experts to provide invaluable testimony.
Zealously advocating for full compensation for all money damages available under Hawai’i law.
Preparing your case for trial if the insurance company refuses to pay full compensation
By hiring a Kona car accident lawyer, you can focus on your recovery while your attorney handles your legal claim(s).
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Kona
Kona’s winding roads and visibility issues, lack of road maintenance, and high volumes of tourist traffic on outdated roadways contributes to a higher number of serious car accidents. Some of the most common causes of collisions in the area include:
Distracted driving (texting, eating, adjusting controls, etc.)
Speeding and aggressive driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Fatigued or drowsy driving
Failure to yield the right-of-way
Hazardous road conditions (potholes, debris, poor lighting, etc.)
Defective vehicle parts or maintenance issues
Regardless of the cause of your accident, if another party’s negligence was a factor, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses.
Types of Compensation Available After a Kona Car Accident
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Kona, Hilo or anywhere on Hawai’i Island you may be able to recover compensation for a variety of damages, including:
Medical expenses (hospital bills, rehabilitation costs, future surgeries and other medical treatment, etc.)
Lost wages and lost earning capacity
Property damage (vehicle repair or replacement costs)
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Permanent disability or disfigurement
In cases involving egregious negligence or misconduct (ie impaired driving), punitive damages may also be awarded to punish the at-fault party and deter similar behavior in the future.
Statute of Limitations for Kona Car Accident Claims
It’s important to act quickly after a car accident in Kona, as Hawaii has strict time limits for filing personal injury claims. In most auto cases, you have two years from either the date of the accident or the date of the last no fault payment, to file a lawsuit. If you fail to meet this deadline, you could lose your right to recover compensation entirely.
By working with an experienced Kona car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your collision, you can best the insurance company at its own game thus preserving your ability to seek justice and financial recovery. For anyone that has been involved in an auto accident, time is precious. Insurance adjusters act quickly to gather information and evidence that can be used against the victim. We’ve had several serious injury cases where insurance adjusters have visited victims in the Intensive Care Unit(s) at Queens Medical Center, Kona Community Hospital and Hilo Medical Center in an attempt to collect information about the victim and the accident. In other cases, adjusters have visited victims at home. In all cases, adjusters flood victims with telephone, email and text inquiries in an attempt to elicit information about the accident and the victim’s injuries. An experienced auto accident lawyer will step in and handle all insurance company communications and prohibit any communication between adjuster and victim.
Contact a Kona Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured, or if a loved one has died in a car accident in Kona or anywhere on the Big Island, don’t wait to seek legal representation. The sooner you have an experienced Kona car accident lawyer on your side, the better your chances of achieving a favorable outcome and full compensation.
At Foster Law Offices, we offer free, no-obligation consultations to accident victims in Kona and throughout Hawaii. Our attorneys will review the details of your case, explain your legal options, and help you understand the steps involved in pursuing compensation.
Don’t let the insurance companies take advantage of you or let your claim expire due to the statute of limitations. Contact Foster Law Offices today to schedule your consultation and learn how we can help you get the justice and financial recovery you deserve.