Hawaii Personal Injury Lawyers
Hawaii's island geography, tourist traffic, and winding mountain roads create unique driving challenges, with over 100 traffic fatalities annually.
Hawaii uses a modified comparative fault (51% bar) system for personal injury claims. The statute of limitations is 2 years. Bond Legal is licensed to practice in Hawaii and has recovered over $500 million for injured clients nationwide. Free consultations available 24/7 — pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
How Hawaii Personal Injury Law Works
Fault System
Modified Comparative Fault (51% Bar)
Hawaii uses modified comparative negligence — you can recover only if your fault does not exceed 50%. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Source: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 663-31
Statute of Limitations
2 years
This is the deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit in Hawaii. Missing this deadline typically means losing your right to compensation permanently.
Source: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7
Damage Caps
Non-economic damages capped in medical malpractice cases only. No general cap on PI damages.
Key Hawaii Laws Affecting Your Case
Modified Comparative Fault (51% Bar)
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 663-31
Hawaii follows modified comparative negligence. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, and if you are 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing.
2-Year Statute of Limitations
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7
Hawaii has a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims, running from the date of injury or death.
No-Fault Auto Insurance (PIP)
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 431:10C-103
Hawaii is a no-fault auto insurance state requiring Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covering $10,000 in medical expenses per person. To sue for pain and suffering, you must meet the serious injury threshold — medical expenses exceeding PIP limits or permanent injury.
Mandatory UM/UIM Coverage
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 431:10C-301
Hawaii is one of few states requiring uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Minimum UM/UIM limits match liability limits.
DUI / OVUII Law
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291E-61
Hawaii uses the term OVUII (Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant). BAC limit is .08 for adults, .02 for those under 21. Implied consent applies — refusal results in automatic license revocation.
Practice Areas We Handle in Hawaii
Our Hawaii Team
Bond Legal Attorneys Licensed in Hawaii
These experienced personal injury attorneys are licensed to practice in Hawaii and handle cases throughout the state.
Public Record
Notable Hawaii Personal Injury Verdicts & Settlements
These publicly reported verdicts and settlements illustrate the range of outcomes in Hawaii personal injury cases. They are from public court records and do not represent Bond Legal's case results.
Verdict for a patient who sustained permanent brain damage due to anesthesia errors during surgery at a Honolulu hospital.
Jury award for occupants injured in a high-speed collision on the Hana Highway caused by a tour bus driver's negligence.
Settlement in a negligent maintenance case at a Big Island resort where a guest sustained catastrophic pool-related injuries.
Verdict for a pedestrian struck by a delivery vehicle in a Waikiki crosswalk, resulting in traumatic brain injury and spinal cord damage.
Settlement for a motorcyclist who suffered catastrophic injuries after a tour van crossed the center line on Kaumualii Highway.
Important: The verdicts and settlements shown above are from publicly available court records and legal publications. They are presented for informational purposes only and do not represent Bond Legal's case results. Every case is unique — the facts, injuries, defendants, insurance coverage, venue, and applicable law vary significantly. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case. Gross amounts shown are before deduction of attorney fees, costs, and expenses. This is an advertisement.
Injured in Hawaii? Find Out What Your Case Is Worth.
Bond Legal's Hawaii personal injury attorneys are ready to pursue the compensation you deserve. Pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
(866) 423-7724 — Free ConsultationWhat Makes Hawaii Different for Personal Injury Cases
Hawaii has the highest percentage of motorcyclist fatalities (29%) and bicyclist fatalities (9%) of any state (IIHS, 2023), reflecting the islands' year-round riding weather, narrow roads, and tourist-heavy traffic patterns. Pedestrian deaths (24%) are also disproportionately high.
Hawaii's no-fault auto insurance system requires Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage of $10,000 per person. To step outside the no-fault system and sue for pain and suffering, you must meet the serious injury threshold. The state has a 2-year statute of limitations (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 657-7).
Hawaii's island geography creates unique challenges: limited trauma centers on neighbor islands, narrow winding coastal roads, tourist drivers unfamiliar with local conditions, and heavy scooter/moped usage that creates additional vulnerable road user risk.
Hawaii mandates UM/UIM coverage — one of the few states to do so — providing better baseline protection for accident victims than most mainland states.
Hawaii Traffic Safety Statistics
12,000+
Annual Crashes
93
Fatalities (2023)
6.5
Deaths per 100K residents
9.3%
Uninsured Drivers (IRC)
27 (29%)
Motorcycle fatalities
22 (24%)
Pedestrian fatalities
8 (9%)
Bicyclist fatalities
30+
Alcohol-impaired fatalities (BAC .08+)
Source: IIHS/NHTSA FARS, 2023 | Motorcycle fatalities: IIHS, 2023 | Pedestrian fatalities: IIHS, 2023 | Bicyclist fatalities: IIHS, 2023 | Alcohol-impaired fatalities (BAC .08+): NHTSA FARS, 2023
Hawaii Auto Insurance Landscape
~$1,400/yr
Avg. Annual Premium
Bankrate, 2024
20/40/10 ($20K per person, $40K per accident BI, $10K PD) + $10K PIP
Minimum Coverage
Haw. Rev. Stat. § 431:10C-103
9.3%
Uninsured Drivers
IRC, 2022
No-Fault State
Insurance System
Key Insurance Notes for Hawaii
- •Hawaii is a no-fault state requiring PIP coverage of $10,000 per person for medical expenses.
- •Hawaii is one of few states mandating UM/UIM coverage, providing better protection for accident victims.
- •Island geography means limited trauma centers — serious crashes on neighbor islands may require helicopter medevac to Oahu.
Hawaii Impairment & Behavioral Crash Data
30+
Alcohol-Related Fatalities
Approximately 32% of all traffic fatalities involved alcohol impairment
40%+
Drug-Positive Rate in Fatal Crashes
10+ fatalities involving drivers age 20 or younger
Teen Driver Fatal Crashes
25+
Unrestrained Occupant Fatalities
Source: NHTSA FARS 2023 / Hawaii DOT
Injured in Hawaii? We Can Help.
Bond Legal is licensed to practice in Hawaii. Call us for a free, no‑obligation case review — pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.
Get Your Free Case ReviewHawaii Court & Filing Statistics
12,000+ (Circuit Courts statewide)
Civil Filings
First Circuit (Honolulu/Oahu) handles the vast majority of tort and PI filings
Personal Injury Filings
12–18 months
Avg. Disposition Time
Source: Hawaii State Judiciary, 2023 Annual Report
Seasonal Trends
When Are Hawaii Roads Most Dangerous?
Crash patterns in Hawaii follow seasonal and holiday trends that every driver should know.
August (highest fatality count; summer tourism + motorcycle peak)
Deadliest Month
New Year's Eve/Day (historically Hawaii's deadliest holiday for impaired driving)
Deadliest Holiday Period
December–March (Winter Tourism / Whale Season)
+30% crash increase in tourist corridorsPeak tourist season brings massive rental car traffic increases across all islands. Visitors unfamiliar with narrow coastal roads, one-lane bridges, and tropical rain conditions contribute to crash spikes. The Road to Hana (Maui) and Saddle Road (Big Island) see the most tourist-involved crashes.
June–August (Summer Tourism)
+25% motorcycle/moped crashesSecond peak tourism season. Oahu's North Shore, Maui's resort areas, and Big Island volcano tourism create heavy traffic on two-lane highways. Motorcycle and moped fatalities peak during summer months — Hawaii has the highest motorcycle fatality percentage of any state (29%).
October–March (Heavy Rain / Flash Flood Season)
+35% weather-related crashes during storm eventsKona storms and trade wind-driven rainfall create flash flooding on island roads. Windward sides of all islands (Hana Highway, Hamakua Coast, Windward Oahu) see frequent road closures. Hydroplaning on narrow mountain roads is a major factor.
Holiday Weekends / Major Events
+30% impaired driving crashes on holiday weekendsTriple Crown of Surfing (North Shore Oahu), Ironman World Championship (Big Island), and holiday weekends create localized traffic surges on island roads with no alternative routes. Alcohol-impaired driving accounts for 32% of all Hawaii traffic fatalities.
Source: Hawaii DOT / NHTSA FARS, 2023. Crash patterns are based on multi-year data and may vary year to year.
Common Questions
Hawaii Personal Injury FAQ
County-by-County
Hawaii Personal Injury by County
Each county in Hawaii has distinct court procedures, jury tendencies, and case timelines that significantly impact personal injury outcomes.
Honolulu (Oahu) County
PI Filings
~3,500/yr civil
Median PI Verdict
Moderate-to-plaintiff-friendly
Typical Timeline
14–20 months
Jury Pool
Diverse urban Honolulu pool; moderate-to-plaintiff-friendly — handles ~75% of all Hawaii civil filings
First Circuit Court. H-1/H-2/H-3 interchange complex. Military (Pearl Harbor, Schofield, MCBH). Tourism Waikiki corridor. ~70% of state population on one island.
Maui County
PI Filings
~400/yr civil
Median PI Verdict
Moderate
Typical Timeline
12–16 months
Jury Pool
Tourism/agriculture pool; moderate
Second Circuit Court (Wailuku). Hana Highway — one of the most dangerous scenic roads in the US. Lahaina wildfire recovery zone. Resort corridor traffic (Wailea/Kaanapali).
Hawaii (Big Island) County
PI Filings
~350/yr civil
Median PI Verdict
Moderate
Typical Timeline
12–16 months
Jury Pool
Diverse rural/tourism pool; moderate
Third Circuit Court (Hilo/Kona). Saddle Road (Daniel K. Inouye Highway). Volcanoes National Park traffic. Limited trauma facilities — may require medevac to Oahu.
Kauai County
PI Filings
~100/yr civil
Median PI Verdict
Moderate-to-conservative
Typical Timeline
10–14 months
Jury Pool
Small rural/tourism pool; moderate-to-conservative
Fifth Circuit Court (Lihue). Kuhio Highway — single-lane bridges and flood-prone coastal road. Na Pali Coast tourism traffic. Very limited trauma care — serious cases medevacked to Oahu.
Court data is for general reference only. Actual timelines, verdicts, and procedures vary by case. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Legal Resources
Hawaii Legal Resources & Guides
In-depth guides covering rideshare accidents, courthouse procedures, and insurance company tactics for Hawaii.
Rideshare Accident Guides
Courthouse Profiles
Showing all 10 deep-dive profiles · 10 profiles total.
First Circuit (Honolulu)
Honolulu · Moderate (~18mo)
First Circuit (Honolulu)
Honolulu · Moderate (~20mo)
Second Circuit (Wailuku)
Wailuku · Moderate (~18mo)
Third Circuit Hilo
Hilo · Moderate (~16mo)
Third Circuit Kona
Kailua-Kona · Moderate (~16mo)
Fifth Circuit (Lihue)
Lihue · Moderate (~16mo)
First Circuit Kapolei
Kapolei · Moderate (~18mo)
First Circuit Kaneohe
Kaneohe · Moderate (~18mo)
First Circuit Wahiawa
Wahiawa · Moderate (~18mo)
Second Circuit Lahaina
Lahaina · Moderate (~16mo)
Ultimate Legal Guides
Hawaii Legal Guides by Practice Area
Deep-dive guides covering Hawaii's specific laws, filing deadlines, insurance requirements, and claims processes for each practice area.
Auto Accident Guide
Hawaii-specific laws & process
Truck Accident Guide
Hawaii-specific laws & process
Motorcycle Accident Guide
Hawaii-specific laws & process
Birth Injury Guide
Hawaii-specific laws & process
Personal Injury Guide
Hawaii-specific laws & process
Wrongful Death Guide
Hawaii-specific laws & process
Sexual Assault Guide
Hawaii-specific laws & process
Fire Litigation Guide
Hawaii-specific laws & process
Mass Tort & Dangerous Drug Guide
Hawaii-specific laws & process
Rideshare Accident Guide
Hawaii-specific laws & process
Pedestrian Accident Guide
Hawaii-specific laws & process
Bicycle & E-Bike Accident Guide
Hawaii-specific laws & process
Disclaimer: All amounts shown are gross amounts recovered before deduction of attorney fees, costs, and expenses. The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Traffic safety data, insurance statistics, and court information are sourced from publicly available government and industry databases as cited above. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. This is an advertisement.