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Passenger Accidents

Hawaii Passenger Claims:

Foster Law Offices proudly represents Hawaii residents, visitors and tourists who have suffered serious injuries as a passenger due to a negligent or reckless driver. Passengers injured in an auto accident have the same legal right to receive a financial settlement in a Hawaii personal injury case as a driver. 

Passengers And Personal Injury In Hawaii:

A passenger may be entitled to a personal injury settlement under Hawaii law even if the driver responsible for the accident was the driver of the car in which the passenger was riding. In addition to recovering from the at-fault driver's insurance policy, passengers may also be eligible to receive a settlement under an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy. It is thus important for passengers to identify all insurance policies of all drivers involved as soon as possible after the accident.

Avoid Relying On Drivers For Information:

In Hawaii passenger accident cases, it is important NOT to rely on a driver for information or advice. Although most drivers do not intend to mislead an injured passenger, the lack of a driver's knowledge about Hawaii personal injury law can have disastrous consequences for the passenger's financial settlement. In Hawaii, passengers are not required to obtain the consent of a driver to file a personal injury claim. 

What If The Driver Is A Family Member Or Friend?

In many Hawaii passenger accident cases, the driver of the vehicle that causes the accident is a family member or friend of the injured passenger. In order for the passenger to receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain-and-suffering and other financial compensation for the injuries sustained in the accident, the passenger is forced to file a claim with the family member or friend's auto insurance policy.

In most cases, the family member or friend who caused the accident is apologetic and in full support of the insurance claim. For those family members or friends who voice displeasure, it is important to weigh the financial impact to the passenger of not filing a claim versus the financial impact to the driver of filing a claim.

If the injured passenger does not file a claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company, he or she will lose out on thousands of dollars in medical bill recovery, as well as any and all wage loss incurred due to the accident and additional sums for pain and suffering and other damages authorized under Hawaii law.  

Conversely, if a passenger files a claim with the at-fault driver's insurance company, the effect to the driver may be a few hundred dollar increase to his YEARLY auto insurance premium. When evaluated from a financial perspective, there is simply no question whether an injured passenger should pursue an insurance claim with a family member or friend's auto insurance policy. 

Contact Foster Law Offices:

If you or a loved one has been injured as a passenger in an automobile accident, we can help. To schedule a free consultation to discuss you or your loved one's auto accident case, please call or text (808) 348-7800 or if you prefer to submit your inquiry via email please complete the "Contact Our Firm" box to the right. We look forward to speaking with you. 

ALOHA. 

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