Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyer in Honolulu

Hawaii PIP & Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Hawaii is a no-fault insurance state. Personal Injury Protection, commonly called PIP, pays covered medical expenses and certain financial losses after an auto accident regardless of who caused it, up to the applicable policy limit. These benefits may be available even when the responsible driver can’t be identified.

Uninsured motorist coverage protects insured people who are legally entitled to recover damages for bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death caused by an uninsured vehicle. Hawaii consumer insurance guidance recognizes this coverage as a potential source of protection when a responsible driver has no insurance or flees the scene.

This protection is optional in Hawaii and may be rejected in writing by the named insured. If it was purchased, an injured person may be able to submit a claim under their own policy. A resident relative’s policy may provide another option when its terms apply.

Compensation & Filing Deadlines in Hawaii

Recoverable losses may include:

• Medical expenses.
• Lost wages.
• Property damage.
• Pain and suffering.
• Loss of enjoyment of life.

Property damage and bodily injury are separate components of an auto collision claim. The compensation available depends on the injuries, evidence, applicable insurance, and circumstances of the crash.

Hawaii claims for bodily injuries generally have a two-year statute of limitations under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 657-7, but exceptions can change the calculation. In auto accident cases, the limitations period generally begins after the last Personal Injury Protection payment. Because the correct deadline depends on the facts and payment history, it should be evaluated rather than assumed.

Claim Paths When the Driver Is Known or Unknown

If authorities identify the fleeing driver, the injured person may have a civil claim against them. A lawsuit against an uninsured driver is one possible route, although whether it offers a practical source of recovery depends on the circumstances. Criminal proceedings for leaving the scene remain separate from the civil claim and don’t determine insurance coverage or compensation.

Hawaii Revised Statutes § 291C-12 requires a driver involved in a collision causing serious bodily injury or death to stop, remain at the scene, and fulfill statutory duties. Violating that provision is a class B felony. That criminal classification addresses the driver’s conduct, while compensation and insurance issues follow separate legal standards.

When the driver remains unidentified, an applicable policy may provide uninsured motorist benefits. Potential protection should be evaluated under the injured person’s policy and, where relevant, a resident relative’s policy.

Joint Underwriting Plan Assigned Claims

Hawaii Joint Underwriting Plan rules allow certain claims to be assigned for victims who don’t have an applicable auto insurance policy, including qualifying hit-and-run victims. An Assigned Claim with the State may be considered when a lawsuit against the responsible driver, the injured person’s uninsured motorist benefits, and coverage through a resident relative don’t apply. Eligibility depends on the governing requirements and the facts of the collision.