Hawaii welcomes millions of visitors each year who explore the beautiful islands by car. These tourists might not know local roads, traffic patterns or driving laws.
Accidents involving out-of-state drivers create unique challenges for Hawaii residents. Understanding how to handle these situations can save significant stress and protect your rights.
Immediate steps after the accident
If you get into a car crash with a tourist, your first steps can make or break the outcome of your situation. Keep these tips in mind:
- Detailed documentation: Take plenty of photos of all vehicles, license plates, driver’s licenses and the accident scene from different angles.
- Contact information: Get all their details including home address, phone number, email and where they’re staying in Hawaii.
- Rental car details: Write down the rental company name, contract number and any extra insurance they bought.
- Witness statements: Ask people who saw what happened for their contact info and what they noticed.
- Police report: Always call the police, especially since the tourist will leave Hawaii soon.
These steps help you create a good record before the tourist heads home and becomes hard to reach.
Handling insurance and legal issues
The real headaches often start after the accident when you’re dealing with unfamiliar insurance companies. You might run into these issues:
- Most tourists have mainland insurance that doesn’t know how Hawaii’s no-fault system works.
- Rental car companies usually give basic coverage unless the driver paid extra.
- Claims might involve multiple states, making it unclear which laws apply.
- Talking with the other party gets tough once they fly back home.
- Time limits for filing claims vary by state.
In Hawaii, the law allots two years from the accident date to file an injury lawsuit. This makes quick action important, especially with out-of-state drivers who might be hard to find months later. Missing this deadline could mean losing your chance for compensation, even if the accident wasn’t your fault.
Working with an attorney who knows about these between-state issues can help you sort through this tricky situation and seek fair payment.
Car accidents with tourists need extra care to resolve well. Protecting yourself starts with knowing these special challenges and taking the right steps from the moment of impact.