Car accident
Car Accident Attorneys in Honolulu, Hawaii
The firms in this guide
- Bostwick & Associates Call Bostwick & Associates: (808) 320-5024
- Recovery Law Center Call Recovery Law Center: (808) 427-3088
- Davis Levin Livingston Call Davis Levin Livingston: (808) 740-0633
- Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner Call Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner: (808) 537-2525
- Daniel T. Pagliarini AAL Call Daniel T. Pagliarini AAL: (808) 536-2226
1. Bostwick & Associates
Practice Focus: Personal injury litigation, car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, birth injuries, and product liability cases.
Case Types Handled: Auto and truck collisions, catastrophic motor vehicle accidents, traumatic brain injuries from crashes, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death claims arising from fatal accidents, pedestrian accidents, and accidents involving defective vehicles or parts.
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, civil litigation and trial representation, settlement negotiations, expert witness coordination, medical record analysis, demand letter preparation, discovery and deposition management, jury trial advocacy, and appellate representation.
Background: James S. Bostwick is the founding attorney with decades of trial experience. The firm has recovered over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients and holds record-setting recoveries in multiple states. James Bostwick is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates (limited to the top 100 plaintiff trial lawyers in the U.S.), former President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (limited to the top 500 trial lawyers in the U.S.), inducted into the Lawdragon Hall of Fame among the Top 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America, listed in The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, member of Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, member of American Board of Trial Advocates (Hawaii Chapter), nationally certified medical malpractice specialist by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, recognized in Best Lawyers in America since 1983, Super Lawyers 2025, and Best Law Firms 2025. Notable result: $21,000,000 verdict for a 56-year-old woman injured when her car was struck by a truck.
Location: 500 Ala Moana Blvd, Suite 400, Honolulu, HI 96813
Contact: (808) 320-5024 | https://www.hawaiipersonalinjuryfirm.com/
Consultation: Free consultation offered, contingency fee basis (no fee unless recovery is obtained).
2. Recovery Law Center
Practice Focus: Personal injury claims, car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, moped accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, ridesharing accidents, drunk driving accidents, hit-and-run accidents, distracted driving accidents, slip and fall accidents, premises liability, and wrongful death.
Case Types Handled: Rear-end collisions, head-on collisions, multi-vehicle accidents, drunk driving crashes, hit-and-run incidents, drowsy driving accidents, catastrophic injuries including brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, broken bone injuries, and wrongful death claims from motor vehicle accidents.
Legal Services: Insurance claim filing and negotiation, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claims assistance, liability claim investigation, evidence collection and preservation, police report analysis, witness statement gathering, medical record coordination, settlement negotiation, litigation and trial representation, and contingency fee representation.
Background: Glenn T. Honda is the founding attorney with 25 years of experience representing personal injury victims throughout Hawaii. The firm has been recognized with numerous awards including Hawaii’s Best 2025, Best of Hawaii 2024, Super Lawyers selection, National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Lawyers of Distinction, AVVO 10.0 rating, and American Jurist Institute Top 10 Attorneys recognition. The firm employs a nurse on staff to assist with complex injury cases and provides services in multiple languages including Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Additional attorneys include George C. Alejandro, James H. Monma, and David Kwon.
Location: 770 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 111, Honolulu, HI 96813
Contact: (808) 427-3088 | (808) 597-8888 | https://recoverylawcenterhawaii.com/
Consultation: Free consultation available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; contingency fee basis (no upfront costs, no fee unless case is won); virtual consultations available.
3. Davis Levin Livingston
Practice Focus: Personal injury, medical malpractice, birth injuries, car accidents, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, nursing home abuse, sexual abuse victim representation, premises liability, class actions, consumer rights, and civil rights cases.
Case Types Handled: Auto accidents, catastrophic injury cases, fatal car accidents, medical negligence during accident treatment, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and wrongful death arising from motor vehicle collisions.
Legal Services: Insurance claim negotiation, complex civil litigation, trial representation, expert medical consultation, class action coordination, settlement negotiation, jury trial advocacy, and appellate practice.
Background: The firm has been serving Hawaii for over 40 years and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients. Mark S. Davis and Michael K. Livingston are the founding partners. The firm achieved the largest single compensatory personal injury judgment in Hawaii ($80 million settlement against Kamehameha School), the highest malpractice judgment in the United States against a military hospital, and the highest sexual harassment settlement in Hawaii. The firm has a medical director and advanced practice nurse on staff. Attorneys have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, Hawaii Super Lawyers, Inner Circle of Advocates, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American College of Trial Lawyers, and Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers. The firm has been featured on ABC News, Good Morning America, and Justice in America by CBS. Best Law Firms 2025 and Best Law Firms 2026 recognition.
Location: 745 Fort Street, Suite 1550, Honolulu, HI 96813
Contact: (808) 740-0633 | https://www.davislevin.com/
Consultation: Free initial consultation; no fees unless recovery is obtained; available 24/7 by phone.
4. Leavitt, Yamane & Soldner
Practice Focus: Personal injury, car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle and moped accidents, pedestrian accidents, drunk driving accidents, brain injury, spinal cord injury, burn injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, construction and worksite accidents, slip and fall accidents, swimming pool accidents, and product liability.
Case Types Handled: All types of motor vehicle collisions, catastrophic auto accidents resulting in severe spinal cord and brain injuries, fatal car accidents, drunk driving crashes, distracted driving accidents, commercial vehicle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and wrongful death cases.
Legal Services: Insurance claim assistance, police report acquisition, evidence preservation, witness coordination, liability investigation, PIP claims management, settlement negotiation, civil litigation, trial representation, and wrongful death claim coordination.
Background: The firm has been serving Hawaii residents and visitors for more than 40 years and is recognized as one of the established law firms in Hawaii. The team includes attorneys James T. Leavitt, John D. Yamane, Woody Soldner, Mike Cruise, Aaron Creps, Nicole Kalakau, Stuart Kodish, Rafael Renteria, Elena Kau’i Yamane, and Joan Tuers. Notable case results include $1,250,000, $2,000,000, and $2,000,000 car accident recoveries. The firm serves clients on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, and Hawaii Island.
Location: 737 Bishop Street, Suite 1740, Honolulu, HI 96813
Contact: (808) 537-2525 (New Case Inquiries) | (808) 521-7474 (Main Office) | https://lyslaw.com/
Consultation: Free consultation available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; contingency fee arrangement.
5. Daniel T. Pagliarini AAL
Practice Focus: Personal injury law, car accidents, truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle accidents, and wrongful death claims arising from motor vehicle collisions.
Case Types Handled: Auto accidents, truck collisions, pedestrian accidents, motorcycle crashes, rear-end collisions, intersection accidents, multi-vehicle pileups, and fatal motor vehicle accidents.
Legal Services: Insurance claim filing and negotiation, Personal Injury Protection claims assistance, liability determination, evidence gathering, medical expense documentation, lost wage calculations, pain and suffering claims, settlement negotiation, litigation, and trial representation.
Background: Daniel T. Pagliarini has nearly four decades (over 38 years) of experience representing Hawaii’s injured and their families. He graduated from Suffolk University Law School and attended U.H. Richardson School of Law. Attorney Pagliarini has been recognized by clients and peers for professional excellence in personal injury law and has helped clients collect full compensation for their injury claims. He serves clients on all Hawaiian islands from his Honolulu office.
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii (serves all Hawaiian islands)
Contact: (808) 536-2226 | https://injurylawhawaii.com/
Consultation: Free consultation offered; contingency fee basis.
The No-Fault Tort Threshold, 2026 Insurance Minimums and Joint Liability for Honolulu Car Crashes
A Honolulu car crash claim in Hawaii can go to court only if it clears the no-fault tort threshold, such as $5,000 in personal injury protection benefits or a serious permanent injury. Hawaii also raised its liability minimums for policies effective in 2026 and keeps joint and several liability for all damages in motor vehicle accident cases, with an exception for some highway-related claims.
The No-Fault Tort Threshold
Under HRS 431:10C-306(a) and (b), tort liability for accidental harm from motor vehicle accidents in Hawaii is abolished except where the accident causes death, a significant permanent loss of use of a part or function of the body, a permanent and serious disfigurement causing mental or emotional suffering, or personal injury protection benefits incurred that equal or exceed $5,000.
Liability Minimums and PIP
Under HRS 431:10C-301(b), as the Hawaii Insurance Division applies it to new and renewal policies effective on or after January 1, 2026, liability coverage must be at least $40,000 per person and $80,000 per accident for bodily injury and $20,000 for property damage, with uninsured motorist coverage in the same bodily injury limits. Under 431:10C-103.5(c), personal injury protection benefits are limited to $10,000 per person in the aggregate.
Joint Liability in Motor Vehicle Cases
Under HRS 663-10.9(2)(F), joint and several liability for economic and noneconomic damages remains for torts relating to motor vehicle accidents, except under (4) for noneconomic damages in claims about the maintenance and design of highways, guardrails, utility poles and signs, where reasonable prior notice of a similar occurrence must be shown.
Leaving the Scene
Under HRS 291C-12, a driver in a collision resulting in serious bodily injury or death must stop and remain until the 291C-14 duties are fulfilled; a violation is a class B felony, the license is revoked, and a $500 surcharge is imposed.
Honolulu Car Accident Questions
How long do I have to sue after a Honolulu car crash?
Two years after the cause of action accrues, under HRS 657-7, and two years from the date of death for a wrongful death action under 663-3. If a county vehicle, employee or street was involved, HRS 46-72 also requires written notice of the injuries, how they occurred and the amount claimed within two years after the injuries accrued before the county is liable.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault?
Yes, if your negligence is not greater than the negligence of the person or, together, the persons you are suing. For example, imagine $90,000 in damages and 35 percent of the negligence on the injured driver: under HRS 663-31 the recovery would be $58,500.
Do I need $5,000 in PIP benefits to sue the other driver?
No, not if another exception applies. Under HRS 431:10C-306(b), death, a significant permanent loss of use of a body part or function, or a permanent and serious disfigurement with mental or emotional suffering also preserves the tort claim.