Wrongful Death

Wrongful Death Claim Lawyer in Honolulu, HI

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Wrongful Death

Wrongful Death Claim Lawyer

Losing a loved one because of someone’s negligence is devastating. The emotional pain, financial burdens, and legal challenges can feel overwhelming. If your family is facing this reality, you deserve justice and compensation for your loss. Our Honolulu wrongful death attorneys at Recovery Law Center are here to help you hold the responsible party accountable.

We handle wrongful death claims caused by fatal accidents, medical malpractice, truck accidents, and other deadly incidents. Whether your loss was due to driver fatigue, medical negligence, or intentional action, our legal team will fight to recover economic and non-economic damages.

Filing a wrongful death lawsuit can feel like a complex process, but you don’t have to face it alone. Our Hawaii wrongful death lawyers provide legal guidance every step of the way. We gather evidence, build a strong case, and, if necessary, pursue trial for the surviving family members.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?

If a loved one recently died due to someone’s negligence, you have legal rights as a surviving family member. When a reckless or intentional action costs someone their life, the responsible party could owe the victim’s family significant compensation. This will typically be recovered through a wrongful death claim.

Wrongful death claims are not criminal cases. A criminal case might be brought by the state or federal government. In these types of cases, the prosecutor may seek charges of involuntary manslaughter, voluntary manslaughter, or murder. Consequences of a criminal case might include prison time, fines, or probation for the defendant(s).

At Recovery Law Center, we file civil cases for wrongful death. A civil lawsuit seeks compensation from someone whose negligence led to your loved one’s death. A Hawaii wrongful death attorney will represent the interests of the deceased person’s family. The accused party can hire their own attorney as well.

In a civil case, the person or entity at fault does not face jail time or probation. Instead, the family suing on behalf of their relative seeks financial compensation for their losses. If you and your attorney can prove that the defendant acted recklessly, compensation will be awarded by settling out of court or taking the case to trial.

Most Honolulu wrongful death claims can be resolved through a settlement. However, if a fair agreement cannot be reached, Attorney Glenn Honda won’t hesitate to take the case to trial and fight for what’s right.

Consult Recovery Law Center for Wrongful Death Cases and Claims

At Recovery Law Center, we understand the pain, financial burdens, and legal challenges that come with wrongful death cases. Our Honolulu wrongful death attorneys provide compassionate support while aggressively pursuing justice. Voted #1 in Hawaii for 2024, we are committed to helping families seek the compensation they deserve. Consult us for the following reasons:

Proven Experience in Wrongful Death Cases: Our legal team has handled wrongful death lawsuits involving medical negligence, workplace accidents, medical malpractice, deadly accidents, and truck accidents. We know how to build strong cases to hold the negligent party accountable.
Maximizing Compensation for Families: A wrongful death claim can recover economic damages like medical expenses and lost income, as well as non-economic damages for mental anguish and loss of companionship. We fight for maximum compensation to help families move forward.
Comprehensive Legal Guidance: Filing a wrongful death claim can be overwhelming. Our attorneys guide you through every step, from gathering crucial evidence to negotiating with insurance companies and handling court proceedings. If necessary, we take legal action to ensure justice is served.
Support for Surviving Family Members: Whether you are a surviving spouse or dependent family member, we understand the emotional toll of a loved one’s death. We handle the legal process so you can focus on healing.
Local Knowledge, Personal Attention: As a Hawaii wrongful death law office, we know the legal system and how to handle cases in Honolulu courts. Unlike large, impersonal law firms, we give every case the personal attention it deserves.

Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Hawaii?

The following people can file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their loved one in Hawaii:

The surviving spouse
A reciprocal beneficiary (e.g., someone in a domestic partnership arrangement)
The decedent’s children
The decedent’s mother or father
Any other financial dependent of the decedent

Like all states, there is a time limit on how extended families have to file for wrongful death lawsuits in Hawaii. Generally, you must file within two years from the date of the person’s death.

Despite the two-year window, speaking with a wrongful death lawyer well before that deadline is smart. Your lawyer will need evidence to prove your compensation case. The longer the time between the death and the legal action, the more difficult it can be to track down crucial evidence and witnesses.

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How to Prove Wrongful Death

In Hawaii wrongful death cases, you must prove that the at-fault party was negligent to receive compensation. To succeed in a wrongful death lawsuit, you must prove four key elements:

Duty of Care – The negligent party had a responsibility to act safely. For example, a doctor must follow medical standards, and drivers must obey traffic laws.
Breach of Duty – The responsible party failed to uphold their duty. This could be medical malpractice, reckless driving, or ignoring workplace safety rules.
Causation – The breach of duty directly caused the fatal incident. A lawyer must show that the person’s negligence led to the wrongful death.
Damages – The death resulted in financial burdens, emotional distress, and other losses. Surviving spouses or family members can seek economic damages and non-economic damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income, and mental anguish.

Common Causes of Wrongful Death in Hawaii

Fatal accidents in Hawaii can occur for a wide variety of reasons. Some common causes of fatal accidents include:

Vehicle collisions : Driving is a necessity for most Hawai’i residents. But someone’s negligence can have tragic consequences in the blink of an eye. Speeding, driving under the influence , and distracted driving can all result in wrongful death claims.
Boating accidents : The Hawaiian Islands are surrounded by over 1,000 miles of coastline, so it’s no surprise that boating is a popular activity for locals and tourists . But safely operating a boat requires a certain level of skill and experience. Carelessness can cause catastrophic injuries and death. Boat accidents in Hawaii are frequently caused by speeding, navigating in poor weather conditions, failing to carry the proper safety equipment, and overloading the vessel.
Snorkeling and scuba diving accidents : Hawaii’s pristine waters make it easy to enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving, but these activities have inherent risks. Victims of scuba diving and snorkeling accidents may drown or suffer oxygen deprivation. These accidents may be caused by inadequate training, faulty equipment, failure to assess whether it’s safe to dive, snorkeling in high-traffic areas, and improper supervision.
Helicopter accidents: Helicopter tours are popular for admiring Hawaii’s beauty from above. However, as with any type of flying, there are risks involved. Helicopter crashes are frequently caused by flying in unsafe weather, improper training, faulty equipment, failure to inspect the helicopter properly, and piloting the aircraft while under the influence. In these cases, the pilot and/or the company employing the pilot (as well as others) could potentially be liable for the death.
Truck crashes : Big rigs, 18-wheelers, and other commercial trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. As a result, truck collisions are more likely to cause catastrophic injury or death compared to typical vehicle collisions. Common causes of truck accidents include driver fatigue, improper training, overloading, faulty parts, and failure to properly maintain or inspect the truck before driving.
Medical malpractice: People trust their doctors to perform safe, high-quality medical procedures daily. However, when healthcare professionals fail to meet the standard of care, this can result in death. Examples of medical negligence include improperly performed surgery, failure to diagnose diseases such as cancer, misdiagnoses, and medication errors.
Slip and fall accidents : Slip and fall accidents happen when you least expect them: walking through a parking lot, heading down the sidewalk, or even a store. While property owners and local municipalities must maintain safe walking areas, but they don’t always do so. What seems like a minor head injury after a slip and fall accident can rapidly evolve into a fatal traumatic brain injury .

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When to Contact a Wrongful Death Claim Attorney

Although the deadline for filing wrongful death claims in Hawaii is generally two years from the date of death, there are cases when the time limit may be extended.

For example, if the wrongful death was caused by medical negligence, then the deadline is:

Two years from the date of death, or
Two years from the date you discovered that the death was caused by negligence

If your Hawaii wrongful death case is against a government entity, the deadline could be even shorter. This is why contacting a knowledgeable lawyer is important as soon as possible.

An experienced Hawaii wrongful death lawyer will know which local and federal laws apply to your case. The sooner you contact an attorney, the earlier he/she can review your case and determine if you have a valid wrongful death claim.

Contact a Honolulu Wrongful Death Lawyer for Legal Support

A wrongful death claim is never easy. Losing a loved one changes everything, and the legal process can feel overwhelming. But you don’t have to go through it alone. A Honolulu wrongful death lawyer can help you seek justice and the wrongful death compensation your family deserves.

At Recovery Law Center, we understand the emotional and financial toll a sudden loss brings. We handle the legal work so you can focus on healing. Our team fights for fair compensation to cover medical expenses, lost income, and the support your loved one provided.

If you’re considering legal action, don’t wait. Hawaii law limits the time you have to file a claim. Schedule a consultation, and let us help you take the next step forward.