Hawaii Maritime & Ocean Accident Lawyer
Snorkel tours, dive boats, jet skis, parasailing, and cruise excursions injure residents and visitors, and maritime law adds complex rules and longer deadlines.
Hawaii's ocean is its greatest attraction — and a frequent source of serious injuries. Maritime law often governs accidents on the water, and it carries different rules and longer deadlines (frequently three years) than typical land-based claims. Whether your case is 'maritime' or 'non-maritime' depends on where and how it happened, which is why a fast, careful review is essential.
Common Ocean and Maritime Injuries in Hawaii
- Snorkel and dive tour accidents and equipment failures
- Jet ski, parasailing, and watercraft collisions
- Boat and catamaran tour injuries
- Cruise ship and excursion accidents
- Inadequate safety briefings or supervision
- Failure to warn about dangerous surf or currents
How Hawaii Law Affects Your Maritime & Ocean Accident Claim
Hawaii follows a modified comparative negligence rule (HRS § 663-31): you can recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault, with your award reduced by your share of fault. If you are found 51 percent or more at fault, you cannot recover. Hawaii's statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of injury under Hawaii Revised Statutes § 657-7. For motor-vehicle cases, Hawaii's no-fault system adds another layer: Hawaii is a no-fault auto insurance state. Your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays initial medical bills regardless of fault, but you must generally exceed a $5,000 medical-expense threshold (or suffer a qualifying serious injury) before you can pursue a claim for pain and suffering against the at-fault driver.
The bottom line: Hawaii's rules are full of deadlines and exceptions that insurers know well — and hope you don't. A free case review makes sure you understand your rights before you make any decisions.
What to Do After a Maritime & Ocean Accident in Hawaii
- Get medical care right away. Your health comes first, and prompt records link your injuries to the incident.
- Document everything. Photos, names, witness contacts, and details fade fast — capture them while you can.
- Don't give recorded statements. Insurers use them to minimize your claim. Speak with an attorney first.
- Don't accept a quick settlement. Early offers rarely reflect the true, long-term value of your claim.
- Request a free case review. Understand your options at no cost and no obligation.
What Your Maritime & Ocean Accident Claim May Recover
Depending on your case, compensation may include current and future medical expenses, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and other losses. Economic damages such as medical bills and lost income are not capped in Hawaii. The only way to understand your specific claim is a free review.
Hawaii Maritime & Ocean Accident FAQs
Nothing upfront. Our network attorneys work on contingency — you pay no fee unless they recover compensation for you. The case review is free.
Generally two years from the date of injury under Hawaii law, though maritime claims and claims against government entities follow different deadlines. Acting quickly helps preserve evidence.
It depends on the severity of your injuries, medical costs, lost income, the clarity of fault, and available insurance. Hawaii's comparative negligence rule and no-fault system also affect value. A free review is the best way to find out.
Under Hawaii's modified comparative negligence rule (HRS § 663-31), you can still recover as long as you were not more than 50 percent at fault, with your award reduced by your share.
We Handle Every Type of Hawaii Injury Claim
Car Accident
Hawaii's congested H-1, narrow island roads, and heavy visitor traffic make car crashes a daily reality across every island.
Learn MoreTruck Accident
Freight haulers and delivery trucks crowd Hawaii's limited highways — and a crash with a big rig is often catastrophic.
Learn MoreMotorcycle Accident
Year-round riding weather means heavy motorcycle traffic — and severe injuries when drivers fail to yield.
Learn MoreMoped & Scooter Accident
Mopeds and scooters fill Hawaii's streets, leaving riders dangerously exposed in any collision with a car or truck.
Learn MorePedestrian Accident
Hawaii ranks among the deadliest states for pedestrians, with busy resort crosswalks and distracted, unfamiliar drivers.
Learn MoreBicycle Accident
Cyclists share Hawaii's narrow roads with fast, often unfamiliar traffic — and collisions cause life-changing harm.
Learn MoreInjured in Hawaii? Get a Free Maritime & Ocean Accident Review.
No cost, no obligation. A specialist will reach out within the hour.