Hawaii is a no-fault state for auto insurance. That places it in a group of other states that impose personal insurance protection insurance coverage on all registered drivers in the state. Hawaii’s no-fault rules do have some advantages if you are injured in an auto accident.
Unless the accident results in a serious injury, you are unlikely to recover as much compensation as you would if you were in an at-fault state. If your car or other property has been damaged, or if you have serious or permanent injuries, then you may still be allowed to sue the at-fault driver for damages.
Hawaii’s auto liability insurance rules
As a no-fault state, Hawaii has imposed several strict rules on any person in the state who owns a registered vehicle. These are as follows. Every driver must have:
- PIP insurance for at least $10,000;
- personal liability insurance of at least $20,000 to cover injuries caused by the person holding the insurance;
- liability insurance for property belonging to anyone hit by the policyholder.
Note that there is no need to take out other insurance options, unless this is desired by the driver. That means that if you are hit by another driver, you turn to your own insurance company for injury compensation, but must sue the other driver for compensation for any damage to your vehicle unless you take out additional personal insurance to cover this.
Similarly, you may also want to take out underinsured or uninsured insurance options in the event that you are hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Remember that if you only have PIP insurance of up to $10,000, this is unlikely to cover you in the event of a major injury and you would be forced to pay out of your own pocket, or seek compensation from the other driver.
PIP insurance provisions in Hawaii
PIP insurance in Hawaii is a no-fault type of insurance. The main benefit is that there is little that needs to be done to get compensation for injuries for up to the limit of your insurance over.
The insurance is meant to only cover medical costs and lost earnings but there may be a deductible, the amount of which depends on the provider you have your insurance with. You don’t have to prove who was at fault, so even if you were injured, you would be able to claim compensation.
The insurance does not cover non-monetary compensation such as pain and suffering, which is a typical component of a personal injury claim. Also, having insurance does not protect you from being sued by someone else in the event that you hit them and cause serious injuries. That’s what the personal liability insurance is intended to cover.
How a PI Attorney Can Help if You are it in an Accident in Hawaii
Although PIP insurances should theoretically mean that an injury insurance claim should be simple, there may be very good reasons why you might want to use a personal injury attorney. If you need to claim for damage to your vehicle or other property or your injuries need more than you might obtain through your PIP insurance, you would have to file a personal injury claim if you can prove who was to blame. Complete the Free Case Evaluation today!
