Hawaii Injury Lawyer Blog

The tragic zip lining accident that occurred this past week raises questions of safety standards surrounding these popular attractions. The accident occurred during a test run of the zip line, when the tower on one end collapsed, causing a worker on the line to fall 200 feet to his death and critically injuring another worker.

News reports that both men were working on the zip line north of Hilo on the Big Island after KapohoKine Adventures, the operator of the attraction, received complaints that the line was too slow. The men were working for Experimental Resources, a company that has built zip lines all across the country.

This accident raises several questions of safety, including what policy and procedures were in place to protect against such accidents. If you have been injured in an accident or a loved one has suffered a wrongful death, it is important to contact an experienced Hawaii personal injury lawyer to protect your rights and begin investigating the causes of the accident and who may be responsible. Where the negligence of another party causes harm, you may be able to recover compensation. In situation where another’s recklessness or carelessness leads to a death, the survivors may be able to file a wrongful death action.

According to KITV 4 New, zip line operations do not have the same work place safety regulations like other Hawaii amusement rides. A president of the company noted, “there are many steps and precautions taken before sending a human on a test run” and added that he was not sure if all steps were taken.

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Hawaii news reports that the support for Officer Eric Fontes and his family has been overwhelming. Fontes, a Hawaii police officer, was killed in a tragic truck accident when a truck ran into a traffic stop near the Ko Olina Resort. Officer Herman “Sam” Scanlan who was with Fontes at the collision site also suffered serious injuries and remains hospitalized. A roadside memorial has been started, although for safety reasons police officers encourage individuals to leave items at a specially designated area at the Kapolei Police Station.

Unfortunately, truck accidents happen far too often. Due to the sheer size of the vehicle, when truck crashes occur, the results are often serious, if not fatal. In fact, nearly 450,000 accidents involving trucks occur each year, resulting in numerous injuries and over 5,000 deaths. When accidents happen not only are truck drivers at risk for injury or death, but many times the victims are other drivers, pedestrians or bystanders.

Causes of truck accidents are many, but may include:

• Driver distraction
• Driving under the accident
• Driver fatigue
• Driving with an overloaded trailer

In certain cases other parties - such as the trucking company that hired the driver or roadway negligence - may play a part in causing the accident and subsequent injuries.

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The Honolulu Star Advertiser reports that a Kaneohe man died this past Sunday as the result of injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident. The motorcycle crash occurred after a man driving a Chevy sedan turned left. The motorcyclist then collided with the sedan, sustaining multiple blunt force injuries from the accident.

If you or a loved one has suffered personal injuries including wrongful death, as the result of a motorcycle accident or other motor vehicle accident, contacting an experienced Hawaii personal injury attorney is critical to protect your rights and determine your next steps.

Riding a motorcycle has become increasingly popular and increasingly dangerous. Not only has the number of people who use motorcycles for transportation and pleasure gone up, but so have the number of distractions – with distracted driving a leading cause of car and motorcycle accidents. Further when accidents do occur, it is likely that they will be serious – including fatalities and other serious injuries such as traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. In fact, statistics report that nearly 80% of all motorcycle accidents end with the driver being injured or killed.

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According to Courthouse News from Honolulu, the family of a NFL wide receiver is suing their father’s doctor for medical malpractice after the player died from skin cancer. William Parks, a former wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers and Houston Oilers, worked as a carpenter for a doctor friend after retiring from the NFL. In exchange for Parks’ services – and part of a barter agreement - the friend provided medical services. When Parks displayed signs of skin cancer however, the physician friend failed to diagnose his cancer and follow proper testing procedures. The family asserted that their father should have been treated at the Kohala Family Heath center and had a suspicious mole biopsied at that facility, but because the doctor would have to pay based on the barter agreement, he failed to follow proper standards.

Many different types of medical errors may constitute medical malpractice. Not only may errors in treatment constitute negligence but also a failure or delay in diagnosis may be considered medical malpractice. A physician must properly diagnose a condition in order to treat the ailment. Doctors are expected to recognize potential symptoms of caner in order to properly diagnose and treat a patient. A knowledgeable medical malpractice attorney can review claims of failure to diagnose and help you determine if you qualify for compensation.

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