Category Archives: Fatal Accidents
Examining the Causes of Drownings in Hawaii
A high rate of drownings is not good PR for an island paradise, so the Hawaii State Department of Health is interested in examining the causes of drownings in our state with an eye toward reducing them. The Hawaii Injury Prevention Plan Report for 2012 to 2017 looked closely at drowning statistics for recent years […]
Deadly Toll of Motor Vehicle Crashes in Hawaii
Motor vehicle crashes, which result in an average of 58 deaths per year, are the fourth leading cause of fatal injuries to Hawaii residents. Injury data strongly indicate that risk-taking behavior among young men and the state’s dark, narrow highways combine to increase the danger of preventable accidents. About one-third of the fatal crash victims […]
Drowning Is Leading Cause of Nonresident Deaths in Hawaii
A state that presents itself as a world-class tourist destination must do what it can to make visitors safe. The Injury Prevention and Control Section (IPCS) of the Hawaii State Department of Health periodically examines injury statistics and makes recommendations about accident prevention. In its 2012 report, IPCS notes that “a total of 339 nonresidents […]
Where Are Hawaii’s Deadliest Beaches?
If you were to guess which Hawaiian beach was the site where most deaths have occurred recently, you might picture an isolated cove or a rocky inlet where the roiling surf seems to reach up and snatch unsuspecting beachcombers and carry them out to sea. Little would you suspect the popular and tranquil Hanauma Bay. […]
Who Can Sue for Wrongful Death in Hawaii?
A wrongful death occurs when some act or omission, whether negligent, reckless or deliberate, causes a fatal injury to another person. Under Hawaii law, a representative of the deceased person’s estate can sue to recover reasonable expenses for the deceased’s treatment of the injuries and burial. However, those close to the deceased can bring a […]
What Are Hawaii’s Most Dangerous Roads?
Hawaii has several roads that are notoriously difficult to negotiate, due to their narrow paths, sheer cliffs, frequent rocks slides and lack of guardrails. A vehicle can easily veer off the edge of the road and plunge into the sea. The most dangerous roads in Hawaii include: Kahekili Highway— This remote road along Maui’s rugged […]
New Hawaiian Law Seeks to Reduce Pedestrian Fatalities
Honolulu is known for its congested traffic and busy intersections, where tourists unfamiliar with the area face perils from aggressive drivers. In Honolulu, there were 16 recorded pedestrian fatalities in 2012, 19 in 2013, and 25 in 2014. The Hawaii Department of Transportation has responded to this upward trend in pedestrian fatalities by issuing new […]
Honolulu Among the Nation’s Worst Cities for Traffic
The TomTom Traffic Index ranks Honolulu the third worst city in the United States, after Los Angeles and San Francisco, for most clogged roadways any time of the day. New York, Seattle, Houston, San Jose, Miami, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Portland filled out the top 10. The Hawaiian capital is also the fourth worst city […]
In Hawaii Fatal Crashes, Alcohol and Speed Are Leading Factors
The key to reducing fatal car crashes is understanding why they happen. In Hawaii, two factors leap out: alcohol consumption and excessive speed. According to statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, (IIHS) Hawaii had 93 fatal crashes that took 102 lives in 2013. Of those victims, 21 were passenger car occupants, 21 were […]
