After a Crash in Hawaiʻi — Official Resources

Report the crash

Under Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes §291C-16, a driver must report a crash to the nearest police officer immediately, by the quickest means available, when there is injury or death, or property damage of about $3,000 or more. If the driver can't call, another occupant must.

Damage estimates are easy to get wrong from the roadside — modern bumpers hide a lot — so when in doubt, call it in and let the officer document it.

Your own insurer pays first (PIP)

Hawaiʻi runs a no-fault system: after a crash, your medical bills go through your own Personal Injury Protection coverage first, no matter who caused it. Every Hawaiʻi policy carries at least $10,000 in PIP benefits (HRS §431:10C-103.5).

Open that claim with your own insurer right away rather than waiting to see who gets blamed — PIP is designed to start paying before fault is sorted out. If injuries are serious, Hawaiʻi law also allows stepping outside the no-fault system to claim against the at-fault driver; the thresholds are specific, and that's a question worth taking to a lawyer.

Get the police report

Hawaiʻi has no single statewide crash-report portal — reports come from the county police department that responded: Honolulu (Oʻahu), Hawaiʻi County, Maui, or Kauaʻi. On Oʻahu, that's the Honolulu Police Department's Records and Identification Division, which takes requests online, in person, or by mail, usually for a small fee.

Allow about a week to ten days after the crash before requesting, and bring the date, location, and report number if you have it.

Hit-and-run

Call the police immediately — with a fled driver, the police report is the foundation of any claim. Your dashcam clip is the case: save it now and note the time and location. Your PIP coverage still pays your medical bills either way. Uninsured-motorist coverage may also apply, though in Hawaiʻi it's optional — check whether you have it, and if you hit a wall, the Insurance Division below can help.

Find a lawyer

The Lawyer Referral & Information Service is the state's only lawyer referral service, run by the Hawaiʻi State Bar Association and covering all islands — (808) 537-9140, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The referral itself is free; you settle fees directly with the attorney you're referred to.

The Bar also runs a free legal information hotline staffed by volunteer attorneys on Wednesday evenings, 6–7 p.m., at (808) 537-1868.

Free legal help

The Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi provides statewide civil legal help for people with lower incomes, and runs the Hawaiʻi Legal Services Portal — an online triage tool that routes you to the right organization for your situation. Court self-help centers staffed by volunteer attorneys also operate across the islands.

Insurance problems

The Hawaiʻi Insurance Division investigates complaints against insurers. They suggest speaking with an investigator first — many problems get resolved without a formal complaint. Call 1-844-808-3222, weekdays 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hawaiʻi time.

Driving without insurance yourself? You still have rights and steps worth taking — report the crash per the rules above, and lean on the free legal help listed here; it exists for exactly this kind of bind.