Too often, disaster strikes. When we least expect it, painful and injurious accidents happen, upsetting the delicate balance of our day-to-day lives with hardship and loss. When you have become the victim of serious personal injury,, you certainly need help—fast. Unfortunately, all too many serious personal injury victims jump at the first attorney they see, not taking the time necessary to find the most experienced, objective, and fair professional for your situation.

With a little bit of education and sleuthing skills, the search for that perfect attorney may be easier than finding a birthday gift for your mother-in-law (as it should be). Use this helpful yet brief list to locate the best and most experienced personal injury attorney for your case.

10. Experience Appraising and Analyzing Claims—Look for an experienced personal injury attorney who is skilled in assessing claims. The best will be able to tell you at the outset whether it is worth your while to pursue legal action. Experienced personal injury attorneys will tell you from the beginning whether your case is likely to prevail – if not, you do not have to waste your time or money in preparing litigation.

9. You Don’t Pay if You Don’t Win – The best personal injury attorneys will not charge you a dime unless your case is won. If you don’t win, you pay absolutely no attorneys’ fees. Clients will be responsible for other fees, such as those physicians charge for reviewing your medical information. In addition, case expenses and any court costs are the responsibility of the personal injury client.

8. Navigating the Red Tape – Legal paperwork can be a mess. It can take hours, days, and weeks of your precious time – time that should be spent recovering from injuries or nursing a loved one. An experienced personal injury attorney can skate through this mess of paperwork and red tape in no time, resolving your claim so you can get on with the more important things in your life.

7. Professional Investigators – The best personal injury attorneys have professional investigative teams at their immediate disposal. These groups have experience in specialized areas, such as medical, logistics, mechanical, and criminal justice. They can skillfully research aspects of your case and give your personal injury case a host of technical proof. This can mean whether you win or lose the case in a courtroom.

6. Objective Attitude – Especially when we feel strongly about an issue, we all have a tendency to act quickly and rashly. From a law perspective, this can seriously hinder your case. An experienced personal injury attorney excels at remaining objective and seeks results in your best interests.

5. Alternative Resolutions for Dispute – An experienced serious personal injury is aware of the many alternate routs to securing a resolution for your case. A classic alternate example is mediation, which will save you not only time, but also money and a great deal of stress.

4. Experience With Others – Those attorneys who are exceptionally experienced in the personal injury field are more adept at working with the opposing counsel. Their cases are more effective, professional, and expedited.

3. Experience With Insurance Providers – All serious personal injury cases will involve insurance companies at some point during the process of litigation. Experienced personal injury attorneys are used to working with such companies and will not feel pressured to settle on unsatisfactory amounts for your case. Insurance companies utilize a number of creative tactics to persuade clients to accept much smaller amounts of money to cover damages – something experienced attorneys can see right through.

2. Optimal Settlements – Experienced serious personal injury attorneys work hard to get the best settlements for your case. The most experienced have a winning track record for winning thousands and even millions for their clients, and will do this as early as possibly in the litigation process.

1. Optimal Jury Verdicts – In some instances, a trial may become necessary. If this is the case, experienced personal injury attorneys can passionately represent you in the courtroom and achieve the best possible jury verdict in your favor.

If you have been seriously injured in a personal injury accident, it is integral to seek the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The best attorneys are committed to your case, are experienced in the field, and will not rest until you receive the results you deserve.

 January 4, 2007
As a result of police getting strict on drivers who didn’t yield at crosswalks, the number of pedestrian fatalities in Hawaii dropped in 2006.  According to the state department of Transportation, there was a decrease from the 36 deaths in 2005, to 29 across the state in 2006.  Of the 29 deaths, 19 pedestrians were killed on Oahu compared to the 26 that died in 2005.  The total for this past year was the lowest since 2003, when statewide statistics were at 23 pedestrian deaths.  Hawaii still had the 11^th highest pedestrian fatality rate in the country according to other statistics, which is an improvement compared to 2004 when it was ranked fourth in the nation.  Police stated the decline was a result of increased patrols and enforcement, as well as educational outreach efforts that were put into action. Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa said the public was made aware of Hawaii’s pedestrian laws becoming tougher, requiring drivers to stop and yield to pedestrians.  Approximately 2,157 citations were issued by the Honolulu Police Department to motorists and pedestrians for violating street-crossing laws.  Also being targeted are Jaywalkers who do not abide by traffic signals.  Traffic Division’s Susan Dowseet said Police are instructed to take enforcement action or educate the violator.  The state’s Walk Wise Hawaii education program is gaining recognition for its increasing awareness of traffic safety.  The program spent approximately $100,000 for educational materials and public service announcements.  Spokesman Russell Pang stated that Gov. Linda Lingle is expected to introduce pedestrian-friendly legislation that may involve toughening penalties.  As of now, drivers are fined $97 for violating crosswalk laws and jaywalkers $70.