2017 A Deadly Year on Big Island Roads.

Obvious as it sounds, that’s the lesson to be learned from the majority of the 32 official traffic fatalities that occurred on Hawaii Island in 2017 — the same official total of traffic deaths that took place in 2016. The deaths occurred in 30 collisions. Read More…

By Louis P. Mendonca | Posted on January 11, 2018

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve been involved in an auto accident. What should I do?

If you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident, obtain the other driver’s license, registration and insurance information. Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries or any passengers who are injured. Try to document everything that you can remember about the accident, by writing down the exact location of the accident, position of the vehicles, the time of day, weather conditions, any obstacles in the road, where you were going and coming from, any people with you in the vehicle, and any witnesses to ...

Do I really need a lawyer if I was hurt in an accident?

If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, the other driver’s insurance company may offer you a settlement, but these offers are often far less than you need and deserve to cover your damages. Insurance companies are in business to maximize their profits by paying as little on claims as possible, and they have a full staff of attorneys on their side to protect their interests. An experienced Hilo injury attorney such as Louis P. Mendonca can help you level the playing field, protect your rights and receive ...

Is there insurance coverage if other driver did not have insurance?

Hawaii insurance law requires all drivers to carry liability insurance on their vehicle at all times. At a minimum, drivers must have insurance to cover $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident in bodily injury liability coverage, and $10,000 per occurrence in property damage. Even with such low minimum requirements, as many as one in eight Hawaii drivers on the road at any given time are not carrying insurance. The odds of being struck by an uninsured driver are much higher than ...

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About Attorney Louis
P. Mendonca

Louis P. Mendonca is a Hilo personal injury lawyer committed to representing victims of life-impacting accidents and injuries. With over 25 years of experience, Louis P. Mendonca has successfully litigated and settled hundreds of cases on behalf of his clients. He has an established reputation among Hawaii personal injury attorneys for his ability to take on challenging cases and obtain excellent results for his clients.

Experienced, Compassionate Advocate for Injury Victims

A native of Hilo, Hawaii, Louis P. Mendonca began his legal career working for an insurance defense law firm in Honolulu, gaining invaluable trial preparation and arbitration experience that instilled in him the importance of thorough case preparation. While working in the defense arena, Louis P. Mendonca soon came to realize that his true passion is helping people find the ...