After suffering injuries in a car accident, you may face overwhelming medical bills and other expenses. You can expect these costs to be high if your injuries are severe. Your auto accident claim can help you manage the financial fallout of your accident – but only if it accounts for all your losses, including injuries. To help you understand just… The post Ask a doctor these questions before submitting an accident claim first appeared on Law Offices of Scot Stuart Brower ..read more

Don’t assume that failing a breath test means you are definitely going to be convicted on drunk driving charges. Some people do make this assumption, and it can cause a lot of problems. The breath test absolutely does not guarantee a conviction, as the test itself can simply be wrong. That doesn’t mean you won’t be arrested. You probably will. A failed breath test does give the police the ability to make an arrest because they can assume that you are impaired and should not have been driving your vehicle. But there are a few ways that you can challenge this evidence in court and avoid the conv ..read more

Many injuries can occur as a result of a motor vehicle crash, one of which is a spinal cord injury (SCI). These are often catastrophic injuries that can lead to lifelong challenges, depending on the severity, type and location of the harm in question. The location of an SCI matters because all effects of the SCI will occur below the injury. This means that more of the body is affected by an injury to the neck than one to the lower back. For example, a cervical spine injury can lead to paralysis of all four limbs plus the trunk, but a lumbar injury could result “only” in paralysis of two limbs ..read more

As a parent going through a divorce in Hawaii, you may be wondering if your child has a say in custody decisions. Can they decide which parent to live with post-divorce, and at what age can this happen? While Hawaii child custody laws do not specify the age at which a child can make such decisions independently, the court will consider their preferences when determining custody arrangements. Here is what you need to know. The child’s age and maturity matters The court will look at the child’s age and maturity or capacity to reason and form an intelligent preference about where they would want ..read more

Over the last few decades, analysis of DNA evidence has led to overturned criminal convictions. There have been hundreds of these cases. The DNA evidence shows that the person who was convicted wasn’t actually the one who committed the crime. They may already have spent months or even years behind bars, but they can finally have their name cleared. Often, what researchers discover is that an eyewitness testimony led to the initial conviction. The DNA evidence now proves that the eyewitness was wrong. Since this happens in the majority of overturned cases, you may be wondering why eyewitnesses ..read more

People who work in Hawaii have to ensure they understand the state’s laws regarding minimum wage and overtime. State and federal laws dictate how pay is handled for everyone who works on the islands.  One important point to know is that Hawaii’s minimum wage is higher than the federal minimum wage. In the United States, the minimum wage in 2024 is set at $7.25 per hour. Hawaii is on track for a much higher minimum wage.  Minimum wage Hawaii is following a tiered plan to raise the minimum wage on January 1 every other year. As of Jan. 1, 2024, the state minimum wage is set at $14 per ..read more

Handing over the car keys to your teenager for the first time is a momentous occasion. It signifies a newfound sense of independence for them but also a potential surge of worry for you. Teen drivers are especially vulnerable on the road, and distracted driving is a major risk factor. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teen drivers are significantly more likely than adult drivers to be involved in a fatal crash while distracted. By establishing clear ground rules and fostering open communication, you can equip your teen with the skills and mindset to be a ..read more

Marriage is generally intended to be a lifelong commitment that two people make to one another. However, data shows that many couples eventually end up getting divorced. In the past, divorce rates were higher among younger couples, but nowadays, a growing number of couples over 50 are also getting divorced. This trend is known as Gray Divorce. Divorcing after 50 can drastically impact a person’s financial security, especially if they are a woman. On average, women who divorce after the age of 50 experience a 45% decrease in their quality of living, while men who divorce after the age of 50 exp ..read more

Many rear-end accidents come as a surprise, even to the following driver. They believed that they had enough space, and they felt shocked that they weren’t able to stop the vehicle in time. They may even be tempted to blame the front driver, perhaps saying that they slowed down too quickly. But the reality is that many people don’t understand how their reaction times impact their ability to brake. They just assume that they’ll be able to stop almost immediately, whenever they want to. But there are some important delays that can lead to car accidents. The physical movement For one thing, it ta ..read more

When owners of rental properties go through a divorce, the fate of these assets is determined by several factors, including Hawaii laws, the circumstances of the marriage and the couple’s individual preferences. Rental properties are significant financial assets and sources of ongoing income, making their division in a divorce potentially complex. Legal considerations The process starts with identifying whether the rental properties are marital or separate. Marital property includes assets acquired during the marriage, while separate property refers to assets owned by one spouse before the mar ..read more