Business Details
Hawaii Maritime & Aviation Injury Lawyers
At OConnell & Associates, we are dedicated to providing expert legal representation for individuals and families affected by serious injuries and wrongful death cases in Hawaii and beyond. With decades of trial experience, our firm specializes in maritime, aviation, scuba diving, and personal injury law, offering aggressive advocacy backed by a proven track record of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Our team understands the unique challenges of litigating complex cases in the Pacific and has the resources to take on major corporations, vessel owners, and insurance companies.We pride ourselves on direct attorney access, personalized service, and a deep commitment to our clients' recovery. Recognized for excellence in Hawaii personal injury law, we fight for maximum compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and future care, operating on a contingency fee basis to ensure no fees unless we win.
Services
Maritime Injury Law
Aviation Accident Litigation
Scuba Diving Accidents
Tourist Injury Claims
Wrongful Death Cases
Highlights and features
- Decades of experience in Hawaii's courts and maritime law
- Specialized expertise in aviation, scuba diving, and serious personal injury law
- Proven success with multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements
- Direct access to your attorney throughout your case
- Local knowledge of Hawaii's unique legal landscape
What people say
Tireless work
Maximum results possible
Compassionate and dedicated
Protected our interests
Strong bond of trust
Services
Maritime Injury Law
We represent maritime workers and seamen under the Jones Act and general maritime law. Our expertise covers freighter accidents, cruise ship injuries, and longshore worker claims. With deep understanding of vessel operations and admiralty law procedures, we secure compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering while navigating complex jurisdictional challenges in Pacific cases.
Aviation Accident Litigation
Our firm handles helicopter crashes, commercial airline accidents, and private aircraft incidents. As a commercial pilot and attorney, John OConnell combines technical aviation knowledge with legal expertise to investigate maintenance failures, pilot error, and regulatory violations. We pursue maximum compensation for victims of Hawaii's high-risk air tour operations and maritime aviation accidents.
Scuba Diving Accidents
Specializing in scuba and snorkeling injury cases since 1991, we challenge liability waivers and preserve critical evidence in diving fatality claims. Our team handles equipment failure investigations, instructor negligence cases, and rebreather accident litigation while protecting clients' rights against insurance companies seeking to minimize claims in Hawaii's unique underwater environment.
Tourist Injury Claims
We represent injured tourists in drowning cases, resort accidents, and recreational activity injuries. Understanding the challenges of out-of-state clients, we provide remote consultations and travel to meet clients while navigating Hawaii's modified comparative negligence laws. Our focus includes water-related accidents, helicopter tour crashes, and premises liability claims against hospitality businesses.
Wrongful Death Cases
Our firm handles complex wrongful death litigation from aviation crashes, maritime accidents, and recreational activity fatalities. We guide families through evidence preservation, autopsy report analysis, and challenging liability waivers while pursuing compensation for funeral expenses, loss of support, and emotional damages in both local and multi-jurisdictional cases.
People
John OConnell
Attorney & Founder
John OConnell is a nationally recognized trial attorney with over 40 years of experience in personal injury law. A commercial pilot and certified scuba diver, he brings specialized expertise to aviation and maritime cases. Admitted in multiple state and federal courts, he has secured top-tier verdicts in Hawaii and nationwide while maintaining membership in elite legal organizations like the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Questions
What areas of law do you specialize in?
We specialize in maritime injury law, aviation accident litigation, scuba diving accidents, tourist injury claims, and wrongful death cases throughout Hawaii and the Pacific region.
How do you handle out-of-state clients?
We provide remote consultations via phone or teleconference and travel to meet clients when needed, offering personalized communication through email and phone for injured tourists and residents alike.
What makes your firm unique?
Our firm combines legal expertise with specialized knowledge in aviation and maritime fields - John OConnell is both a commercial pilot and certified scuba diver with decades of trial experience in complex injury cases.
Do you handle cases outside Hawaii?
While based in Hawaii, we handle maritime and aviation cases across the United States and represent international clients injured in Hawaii through our local and federal court admissions.
How are your legal fees structured?
We work on a contingency fee basis with no fees unless we win your case, ensuring access to justice without upfront legal costs for personal injury and wrongful death claims.
What should I do after a diving accident?
Preserve evidence immediately by photographing injuries and equipment, collecting witness information, securing official reports, and contacting our office promptly to protect your legal rights before evidence disappears.
