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Hawaii Maritime, Aviation & Personal Injury Lawyers
OConnell & Associates is a dedicated law firm specializing in maritime, aviation, and personal injury law, with decades of experience representing clients in Hawaii and beyond. Our team focuses exclusively on serious injury and wrongful death claims, leveraging extensive trial experience to deliver aggressive representation. We handle complex cases including scuba diving accidents, maritime injuries under the Jones Act, aviation accidents, and catastrophic incidents affecting visitors and residents across the Hawaiian Islands. Recognized for outstanding results, we combine local knowledge with national expertise to fight for maximum compensation, including medical expenses, lost income, and future care.Our commitment to clients includes direct attorney access, personalized communication, and a proven track record of multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. We operate with integrity, transparency, and a relentless focus on client needs, ensuring no fees unless we win. With admissions to multiple state and federal courts, including the Lawyer-Pilot Bar Association and American Association of Justice, we bring unparalleled legal and technical expertise to every case.
Services
Maritime Injury Law
Aviation Accident Law
Scuba Diving Accidents
Tourist Injury Law
Personal Injury Claims
Highlights and features
- Decades of experience in Hawaii's courts and maritime law
- Specialized expertise in aviation, scuba diving, and tourist injury cases
- Proven track record of multi-million dollar verdicts
- Direct attorney access and personalized client communication
- Licensed pilot and technical expertise in aviation litigation
What people say
Tireless work
Successful outcomes
Compassionate and dedicated
Proven track record
Direct attorney access
Services
Maritime Injury Law
We represent maritime workers and passengers in Jones Act and admiralty law cases. Our services cover freighter crew injuries, cruise ship accidents, and longshore worker claims. With deep knowledge of vessel operations and federal maritime regulations, we secure compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our team handles cases involving equipment failures, unsafe working conditions, and fatal incidents across Pacific shipping routes.
Aviation Accident Law
Our aviation practice combines legal expertise with pilot experience to handle helicopter tours, private aircraft crashes, and commercial airline incidents. We investigate mechanical failures, pilot error, and regulatory violations to build strong cases. Services include NTSB coordination, expert witness testimony, and multi-jurisdictional litigation. We specialize in Hawaii's unique air tour regulations and ocean-based accident jurisdiction challenges.
Scuba Diving Accidents
We handle recreational and commercial diving cases involving equipment malfunctions, instructor negligence, and fatal embolisms. Our services include evidence preservation, dive site analysis, and challenging liability waivers. With 38 years of diving litigation experience, we represent tourists and professionals in Hawaii and mainland cases, securing compensation for decompression injuries and wrongful deaths.
Tourist Injury Law
We assist injured visitors with car rentals, resort accidents, and recreational activity claims. Services include evidence collection across islands, insurance negotiations, and multi-state representation. Our team addresses unique challenges faced by out-of-state clients through remote consultations and travel to client locations, ensuring seamless legal support for international and national tourists.
Personal Injury Claims
We represent clients in serious land-based injury cases including vehicle collisions and premises liability. Our services cover traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and wrongful death claims. We coordinate medical expert testimony and future care cost calculations to maximize compensation, operating on a contingency basis with no upfront fees.
People
John OConnell
Founder & Lead Attorney
John OConnell is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with 40+ years of experience in personal injury and aviation law. A commercial pilot and patent attorney, he has secured top 100 settlements nationally while representing clients in complex maritime and aviation cases across the Pacific region.
Questions
What areas of law does OConnell & Associates specialize in?
We specialize in maritime injury law, aviation accident litigation, scuba diving incidents, tourist injury claims, and catastrophic personal injury cases throughout Hawaii and the Pacific region.
How does the firm handle out-of-state client representation?
We provide remote consultations via phone or teleconference and travel to meet clients nationwide. Our team manages all evidence collection and court proceedings locally while maintaining direct attorney communication throughout the case.
What makes your aviation accident practice unique?
Our lead attorney combines commercial pilot experience with 40+ years of aviation litigation expertise, including NTSB investigations and FAA regulation violations, to effectively challenge complex air tour safety cases.
Do you handle cases outside Hawaii?
While based in Honolulu, we represent clients nationwide and internationally in maritime, aviation, and tourist injury cases, with court admissions across multiple states and federal circuits.
What payment options are available?
We operate on a contingency fee basis with no upfront costs - you pay nothing unless we win your case through settlement or trial verdict.
