Through the internet, both non-lawyers and out-of-state businesses are competing with lawyers from Hawaii for cases involving accidents and injuries in Hawaii. Their websites seek information from injured parties about car, motorcycle, auto and truck accident claims in Hawaii, products liability claims, dog bites, construction accident claims and so forth. These sites are the basest form of ambulance chasing - often by non-lawyers. Without the qualifications to file suit on the claim in Hawaii - such websites sometimes seek a quick fee on a settlement obtained after negotiating from a position of impotence and other times they seek unethical referral fees from a Hawaii attorney for sending them the case. Most of these sites are posted anonymously without the identification of a single individual associated with the site. (See, eg, hawaiiwrongful deathlawyer.com which is owned by a Florida company). Even though such conduct is of questionable legality - so far the regulatory agencies, such as bar association disciplinary boards, have failed or refused to close down such sites. Don't be fooled! Our recommendation is that you use legal websites only when the responsible attorney is conspicuously identified on the site. Otherwise- may the buyer beware!
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