Kokua Line
By June Watanabe
Tuesday, October 27, 1998
Kokua Line
In January, I was washing my truck when I slipped off a step stool and cut my shin on the edge of the stool. I required some 14 stitches to close it. When I recently got my statement from my medical insurer, HMSA, I was informed that because the accident involved my truck, they would not cover the bill. I was told that this falls under the no-fault insurance law even though it is not a motor vehicle accident. They told me to file a claim with my car insurer. Why would this fall under the no-fault insurance law? Car insurance covers
non-driving accidentsHard to believe, but there's a provision in the Motor Vehicle Insurance section of the Hawaii Revised Statutes that deals with this very topic.
According to Chapter 431, Article 10C-103, a motor vehicle accident "means an accident arising out of the operation, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle, including an object drawn or propelled by a motor vehicle."
Your situation would be covered under that broad term "maintenance," a staff person in the state Insurance Division said.
Other examples: you're changing the oil in your car and you slip on the oil. Or, your kids are coming out of your car and one slams the door on the fingers of another. You'd be directed to file a claim with your car insurer.
Our family lives along Enchanted Lake Park. The dust problem has been far worse this year than in any of our previous 10 years here. Our house is filthy from the dust and our two young children have been sneezing more this year than before. Soccer and baseball seasons obviously add extra dust and that's to be expected. However, we believe the situation is compounded by the Department of Parks and Recreation's failure to water the park. The grass is now dead and the park is a dust bowl. Does the department have an obligation to water its parks or has it imposed a watering moratorium?
The dust should be alleviated by now.
This has been a very dry season, the park manager acknowledged. The problem was exacerbated by a breakdown in the irrigation system, not a watering moratorium.
But the system has since been repaired, said parks spokeswoman Patti Kimoto.
The watering schedule also has been resumed, she said, meaning the park is watered mornings before school starts at Enchanted Lake Elementary, and during the days when students are not utilizing the field. Watering also has been augmented in the evening by "a very dedicated volunteer" who lives near the park, Kimoto said.
"The department waters the field as often as possible, but the sheer overuse of the field is an ongoing challenge," she said. Enchanted Lake Park is one of Oahu's most used parks, shared by sports leagues in the afternoon and weekends, as well as by school children throughout the week.
"Over-utilization becomes a problem when there is not enough downtime for the grass to recuperate and grow," Kimoto said. "This is one of those issues that plagues parks: do we look at curbing or limiting use, or just try to maintain the field and attempt to accommodate everyone?"
A pair of shoes has been hanging from a power or telephone line at Dole Street and University Avenue for weeks. Can they be removed?
They were removed last week by GTE Hawaiian Tel. Spokesman Keith Kamisugi thanked you for bringing it to their attention.
Mahalo
To Tom at Circle Z Ranch. I had a flat tire on a Sunday night in September and my baby and I were stranded in the dark in Waimanalo. Tom gave us a ride to a friend's house, then went back to watch our car until we could get to it. -- Nancy G.
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
