Who Should I Notify After a Serious Incident?

1. Emergency Services Come First

Call 911 when there is immediate danger, serious injury, fire, violence or another emergency. Do not spend time calling insurers, employers or travel companies before urgent safety needs are addressed.

2. Notify a Trusted Person

Choose one calm family member, friend or travel companion who can coordinate updates, collect documents and help with calls.

Give that person confirmed information, important deadlines and a list of immediate tasks. Avoid creating several competing message chains.

3. Contact an Attorney When Legal Rights May Be Affected

Legal help may be important after an arrest, police questioning, serious accident, disputed responsibility, court notice or request for a detailed statement.

Prepare names, dates, report numbers, documents and a brief factual timeline.

4. Tell the Hotel What It Needs to Know

Notify hotel management if the guest cannot return, checkout will be missed, keys are missing or belongings need to be secured.

You can describe a “serious personal incident” without disclosing unnecessary medical or legal details.

5. Contact the Airline or Booking Provider

Ask about change deadlines, credits, emergency documentation and whether the reservation was made through a separate travel agency or portal.

Do not cancel until travel restrictions, court dates and medical needs are understood.

6. Notify the Rental-Car Company

Call promptly if the named driver cannot operate or return the vehicle. Ask who may drive, where the vehicle should remain and whether collection or towing is required.

Keep the agreement, confirmation number and written instructions.

7. Contact Travel and Health Insurers

Ask what events may be covered, what notice deadlines apply and which documents are required. Do not assume a hospital, airline or tour company will notify the insurer for you.

Keep claim numbers, names, dates and copies of everything submitted.

8. Notify an Employer Only as Necessary

If work will be missed, give the employer the expected absence, a safe contact method and any documentation required under workplace policy.

Private legal or medical details usually do not need to be shared broadly with coworkers.

9. Contact a Consulate When Appropriate

A foreign visitor may contact their embassy or consulate after arrest, hospitalization, loss of passport or another serious incident.

Consular staff may provide general assistance, family contact and lists of local resources, but they do not replace a Hawaiʻi attorney.

10. Notify Banks or Card Companies When Property Is Missing

If a wallet, cards or phone were lost, stolen or placed in property storage, consider locking affected cards and accounts.

Keep transaction records and fraud reference numbers. Do not destroy access to funds that may be needed for lodging, transport or legal expenses without a backup plan.

11. Avoid Public Announcements

Social-media posts, public comments and group messages can spread inaccurate details and may be copied or preserved by others.

Use direct private communication and stick to facts you personally know.

12. Create a Notification Log

Record the person or organization, date, time, phone number or email, what was reported, reference number, documents requested and next deadline.

This prevents duplicate calls and helps an attorney or insurer understand what has already occurred.

Official Starting Points

Use official sources for government, court and consular information.