Opinion ID: 2640681
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Each medical-rehabilitative period commences on September 1 and terminates on August 31.

Text: Generally, HRS § 431:10C-306 (1993) abolished tort liability in motor vehicle accidents. [1] There are, however, several specific exceptions. HRS § 431:10C-306(b)(1)-(3). The exception applicable in the present case states that tort liability is not abolished where [i]njury occurs to such person in a motor vehicle accident in which the amount paid or accrued exceeds the medical-rehabilitative limit established in section 431:10C-308 for expenses provided in section 431:10C-103(10)(A) and (B); provided that the expenses paid shall be presumed to be reasonable and necessary in establishing the medical-rehabilitative limit. . . . HRS § 431:10C-306(b)(2). HRS § 431:10C-308 (1993) established the medical-rehabilitative limit and stated in relevant part: (a) The commissioner shall annually revise the medical-rehabilitative limit by accumulating experience data on a yearly basis for all motor vehicle accidents in the State resulting in accidental harm. . . . (b) For the purposes of this section, the no-fault policy term year shall commence annually on September 1 and terminate the following August 31. For each term year, the commissioner shall make the tabulation of data necessary for the computation of the medical-rehabilitative limit during the period January 1 to December 31 preceding the September 1 start of the no-fault policy term year. (c) The medical-rehabilitative limit for the one-year period commencing September 1, 1992, shall be $10,000, provided that if the commissioner is unable to revise the medical-rehabilitative limit within the one-year period, the medical-rehabilitative limit shall continue at $10,000 for the next no-fault policy term year commencing September 1, 1993. HRS § 431:10C-308(a) clearly made the insurance commissioner [2] responsible for setting the new medical-rehabilitative limit for each no-fault policy term year. Furthermore, HRS § 431:10C-308(b) specified that each no-fault policy term year commenced on September 1 and terminated on August 31. Therefore, the logical conclusion is that each medical-rehabilitative limit set by the insurance commissioner was required to commence on September 1 and terminate on August 31 as mandated by HRS § 431:10C-308(b). To that effect, HRS § 431:10C-308(c) provided a specific threshold, stating that the one-year medical-rehabilitative limit was $10,000, effective September 1, 1992. [3] Consequently, it is clear that the insurance commissioner determined the new medical-rehabilitative limit and that the no-fault policy term during which the medical-rehabilitative limit was effective commenced on September 1 and terminated on August 31 of the following year.