Personal Injury Law in Anchorage, AK

Were you hurt due to another’s negligence in Anchorage? If so, it may have far-reaching consequences such as a loss of wages or extensive medical treatment. Personal injury law allows an injured person to get damages if the responsible person acted recklessly. A personal injury attorney in Anchorage, AK can help navigate the lawsuit to make sure you receive all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Personal Injury Law?

Personal injury law in Anchorage relates to the legal process of getting compensation for an injury caused by someone else’s negligent behavior. These cases involve one party, the plaintiff, trying to seek financial compensation for expenses incurred and money lost as a result of the defendant’s reckless behavior. These cases involve both parties’ insurance companies and may even settle before proceeding to litigation.

Examples of Personal Injury Claims in Anchorage, AK

Some personal injury claims are more common than others. However, almost any incident that ends with a physical or mental injury could qualify, depending on the circumstances.

A few of the most common personal injury claims are:

• Car Accidents
• Slip and Fall
• Dog Bites
• Medical Malpractice
• Workplace Accidents
• Burn Injuries

Most Common Injuries in Anchorage 

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, which is based out of Anchorage, found that fall’s are the leading cause of injury for almost all ages in Alaska. Motor Vehicle accidents were the second most common cause of injury in Anchorage, especially due to the population concentration. Also notably, assault is a common occurrence of injury in Alaska. For ages 20-24 assault is the leading cause of hospitalizations.

Steps in a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Anchorage, AK

Once you determine that you wish to proceed forward with a personal injury action in Alaska

A lawsuit begins when a complaint is filed with the court and served on the defendant. The complaint alleges your assertion as the plaintiff that the defendant’s negligent behavior resulted in damage to your body or mental state. As the process proceeds forward, you may have to go through depositions, independent medical evaluations and document production. This discovery process is lengthy and ends in either settlement or a court appearance.

In Anchorage you begin by drafting a complaint explaining the cause or reason for your claim. This is to be filed in either small claims court, or civil court. If your suit is for under $10,000, it will be dealt with in small claims court. Any suit with a higher amount will be resolved by the civil division of courts, under their process and timeline, according to Alaska’s Department of Law.

Alaska Personal Injury Settlement

With most personal injury cases, insurance companies and injured parties prefer settlement negotiations rather than going to court for a trial. You may wonder how much you should seek in your settlement and factors that impact the final amount.

The Anchorage Police Department says that filling a police report after any kind of accident, especially motor vehicle accidents, can help you win your personal injury claim. Alaska can be extreme, and injuries like falls, one of the leading causes of injury, can be even more common. On average settlements tend to range anywhere from $3,000-$75,000, but of course some cases that involve significant work loss compensation, medical bills, or serious injury could settle for millions.

If the other party has insurance, the insurance company likely wants to settle out of court to avoid leaving the final settlement decision to a jury. Settlements benefit injured parties as much as they do insurance companies. This is because accepting a settlement means you receive compensation sooner rather than later. Also, by going to court in AK, that means you risk not receiving any compensation at all.

Damage Awards in Alaska

If your Alaska personal injury lawsuit goes before a judge or jury, your legal team will be ready with a request for damages. In personal injury cases, there are three types of damage awards a court may order the defendant to pay. In order to compensate you for the damage he or she inflicted.

Special compensatory damages reimburse you for things such as lost income, medical bills and insurance deductibles. You submit receipts proving these losses.

General compensatory damages are subjective. If you receive special compensatory damages, you may also collect general damages. If your injury was particularly painful, you might request that the judge order the defendant compensate you for the pain and anguish.

Punitive damages are the most rarely awarded and are up to the court. The judge or jury may determine that the defendant’s negligence was particularly heinous and the resulting injury to you was equally horrific. 

You won’t see a cap on your economic damages in Anchorage, but Alaska does place a cap on non- economic losses. These are things you can’t tabulate in numbers like personal pain and suffering or disfigurement. These non-economic losses can see varying  limitations based on the severity of your injury, and your life expectancy.

Statute of Limitations in Anchorage, AK Personal Injury Law?

The injured party may have a set amount of time to file suit for a personal injury case. State law establishes statutes of limitation. Commonly, the plaintiff’s injury or discovery of the injury begins the statute of limitations. However, the latter factor is trickier, as the plaintiff will have to prove when the injury was first realized.

Alaska law allows those seeking to file a personal injury suit just two years from the date of their accident to file in Anchorage.

We recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer for this matter. Don’t wait too long and miss out on receiving the compensation you deserve for your injury. 

Work With an Experienced Anchorage, AK Lawyer

Pursue a personal injury claim in Anchorage against the responsible person if you are dealing with an injury caused by someone else. One of our experienced lawyers can help you navigate your personal injury claim. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Alaska state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!