In Anchorage, Alaska, thousands of accident cases are reported yearly. Regardless of your driving skills, you may encounter an auto accident. Experiencing these incidents often leaves you feeling shaken and confused. You can’t avoid such an unwanted accident, but when it happens, you can arm yourself with knowledge about what you need to do legally.
The legal process may include several steps, from police reporting to attending multiple court hearings. Therefore, getting familiar with the steps to take following an accident is vital for getting fair compensation. Here, an Anchorage accident lawyer is key to success. Having a trusted anchorage accident lawyer means you have a solution to avoid much trouble in the future.
Alaska’s Accident Laws and Your Rights
Anchorage, Alaska, adheres to a conventional “fault” system regarding accidents. In simple terms, the individual at fault for an accident is responsible for paying compensation. To put it simply, the responsible person will compensate the individual who was harmed or incurred losses due to the collision.
Avenues For Getting Compensation After An Accident
After an accident, depending on the situation, you may get compensated by the following:
- You are able to make an insurance claim against the at-fault driver.
- Another option is to file a civil lawsuit against the at-fault driver.
Required Liability Coverage
As Alaska follows the conventional “fault” system regarding accidents, automobile owners here are required to buy and maintain the following types of liability coverage:
- $50,000 worth of personal injury per individual
- Each accident has a total of $100,000 in bodily injury coverage
- $25,000 coverage for property damage per accident.
While following the conventional “fault” system regarding accidents, Alaska is a comparative negligence state. This means that Anchrage’s insurance companies pay out accident claims. However, the number of faults assigned to each driver will affect the payout.
These insurance policies pay for property damage and medical expenses. Additionally, at the maximum amount stipulated by their policies, drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who are involved in accidents may get reimbursement for additional damages.
Statute of Limitations
Alaska has a set deadline to submit a personal injury case in court. Since the day of the injury, there is a two-year time limit by the statute of limitations for filing a case. If you fail to take action within that period, you will forfeit your ability to sue forever. Therefore, you must follow this time limit to avoid further obligations.
However, there are situations where you may not immediately recognize that you have sustained an injury. For such situations, Alaska has a rule called the “Discovery rule” that prolongs the time limits for certain cases. According to this regulation, the time limit begins when you find out about, or with proper care, should have found out about, your injury(s).
Legal Support for Various Types of Accidents
Accidents can happen anytime and anywhere, including on roads or on the skyline. Knowing the various types of accidents that may happen will help you understand your legal rights and choices related to each. Each type of accident may have different factors that contribute to liability and potential compensation. Generally, such accidents are:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Parking lot accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Plane accidents
An experienced and trusted anchorage accident lawyer may help you navigate such accident cases. In addition to auto accidents, an anchorage accident lawyer can help with accidents that occur at the workplace or those caused by human errors as well.
How Trusted Anchorage Accident Lawyer Can Support You
Although not all accidents may call for legal action, taking the legal route may be necessary in the case of a serious accident. Such a circumstance often occurs due to negligence on the road or in the workplace. You do not have to remain a victim. An Anchorage accident lawyer will help you discover practical options for recovery.
They will help in getting compansions for:
- Lost wages
- Lost earning opportunities
- Loss of spouse
- Rehabilitation
- Medical bills
- Physical therapy
- Ongoing care
- Severe pain and suffering
- Wrongful death (if a loved one was killed)
An accident lawyer aims to deliver better knowledge during your lawsuit. When you hire a skilled lawyer to resolve your situation, they work to find solutions for every front. As a trusted anchorage accident lawyer, they will help avoid unnecessary stress and formulate a strategic plan of action for favorable outcomes. This will ensure that you get fit compensation in accordance with your post-accident physical state and the condition of your assets.
In Crux
An anchorage accident lawyer is well-versed in investigating the circumstances surrounding accidents to build a strong case on your behalf. A lawyer guides you through each step of the process. They tirelessly work to ascertain insurance coverage, determine fault, and negotiate a settlement. That is the reason why selecting a trusted anchorage accident lawyer is crucial.