Alaska Personal Injury Lawyers

Statewide representation · Based in Juneau · Free consultation · Contingency fee — no fee unless we win

Quick answer

Choate Law Firm is an Alaska personal injury and wrongful death trial firm, based in Juneau and representing seriously injured people and grieving families throughout Alaska since 1980. Alaska's court system is divided into four judicial districts — the First (Juneau and Southeast), Second (Nome and the Northwest), Third (Anchorage and Southcentral), and Fourth (Fairbanks and the Interior) — and we handle cases across the state. Under Alaska law you generally have two years from the injury to file (AS 09.10.070), and Alaska uses pure comparative fault, so partial fault reduces but does not bar your recovery (AS 09.17.060). Alaska's vast distances, remote highways, harsh weather, and reliance on boats and small planes create injury risks found almost nowhere else — and Alaska recorded 70 motor-vehicle crash deaths in 2024 (IIHS, from NHTSA data), with speeding a factor in about half. Founder Mark Choate (J.D., Seattle University School of Law, 1980) has tried hundreds of cases to Alaska juries. Consultations are free and we are paid only if we recover for you. Call (907) 586-4490.

Statewide representation across Alaska's four judicial districts

We represent clients across all four of Alaska's judicial districts, from Southeast to the Interior. According to the Alaska Court System, cases are organized into the First Judicial District (hub city Juneau), Second (Nome), Third (Anchorage), and Fourth (Fairbanks). Because we are based in Juneau but try cases statewide, we are comfortable in courtrooms far from the road system as well as in Alaska's largest cities. Where a case is filed affects the court, the jury pool, and local procedure — experience across districts matters.

The realities of injury cases in Alaska

Alaska injury cases involve challenges most Lower-48 firms never face: enormous distances, remote roads, extreme weather, and travel by ferry and small plane. Key factors include:

Long, remote highways. The Parks, Glenn, Seward, Richardson, Sterling, and Dalton Highways link communities separated by hundreds of miles. The Dalton Highway ("the haul road" to Prudhoe Bay) is among the most isolated roads in the country — mostly gravel, with few services and the nearest hospitals far away.
Weather and wildlife. Ice, snow, darkness, and moose- and other wildlife-vehicle collisions are common, especially in winter.
Maritime and aviation travel. Many Alaskans rely on boats and small aircraft, creating injury claims that can fall under maritime or aviation law.
Rural crashes. More than half of Alaska's 2024 traffic deaths happened in rural areas, where help and evidence preservation can be delayed.

How long do I have to file an injury claim in Alaska?

Generally two years from the date of injury (AS 09.10.070); wrongful death claims run two years from the date of death (AS 09.55.580). Exceptions like the discovery rule and tolling for minors can change the deadline. Because a missed deadline usually ends the claim, get advice early — see our Alaska statute of limitations guide.

Cities and regions we serve

We represent injured people across Alaska, including:

Juneau and Southeast Alaska — our home base.
Anchorage and Southcentral — Alaska's largest population center.
Fairbanks and the Interior — the Fourth Judicial District.
Communities throughout the rest of the state, including off-road-system villages reachable only by air or water.

What does it cost?

Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee — paid a percentage of what we recover, with no attorney fee if we recover nothing. We advance the costs of investigating and proving the case, so Alaskans can pursue full compensation regardless of their financial situation.

How to choose an Alaska personal injury lawyer

Trial experience before Alaska juries, not just settlement volume.
Willingness and ability to travel to where the case and witnesses are.
Knowledge of Alaska-specific law — pure comparative fault, the two-year deadline, maritime and aviation rules.
Direct attorney access and clear communication.
A contingency fee with "no recovery, no fee."

Why Choate Law Firm

Since 1980, Choate Law Firm has represented injured Alaskans and families across the state. Mark Choate (J.D., Seattle University School of Law, 1980; Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College) has tried hundreds of cases to Alaska juries; partner Jon Choate (J.D., Harvard Law School, 2010; former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney) adds further trial depth. We focus on serious injury and wrongful death, take cases statewide on a contingency fee, and answer calls promptly. Call (907) 586-4490.

Frequently asked questions

Do you take cases outside Juneau? Yes — we represent clients throughout Alaska, in all four judicial districts.

How long do I have to file? Usually two years (AS 09.10.070); wrongful death is two years from the date of death (AS 09.55.580).

Does being partly at fault stop my claim? No. Alaska's pure comparative fault rule (AS 09.17.060) reduces recovery by your share of fault but does not bar it.

What does it cost? Nothing up front — contingency fee, paid only if we recover for you.

Sources

Alaska Court System — judicial districts: https://courts.alaska.gov/courtdir/index.htm
IIHS / NHTSA FARS — Alaska fatality facts (70 deaths, 2024): https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state
AS 09.10.070 (statute of limitations): https://law.justia.com/codes/alaska/title-9/chapter-09-10/section-09-10-070/
AS 09.17.060 (comparative fault): https://law.justia.com/codes/alaska/title-9/chapter-09-17/section-09-17-060/

Disclaimer

This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case. Attorneys at Choate Law Firm LLC are licensed in Alaska, California, Hawaii, New York, and Washington (specific jurisdiction varies by attorney).