Alaska Car Accident Lawyers

Serving all of Alaska · Free consultation · Contingency fee — no fee unless we win

Quick answer

If you were hurt in a car accident in Alaska, you generally have two years from the crash to file an injury claim (Alaska Statute AS 09.10.070), and just two years for a wrongful death claim from the date of death (AS 09.55.580). Alaska is an at-fault ("tort") state — the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, is responsible for the harm. Every Alaska driver must carry at least $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000 in liability coverage (AS 28.22.101). Alaska follows pure comparative fault (AS 09.17.060), so even if you were partly to blame, you can still recover — your compensation is just reduced by your share of fault. Speeding was a factor in half of Alaska's 70 traffic deaths in 2024 (IIHS/NHTSA data), and winter ice, long rural highways, and wildlife make Alaska crashes especially serious. Choate Law Firm has represented injured Alaskans and grieving families since 1980, from our Juneau office, statewide. Consultations are free and we work on a contingency fee — no fee unless we recover for you. Call (907) 586-4490.

What to do after a car accident in Alaska

Your safety and your health come first; protecting your claim comes right after. In the minutes and days after a crash:

Check for injuries and call 911. Get medical help for anyone hurt.
Report the crash. Under AS 28.35.080, if the crash caused injury, death, or property damage of $500 or more, you must give immediate notice to police and file a written report within 10 days — unless a police officer already investigated the scene.
Document everything. Photos of vehicles, the scene, road and weather conditions, and visible injuries; names and insurance of other drivers; and contact info for witnesses.
Get medical care promptly, even if you feel "okay." Some serious injuries (concussions, internal, spinal) show up later, and gaps in treatment are used by insurers to minimize claims.
Do not admit fault or give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer before talking to a lawyer.
Keep records of bills, lost work, and out-of-pocket costs.

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Alaska?

Two years from the date of the crash for an injury claim (AS 09.10.070), and two years from the date of death for a wrongful death claim (AS 09.55.580). A few exceptions can change the deadline — Alaska's "discovery rule," or a pause ("tolling") while an injured person is a minor or legally incapacitated — but they are narrow. Missing the deadline almost always ends the case for good, so it is best to get advice early. See our Alaska statute of limitations guide for the full picture.

Alaska is an "at-fault" state — what that means for you

Alaska is a traditional at-fault (tort) state, not a no-fault state, so the driver who caused the crash is financially responsible for the injuries and losses. There is no mandatory "personal injury protection" (PIP) that pays your own medical bills regardless of fault. Instead, you pursue the at-fault driver — usually through their liability insurance — for your medical costs, lost income, vehicle damage, and pain and suffering. If the at-fault driver has too little insurance or none at all, your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply (see below).

Alaska's minimum car insurance and UM/UIM coverage

Every Alaska driver must carry liability insurance, but the state minimums are often far too low to cover a serious injury. Under AS 28.22.101, the required minimums are:

$50,000 for bodily injury or death of one person per accident
$100,000 total for bodily injury or death of two or more people per accident
$25,000 for property damage per accident

Insurers must also offer you uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage (AS 28.22.101(e)). UM/UIM is one of the most valuable protections you can carry: it covers you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough to pay for your injuries. If your own policy includes it, we can help you pursue a UM/UIM claim in addition to any claim against the at-fault driver.

How comparative fault affects your car accident claim

Alaska uses pure comparative fault (AS 09.17.060): being partly at fault reduces your recovery by your percentage of fault, but it never bars you from recovering. For example, if your damages are $100,000 and you are found 20% at fault, you can still recover $80,000. Insurance companies routinely try to shift blame onto injured people to cut what they pay, so how fault is investigated, documented, and presented can make a large difference in the outcome.

Common causes of Alaska car accidents

Alaska's roads combine ordinary crash causes with hazards you rarely see in the Lower 48. The most common and most serious include:

Speeding. A factor in 50% of Alaska's traffic deaths in 2024 (IIHS/NHTSA) — one of the highest speeding shares in the country.
Distracted driving. Texting or using a screen device while driving is illegal in Alaska (AS 28.35.161), and Alaska treats it seriously — it can be charged as a felony when it causes injury or death.
Impaired driving. Alcohol- and drug-impaired driving continues to cause devastating crashes across the state.
Winter conditions and wildlife. Ice, snow, darkness, and moose- and other animal-vehicle collisions drive up both the number and severity of crashes.
Long, remote highways. More than half of Alaska's 2024 traffic deaths happened in rural areas, where help and evidence can be delayed.

What damages can I recover after an Alaska car accident?

Alaska law lets injured people recover both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages cover measurable losses — medical bills (past and future), lost wages and lost earning capacity, vehicle repair or replacement, and out-of-pocket costs. Noneconomic damages cover pain and suffering, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life; in a fatal crash, families may recover for their losses through a wrongful death claim. Alaska places statutory limits on noneconomic damages (AS 09.17.010), and in rare cases of especially reckless conduct, punitive damages may be available (AS 09.17.020). We can evaluate what your specific claim may be worth.

How to choose a car accident lawyer in Alaska

Trial experience before Alaska juries — insurers value a claim differently when a firm is willing and able to take it to trial.
Independent crash investigation — accident reconstruction, securing vehicle and scene evidence, and identifying all insurance (including UM/UIM).
Knowledge of Alaska law — the two-year deadline, pure comparative fault, and the at-fault insurance system.
Direct attorney access and clear communication.
A contingency fee with the standard "no recovery, no fee" structure.

Why Choate Law Firm

Choate Law Firm has represented injured Alaskans and the families of those wrongfully killed since 1980, from our main office in Juneau and across the state. Founder Mark Choate (J.D., Seattle University School of Law, 1980; graduate of the 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, answer calls promptly, and take cases on a contingency fee — you owe no attorney fee unless we recover for you. Call (907) 586-4490.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file after a car accident in Alaska? Usually two years from the crash (AS 09.10.070); a wrongful death claim is two years from the date of death (AS 09.55.580).

Is Alaska a no-fault state? No. Alaska is an at-fault (tort) state — the driver who caused the crash is responsible, and there is no mandatory no-fault/PIP coverage.

What if I was partly at fault? You can still recover. Alaska's pure comparative fault rule (AS 09.17.060) reduces your recovery by your share of fault but does not bar it.

The other driver had no insurance (or too little). Now what? Your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage may apply. Insurers are required to offer it (AS 28.22.101(e)), so many Alaskans carry it. We can review your policy.

Do I have to report the accident? Yes, if it involved injury, death, or property damage of $500 or more — immediate notice plus a written report within 10 days, unless police investigated the scene (AS 28.35.080).

Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company? Be careful. You are not required to give a recorded statement, and early statements are often used to reduce or deny claims. It is wise to talk to a lawyer first.

What is my car accident case worth? It depends on your injuries, lost income, long-term effects, and the available insurance. We offer a free evaluation.

What does a car accident lawyer cost? Nothing up front — we work on a contingency fee and are paid only if we recover for you.

Sources

AS 09.10.070 (statute of limitations): https://law.justia.com/codes/alaska/title-9/chapter-09-10/section-09-10-070/
AS 09.55.580 (wrongful death): https://law.justia.com/codes/alaska/title-9/chapter-09-55/section-09-55-580/
AS 09.17.060 (comparative fault): https://law.justia.com/codes/alaska/title-9/chapter-09-17/section-09-17-060/
AS 28.22.101 (mandatory insurance minimums & UM/UIM): https://law.justia.com/codes/alaska/title-28/chapter-28-22/section-28-22-101/
AS 28.35.080 (crash reporting): https://law.justia.com/codes/alaska/title-28/chapter-28-35/section-28-35-080/
IIHS / NHTSA FARS — Alaska fatality facts (70 deaths, 2024; speeding 50%): https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state

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).