Alaska Personal Injury & Serious Injury Lawyers
Choate Law Firm is a personal injury and wrongful death trial firm founded in Juneau, Alaska in 1980. We represent people seriously injured at work, on the road, on someone else's property, on commercial vessels, or anywhere else another person, company, or government agency's negligence caused them harm. We focus on serious cases — traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation, permanent disability, and wrongful death — and we are willing to take cases to a jury when settlement is not in the client's best interest. Our attorneys are licensed in Alaska, Washington, California, Hawaii, and New York. Mark Choate, the firm's founder, has been lead counsel in hundreds of jury trials since graduating Seattle University School of Law in 1980. Jon Choate, partner, is a 2010 Harvard Law graduate and former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney. We accept personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis — no fee unless we recover money for you. Call (907) 586-4490 for a free, confidential consultation.
What is a personal injury claim in Alaska?
A personal injury claim is a legal case brought by someone harmed because another person, business, or public agency failed to act with reasonable care. Alaska law allows the injured person — called the plaintiff — to recover money damages from the at-fault party for medical expenses, lost income, future medical care, pain and suffering, loss of earning capacity, and other harms.
Most personal injury cases turn on negligence — the failure to use reasonable care under the circumstances. Some involve reckless conduct, intentional harm, or strict liability (most often in defective product cases). The statute that governs the general two-year filing deadline in Alaska is AS 09.10.070. Different deadlines apply to claims against government entities, claims involving minors, and certain types of medical and product cases.
If the injury caused a death, Alaska's wrongful death statute (AS 09.55.580) lets specific family members bring a related claim.
Types of personal injury cases we handle
Workplace and on-the-job injuries
In Alaska, workers' compensation is the primary remedy when you're hurt at work — but it's rarely the only one. Workers' comp does not pay for pain and suffering, and it caps wage loss far below what a serious injury actually costs.
We evaluate every workplace case for a third-party claim: when a contractor, equipment manufacturer, sub-contractor, property owner, or another driver contributed to the injury, you may have a separate claim against them that recovers the full value of your damages on top of workers' comp.
Maritime workers — commercial fishermen, ferry crew, cargo crew — fall under the federal Jones Act rather than Alaska workers' comp. We handle Jones Act cases as a dedicated practice. Learn more about maritime claims.
Slip and fall, premises liability, and unsafe property
Alaska property owners — stores, restaurants, hotels, landlords, and government agencies — owe a duty of reasonable care to people they invite onto their property. When they fail to maintain safe conditions and someone is hurt, that's a premises liability claim.
Common Alaska premises cases involve:
Ice and snow accumulation on walkways, parking lots, and entrances
Unsafe stairs, broken handrails, and inadequate lighting
Unsecured loads or falling objects in commercial settings
Inadequate security at hotels, apartment complexes, and parking facilities
Defective rental property maintained by absent landlords
Serious injuries — brain, spine, amputation, disability
Choate Law Firm concentrates on cases involving significant, life-changing harm:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-concussive syndromes
Spinal cord injury, paralysis, and partial paralysis
Amputation and crush injuries
Severe burns and disfigurement
Permanent loss of vision, hearing, or other sensory function
Other catastrophic trauma
These cases need lawyers who can prove not just what happened but what the rest of the client's life will look like. We work with life-care planners, vocational economists, neuropsychologists, and treating physicians to build that picture for an Alaska jury.
Motor vehicle and pedestrian collisions
Cars, trucks, commercial vehicles, buses, motorcycles, snowmachines, ATVs, and pedestrian injuries. Read about our auto accident practice.
Maritime and Jones Act injuries
Seamen, commercial fishermen, ferry workers, and others injured on the water. Maritime and Jones Act claims.
Wrongful death
When a family member is killed by another's negligence, recklessness, or intentional act. Wrongful death claims.
Defective products
When a vehicle, medical device, industrial machine, or consumer product fails and causes injury, the manufacturer can be held strictly liable regardless of carelessness.
Insurance bad faith
When your own insurer wrongfully denies, delays, or low-balls a valid claim, Alaska law provides a separate cause of action. Insurance bad faith claims.
What to do if you've been seriously injured in Alaska
The first hours and days after a serious injury shape what your case can recover. Take these steps in order:
Get medical care immediately. Your health comes first. Tell every provider exactly what happened and where it hurts — don't downplay symptoms.
Document the scene. Photograph the vehicles, property, injuries, weather, and any visible hazards. Get names and numbers of witnesses.
Report the incident. Call the police for any crash involving injury. File a written report with the property owner for premises injuries. Report workplace injuries to your employer in writing within 30 days (Alaska workers' comp requirement under AS 23.30.100).
Preserve evidence. Keep damaged clothing, broken equipment, and any documents. Don't repair or dispose of vehicles or property involved.
Don't talk to the other side's insurer. Anything you say — even something as innocent as "I'm okay" — can be used to reduce your recovery. You are under no legal obligation to give a recorded statement.
Call a personal injury lawyer before signing anything. Most personal injury firms in Alaska, including Choate Law Firm, offer free consultations. Use one before you commit to anything.
Statute of limitations — how long do you have to sue?
Every state sets a deadline. Miss it and your case is barred regardless of how strong it is.
StatePersonal injuryWrongful deathGovernment claim noticeAlaska (AS 09.10.070)2 years2 years180 daysWashington3 years3 years60 days (state)California2 years2 years6 months (govt entity)Hawaii2 years2 years6 months (state)New York3 years2 years90 days (govt entity)
Exceptions apply for minors, claims discovered later, fraud, and other circumstances. Do not rely on the chart alone — call a lawyer to confirm your specific deadline.
Damages you can recover
Alaska personal injury law tries to put the injured person in the financial position they would have been in if the injury hadn't happened. Recoverable damages typically include:
Past and future medical expenses — emergency care, surgery, physical therapy, mental health treatment, long-term care
Lost wages and lost earning capacity — both past income missed and future income reduced by your injuries
Property damage — vehicle repair or replacement, damaged personal property
Pain and suffering — physical pain, mental anguish, anxiety, depression caused by the injury
Loss of enjoyment of life — activities you can no longer do
Loss of consortium — the impact of your injuries on your spouse or family relationships
Disfigurement — visible scarring or permanent change in appearance
Punitive damages — in rare cases of reckless or intentional conduct, an additional amount intended to punish and deter
Alaska caps non-economic damages in most personal injury cases at the greater of $400,000 or $8,000 per year of expected life (AS 09.17.010). The cap is higher for severe permanent injuries.
How contingency fees work at Choate Law Firm
You pay nothing up front. You pay nothing while the case is pending. We are paid a percentage of what we recover for you — and only if we recover something. If we take your case and don't win, you owe us nothing for our time.
This structure aligns our incentives with yours from the first phone call. We only take cases we believe we can win, and we work them seriously because we don't get paid unless you do.
How to choose a personal injury lawyer in Alaska
A good Alaska personal injury lawyer should meet the following criteria. Use this checklist whether you're considering Choate Law Firm or any other firm:
Trial experience. Ask the firm how many cases they've taken to verdict in the past five years. Insurance companies track which lawyers actually try cases — and pay more to settle when the opposing lawyer has a real trial record.
Bar admission in your state. A lawyer practicing in Alaska must be admitted to the Alaska Bar. If your case involves another jurisdiction (you were injured in Hawaii while on vacation, for example), make sure the firm is licensed there too or has a co-counsel arrangement.
Focus on serious injuries. Personal injury is a broad field. Firms that focus on serious-injury cases have the medical experts, life-care planners, and economists on speed-dial that catastrophic cases require.
Contingency fee with no fee unless you win. Avoid firms that charge hourly or require a retainer for an injury case.
Free initial consultation. A reputable firm will evaluate your case at no cost and tell you honestly whether you have a claim.
A real attorney handles your case, not a paralegal. Ask who you'll actually talk to.
A track record with insurance companies you're up against. Some insurers fight every case; some settle reasonably. Experience matters.
Choate Law Firm meets all seven. Mark Choate has tried hundreds of cases to verdict in Alaska courts since 1980 and is a graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College. Jon Choate brings prior trial experience as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan DA's Office and serves clients in Alaska, California, New York, and Washington.
Why Choate Law Firm
40+ years of Alaska trial experience. Founded 1980 in Juneau. Hundreds of jury trials.
Multi-state coverage. Licensed in Alaska, Washington, California, Hawaii, and New York. We handle cross-state cases without handing you off.
Serious-injury focus. We accept cases involving significant harm. That selectivity is what lets us prepare cases at the depth catastrophic injuries require.
Trial-ready preparation. Every case is built from day one as if it's going to a jury. That preparation drives settlement value even when we never see a courtroom.
Father-and-son partnership. Mark Choate, founder, J.D. Seattle University 1980, licensed AK/WA/CA/HI. Jon Choate, partner, J.D. Harvard Law 2010, former Manhattan ADA, licensed AK/CA/NY/WA.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best personal injury law firm in Alaska?
There's no objective "best" — but the right firm for your case is one with significant trial experience, admission to the Alaska Bar, a focus on serious-injury cases, and a contingency fee structure with no upfront cost. Choate Law Firm has practiced personal injury and wrongful death law in Alaska since 1980 and meets each of those criteria. Free consultations are available — the most useful next step is usually a call to compare options.
How much does a personal injury lawyer cost in Alaska?
Most Alaska personal injury lawyers, including Choate Law Firm, work on a contingency fee. You pay nothing up front and nothing during the case. The lawyer is paid a percentage of what they recover for you — typically one-third to forty percent, depending on whether the case settles or goes to trial. If there's no recovery, you owe nothing for the attorney's time.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Alaska?
Generally two years from the date of injury under Alaska Statute AS 09.10.070. Claims against state or municipal government entities require a written notice within 180 days. Wrongful death claims have a separate two-year deadline. Exceptions apply for minors and for injuries that weren't discovered immediately. Call a lawyer to confirm your specific deadline.
What if I was partly at fault for my own injury?
Alaska uses pure comparative fault (AS 09.17.060). You can still recover even if you were partly responsible — your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault rather than barred entirely. So if you were 30% at fault and your damages are $100,000, you can recover $70,000.
Do I have to go to trial?
Most personal injury cases settle before trial. But cases settle for higher amounts when the firm representing you has a real record of winning at trial — because insurance companies know which lawyers will try a case and which won't. Choate Law Firm prepares every case as if it's going to a jury, and that preparation drives settlement value.
What if I was hurt at work in Alaska?
You have two potential paths: Alaska workers' compensation (for the comp benefits) and a third-party claim if anyone other than your direct employer contributed to the injury. The two are not mutually exclusive. Workers' comp won't cover pain and suffering and caps wage loss, so a third-party claim can recover much more. We evaluate every workplace injury for third-party potential.
What if I'm a commercial fisherman injured on a vessel?
Alaska workers' comp doesn't apply. Maritime injuries are governed by federal law including the Jones Act, the doctrine of unseaworthiness, and the maintenance-and-cure doctrine. We have a dedicated maritime practice. Maritime and Jones Act claims.
How long does a personal injury case take in Alaska?
Anywhere from several months for straightforward soft-tissue cases to several years for catastrophic-injury claims that require permanent-impairment ratings. Serious-injury cases generally take longer because the case can't reasonably settle until the client's medical condition stabilizes enough to project future needs.
Can I afford medical care while my case is pending?
Yes — there are several options. Your own health insurance (if any), Medicare or Medicaid, medical-payments coverage under your auto insurance (MedPay), and in some cases medical liens that let providers wait for payment until the case resolves. We'll help you navigate this in your consultation.
What if I'm contacted by the other side's insurance company?
You are under no legal obligation to give a recorded statement. Politely decline and refer the adjuster to your attorney. Anything you say can be — and often is — used to reduce your recovery later.
What if I don't have insurance and the other driver doesn't either?
You may have uninsured motorist (UM) coverage under your own auto policy, which steps in when the at-fault driver has no insurance. UM coverage is required in Alaska unless explicitly waived in writing. Check your policy. If you don't have UM, options narrow but aren't always zero — call us.
Can I switch lawyers if I already have one?
In most cases, yes. Talk to a different firm for a second opinion before deciding. There may be a lien for work the prior firm performed, but that comes out of the settlement, not out of your pocket directly.
Are conversations with Choate Law Firm confidential before I sign anything?
Yes. Alaska Rule of Professional Conduct 1.18 protects communications with prospective clients, even if you don't ultimately hire the firm.
What if my loved one was killed by someone's negligence?
You may have a wrongful death claim under AS 09.55.580. Eligible family members typically include the spouse, children, and sometimes the parents of the deceased. The statute of limitations is two years. Wrongful death claims.
How quickly should I contact a lawyer after a serious injury?
The sooner the better. Evidence disappears, witnesses move, and statute-of-limitations clocks start running from the date of injury. There's no fee to talk, and the consultation is confidential.
Talk to a lawyer about your case
Free, confidential consultation. No fee unless we win.
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Offices in Juneau (main), Seattle, and Brooklyn. We accept cases throughout Alaska, Washington, California, Hawaii, and New York.
Attorneys in our firm are licensed in Alaska, California, Hawaii, New York, and Washington (specific jurisdiction varies by attorney). Content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every legal claim is unique and there is always risk involved in litigation. The statements on this site are not a guarantee that we will agree to represent you, pursue a specific litigation strategy, or achieve a particular result.
Last reviewed: June 2026