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Your Fairbanks Personal Injury Attorney
Being hurt is hard enough. Then comes the paperwork, the questions from an adjuster you have never met, and the worry about time off work and what happens next. If someone else’s carelessness injured you in Fairbanks, take a breath. You can ask for help before you understand all of this, and the first step costs nothing.
Fairbanks is the hub for Interior Alaska, with the Steese Expressway, the Richardson Highway and the George Parks Highway all meeting in or near the city, and a large military community at Fort Wainwright. Winters bring ice and long hours of darkness, which show up in the crashes and falls this page covers. Use the form at the top of the page and NeedAnAttorney.net will connect you with an attorney who handles Fairbanks cases. This page is general information, not advice about your situation.
How To Choose A Fairbanks Injury Attorney
Before you commit to anyone, ask these questions and notice how clearly they are answered:
- What is my filing deadline? For most injury claims in Alaska it is two years (AS 09.10.070(a)). For a wrongful death it is two years after the death (AS 09.55.580(a)). A good attorney gives you the actual date, not a general range.
- What happens if I share some blame? Under AS 09.17.060 your own share of fault lowers the award by the same percentage. It does not end the claim.
- How do the damage caps apply to me? Alaska limits noneconomic awards (AS 09.17.010), and the attorney should walk through your case with that limit in mind.
- How will I be charged? Ask whether the matter is handled on a contingency fee and who pays for outside specialists, records and filing costs.
- Who will I talk to? You should know who handles your file day to day.
Injury Claims in the Fairbanks Area
Crashes on the Steese, Johansen and Richardson corridors
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities calls the Steese and Johansen Expressways intersection one of the highest volume intersections in Fairbanks and is planning a diverging diamond interchange there. Busy junctions mean many crashes turn on who had the right of way, so witnesses and any camera footage matter early.
Parks Highway and rural road collisions
The George Parks Highway ends in Fairbanks and is the main road to Anchorage and Denali. Chena Hot Springs Road is one of the stretches where state records show moose vehicle collisions. After a crash with a large animal, report it, photograph the road and the damage, and keep every estimate.
Military families and Fort Wainwright
Soldiers and their families are hurt in the same kinds of crashes and falls as everyone else. Bassett Army Community Hospital on Fort Wainwright serves military beneficiaries, so keep records from both military and civilian providers if you used both.
Falls on ice and snow
A fall on a parking lot, entrance or walkway in winter can cause fractures that take months to heal. Photograph the area before it is sanded or cleared, and write down the lighting, the time and who looks after the property.
Wrongful death
If a loved one died because of someone’s wrongful act or omission, the personal representative brings the case under AS 09.55.580. An attorney can explain who the law treats as the beneficiaries and what losses may be claimed.
Injured in Fairbanks? Get matched with an attorney now.
What Shared Fault Means for Your Claim
Alaska follows a pure comparative fault rule. If the jury finds you partly responsible, AS 09.17.060 reduces your damages by your percentage and the claim goes forward. Someone who was 40 percent at fault on a 50,000 dollar loss could still receive 30,000 dollars.
Where several people share the blame, AS 09.17.080 requires the percentages to be set for everyone involved, including a person who already settled. Each defendant is then responsible for its own share, not for the whole. Because fault can be placed on people who are not at the table, early investigation of who else was involved can change the outcome of a case.
Caps on Awards for Pain and Loss of Enjoyment
Noneconomic damages are the nonpecuniary losses: pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of consortium. AS 09.17.010 limits them to $400,000, or $8,000 for each year of the injured person’s life expectancy if that comes to more. Where a personal injury causes severe permanent physical impairment or severe disfigurement, the limit is $1,000,000 or $25,000 for each year of life expectancy, whichever is more. All claims from one injury count together, and several injuries from one incident are one injury. Medical expenses and lost earnings are economic losses and are not covered by this limit.
Time Limits to Keep in Mind
Two years is the number most people need. A personal injury or wrongful death claim that is not commenced within two years of accrual is barred under AS 09.10.070(a), and a wrongful death action has its own two year clock that starts at the date of death in AS 09.55.580(a). If the injured person was a child when hurt, or was legally incompetent, AS 09.10.140 can pause the clock, with a special rule for children younger than eight. These are general rules. The date that matters is the one an attorney calculates from your records, so do not wait for your treatment to end before you ask.
Insurance Coverage After a Fairbanks Crash
An owner’s liability policy that satisfies Alaska’s financial responsibility statute, AS 28.20.440(b), must cover at least $50,000 for one person hurt in an accident, $100,000 when two or more are hurt, and $25,000 for property damage. The same section calls for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in at least those amounts, but an insured may reject that coverage in writing (AS 28.20.445). If the other driver carried only the minimum and your injuries are serious, your own underinsured coverage may matter if you have it, so look for your policy declarations page early.
Hospitals and Courts in Fairbanks
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is the Level IV trauma center the Alaska Department of Health lists for Fairbanks. Ask for your records and billing statements from every provider who treated you, including any follow up visits.
Injury lawsuits under state law are filed in the Alaska Superior Court, and Fairbanks is in the Fourth Judicial District. The court directory lists the courthouse at 101 Lacey Street. The U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska also holds court in Fairbanks, at the federal building at 101 12th Avenue.
Starting The Personal Injury Attorney Alaska Fairbanks Intake Process
Send the short form at the top of this page and NeedAnAttorney.net will match you with an attorney who takes Fairbanks injury cases. There is no charge for the form and sending it does not commit you to anything.
In the meantime, jot down what happened, who was there and what the weather and road looked like. Take photographs, keep your medical paperwork together and save any messages from insurers. If an adjuster asks for a recorded statement, you may tell them you are getting advice first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I see a doctor after a winter crash if I feel fine?
Yes. Adrenaline can hide injuries, and a medical record from the first day helps show what happened and when. Tell the provider about every symptom, even small ones.
How long do I have to start a lawsuit after an injury in Fairbanks?
For most injury claims, two years from when the claim accrued (AS 09.10.070(a)). For wrongful death, two years from the date of death (AS 09.55.580(a)).
What if the other driver had no insurance?
Your own uninsured motorist coverage may apply if your policy includes it. Alaska calls for owner’s policies to carry that coverage in at least the minimum liability amounts (AS 28.20.440(b)(3)), but an insured may reject it in writing (AS 28.20.445), so check your declarations page.
Does being partly at fault end my claim?
No. Your share of fault reduces the damages in proportion and does not bar recovery (AS 09.17.060).
What is the cap on pain and suffering in Alaska?
Generally $400,000 or $8,000 times life expectancy in years, whichever is higher, and up to $1,000,000 or $25,000 times life expectancy for severe permanent impairment or disfigurement in a personal injury case (AS 09.17.010).
What if the person injured is a child?
Special rules can extend the deadline. If a child was under eight when hurt, the time before the eighth birthday does not count toward the two year limit (AS 09.10.140(c)). Ask an attorney to confirm the dates for your child.
I was hurt near Fort Wainwright. Can I still use this service?
Yes. NeedAnAttorney.net matches injured people in the Fairbanks area with attorneys, including military families. An attorney can explain how your situation fits the Alaska rules.
Do I have to pay to speak with an attorney?
No charge for the form on this page. Many injury cases are handled on a contingency fee, which means no attorney fee unless there is a recovery. Get the terms in writing.
Help Elsewhere in Alaska
People are hurt in every part of Alaska. These pages cover other communities.
