Instantly Connect For Your Personal Injury Consultation When Filling Out Form
Your Ketchikan Personal Injury Attorney
Getting hurt rarely comes at a convenient time. You may be in pain, missing work and answering calls from an insurance company while trying to learn what you are owed. If your injury in Ketchikan was someone else’s doing, start with the basics below and go at your own pace.
We match people with attorneys; we do not advise on cases. Treat what follows as a plain language guide to Alaska law drawn from the statutes. When you want to talk to an attorney, the form at the top of this page is the way to start.
What To Ask Before You Choose An Attorney In Ketchikan
Whoever you speak to, a few answers tell you a lot:
- Your share of fault. Ask how a finding that you were partly responsible would change the numbers (AS 09.17.060).
- The deadline. Ask the attorney to name the exact last day to file for your claim. Alaska’s general limit is two years (AS 09.10.070(a)).
- The damage limit. Ask how the statutory cap on noneconomic damages applies to someone with your injuries (AS 09.17.010).
- The money terms. Ask how fees are calculated and which costs come out of a recovery.
- Who will work on it. Ask who handles your file day to day and how fast messages are answered.
Kinds of Injury Claims
Vehicle crashes
After a crash, see a doctor even if you feel fine, since some injuries show up later. Take photographs of the cars, the road and any injuries, get the other driver’s insurance details, and save every repair estimate.
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries
Walkers and cyclists hurt by a vehicle should write down the location, the time of day, the lighting and the signals as soon as they can. Witnesses who stopped are valuable, so ask for their contact details before they leave.
Falls and unsafe property
Slips, trips and falls come from spills, uneven surfaces, poor lighting and broken stairs. What matters is who controlled the place and how long the problem was there, so document the hazard and tell the owner or manager promptly.
Wrongful death
If a loved one died because of another person’s wrongful act or omission, a different set of rules applies. Alaska law lets the personal representative bring the action (AS 09.55.580(a)). This is a hard moment to decide anything, and an attorney can walk you through the steps without hurrying you.
Injured in Ketchikan? Get matched with an attorney now.
Fault Shared Among Several People
Many people stay quiet because they think any mistake of their own ends a claim. In Alaska it does not. Under AS 09.17.060, a claimant’s own fault reduces the damages in proportion to that fault and does not bar recovery, so a person found 25 percent responsible still receives 75 percent of the damages.
When more than one party shares responsibility, AS 09.17.080 has the judge or jury assign a percentage to each claimant, defendant and released person, and each defendant answers according to its own percentage. A person who settled early still receives a share of the fault, which can change what is left for the others.
What Alaska Caps In An Injury Award
In an action for personal injury or wrongful death, AS 09.17.010 limits awards for noneconomic loss, meaning pain, suffering, inconvenience, physical impairment, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of consortium. The ordinary limit for a single injury or death is the greater of $400,000 and the injured person’s life expectancy in years times $8,000. In a personal injury action with severe permanent physical impairment or severe disfigurement, the limit is the greater of $1,000,000 and life expectancy in years times $25,000. This does not apply to economic loss such as medical bills and wages.
How Long You Have To File
Most personal injury claims in Alaska must be filed in court within two years of when the claim accrued (AS 09.10.070(a)), and a wrongful death action within two years after the death (AS 09.55.580(a)). Missing the date usually ends the case, so ask any attorney to name the exact last day for yours.
Two exceptions are written into AS 09.10.140: time is excluded while a claimant is a minor or legally incompetent, and for a child under eight the years before the eighth birthday are not counted. Those exceptions are narrow.
Insurance Minimums in Alaska
Under AS 28.20.440(b), an owner’s liability policy must provide at least $50,000 for injury to one person, $100,000 for injury to two or more in a single accident, and $25,000 for property damage. The same section calls for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage in at least those amounts, but under AS 28.20.445 an insured may reject that coverage in writing, so check whether your own policy includes it. If your medical costs are higher than the other driver’s limits, coverage from your own policy may become important.
Courts and Hospitals in Ketchikan
The Alaska Department of Health trauma center list names Peace Health Ketchikan Medical Center in Ketchikan as a Level IV trauma center. The directory of the Alaska Court System shows a court in Ketchikan, in the First Judicial District, at 415 Main Street, Rm 400. The Census Bureau places Ketchikan in Ketchikan Gateway Borough.
Whichever provider treated you, request your complete records and an itemized bill, and keep a list of every appointment. If you were transferred to another hospital, ask for the paperwork from both ends of the transfer.
Making Your First Contact In Ketchikan
The form at the top of this page is the starting point. Once you send it, NeedAnAttorney.net matches you with an attorney who handles injury matters near Ketchikan. It costs nothing to use and does not commit you to anything.
Until someone calls, make a simple record: what happened, the date and time, names of anyone who saw it, the treatment you have had, and the days you missed from work. Keep every bill and letter in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to be matched with an attorney here?
Nothing. The form is free to use, and many injury attorneys work on a contingency fee. Ask to see the agreement in writing before you sign.
How long does an injury settlement take?
It varies with the injury and the insurer. Many claims wait until treatment has finished so the full cost is known, which can take months, and a lawsuit takes longer.
What is the Alaska statute of limitations for an injury claim?
Generally two years (AS 09.10.070(a)). For a wrongful death, the two years run from the date of death (AS 09.55.580(a)).
Does Alaska bar me from recovering if I share the blame?
No. Under AS 09.17.060 your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can still recover the rest.
Does Alaska put a ceiling on pain and suffering?
Yes, a statutory one: the greater of $400,000 or life expectancy in years times $8,000, and a higher limit for severe permanent impairment or disfigurement (AS 09.17.010).
How much liability coverage must an Alaska driver carry?
The minimums for an owner’s policy are $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage (AS 28.20.440(b)).
What should I save for my claim?
Save treatment records and bills, photographs, the report number if there is one, pay stubs that show lost work, estimates for repairs, and every letter or email from an insurance company.
Should I speak with the other driver’s insurance company?
You are free to talk to them, but you are not required to give a recorded statement immediately. Saying that you want advice first is a reasonable answer.
Help Elsewhere in Alaska
People are hurt in every part of Alaska. These pages cover other communities.
