Whether in casual or fatal accidents, the drivers in the collision face legal and financial challenges, giving them lifelong emotional trauma and social stigma as well. Also, serious injuries from accidents require extensive medical treatments and create a necessity for time off from work.
However, car accident lawsuits allow the victims to be compensated for their medical treatment expenses and property damages sustained in the car accident. In such cases, the car accident lawyer in Alaska provides valuable assistance in lawsuits and works tirelessly to provide fair compensation to victims.
Consequences of leaving the accident scene
Alaska car accident laws require you to be present at the accident scene and take action depending on the circumstances.
If the accident has caused any death, severe injuries, or property damages, you must provide your name and contact number and exchange essential information with the other party involved. Also, if anyone needs medical help, you must give them reasonable assistance or arrange transportation to the hospital.
Additionally, if you have caused damage to an unattained vehicle, you must remain there at the scene and try to find the owner. If you fail to see the owner, you must attach a note with your contact details and an apologetic explanation of the damage.
Filing of car accident report
In some car accident cases, drivers must present or submit a written car accident report to insurance companies and other authorities. Therefore, Alaska’s laws require the drivers involved in car accidents to notify the authorities immediately about the accidents.
Reaching law enforcement from the scene
Reach out to the law enforcement authority using the quickest means of communication if you were involved in a car accident in Alaska. If you were driving or were involved and caused the following:
- A death of a person or,
- Cased injuries to a person or
- Caused property damages that appear to be more than a value of $2000 or more.
Then, you must notify the nearest law enforcement authority or Department of Public Safety (DPS) when an accident happens within the municipality. If you are badly hurt or unable to reach out to these authorities, your co-passenger or another person can notify them on your behalf.
Filing the report in ten days
If the law enforcement office investigates your case, you do not have to file the complaint. However, if there is no investigation, you must file the report within ten days of the accident. You can file your complaint online, or if an accident happens within your municipality, send a copy to the local authority.
It will be considered a misdemeanor if you fail to report the accident. In this case, you will punished with 90 days of jail or a monetary penalty of $200 or both. Also, you can lose your driving rights by suspending your license.
Compensation for damages
Alaska personal injury law allows the victim to get compensation for their loss if another person’s fault caused the accident. You will get compensatory damage if you are not completely at fault. You can collect compensation for the common damages, which include:
- Compensation for noneconomic damages such as pain and suffering,
- disability and disfigurement
- loss of enjoyment of life, and
- costs to repair or replace your auto and other personal property.
- your doctor, hospital, rehabilitation, and other medical bills
- lost wages and benefits for the time you’re off work
- amounts you pay for replacement household and child care services
- other out-of-pocket expenses related to your injuries
Also, Alaska caps noneconomic damages, which you can collect in personal injury damages. These non-economic caps only cover damages that can not be calculated in monetary values, such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and disfigurement.
Your car accident lawyer in Alaska, will evaluate your total damage, calculate the loss and initiate your insurance claim with your insurance adjusters.
Getting a car accident lawyer in alignment
When involved in a car accident case in Alaska, you must understand your case, rights and obligations. The case will involve tricky questions, including the statute of limitation and comparative rule, and it will demand vigilant observation of your case. Therefore, you must hire a skilled car accident lawyer in Alaska who knows the basics of the personal injury laws in Alaska and can guide you.
If your injuries are small and the accident was minor, you will not require a car accident lawyer in Alaska and can settle your claim by yourself. However, these cases are few and far between. In most cases, your best chance of getting fair compensation is with legal guidance; for that, you will require a car accident lawyer in Alaska.
Conclusion
Seeking help from a car accident attorney in Alaska is crucial when you need help understanding its legal structure. From investigating your case to representing you in court, they provide you with all the assistance in a way you get fair compensation for your damages.
