Driving on busy roads and highways can be a dangerous experience. With over 100 deaths per day as a result of car accidents, it is important to keep you and your loved ones safe by staying alert at all times while driving.
At Johnson & Associates, PC, we have been representing car accident victims throughout Alaska for more than 25 years. In that time, we have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. If you or someone you love was hurt by the actions of a negligent driver, you can count on our Anchorage car accident lawyer to provide the dedicated legal representation you deserve.
One of the first steps in ensuring you receive the compensation you deserve is to establish liability. You will need to establish liability in order to recover maximum compensation, which requires that you provide adequate documentation of the other driver’s negligence and of your injuries. As soon as you contact a car accident lawyer at Johnson & Associates, PC, we can get to work on your case. Initial consultations are free, so please don’t wait to give us a call.
In every state, there is a time limit between the date of an accident and when you must file a lawsuit for injuries sustained in that accident. That time limit is called the statute of limitations. In Alaska, the statute of limitations for car accidents is normally two years from the date of the collision. This means that if you do not file a suit within two years after you were made aware of injuries or losses from the accident, under most circumstances, your claim will not be eligible to receive any financial compensation.
Some of the most common injuries in car crashes include whiplash, seat belt injuries, cuts, and bruises. Even these seemingly minor injuries can have a lasting impact, especially in whiplash cases, so do not hesitate to contact a car accident attorney to ensure that you receive a fair settlement. Our car accident lawyers in Anchorage AK are ready to help you seek justice.
A person is more likely to be injured or killed in a car crash than by any other kind of accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), there are an average of 6 million vehicle collisions in the United States every year. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the US has the highest vehicle crash death rate among all high-income countries.
If you or a loved one are involved in a car accident call 911 and report the accident to law enforcement. It is important that the police come to the accident scene so they can secure the scene, protect you and others from other dangers, preserve evidence, and arrange for medical help and emergency transportation for those who are injured. If asked by an investigating officer, tell them what happened honestly and exactly. If you think you might be injured, avoid saying that you are “ok” or that you are “fine” until you have been evaluated by a medical doctor. We have had numerous clients who felt “fine” at the scene while their adrenaline was high, only to realize later that they had serious injuries. If law enforcement does not come to the accident scene, be sure to file all required accident reports with local law enforcement. Your own insurance company may have special reporting requirements. Check your insurance policy and follow all requirements for reporting the accident and placing the insurance company on notice of your injuries.
As with any kind of accident, if you are seriously injured in a car wreck, your first priority should be to get proper medical help as soon as possible. This often means that you go directly to the emergency room, and you accept transportation to the hospital by ambulance if it is available. Often the shock and trauma of a car crash fill a person with adrenaline which can mask or hide serious injuries. No one wants to admit they might be seriously injured, and no one wants to go to the hospital, so all too often people decline medical care at the scene of the accident and decline to be taken to the emergency room by ambulance, only to realize later that they have serious injuries that have gone untreated. It is better to be safe than sorry. Always fight to get all of the appropriate medical care you need. Get treatment from a licensed medical doctor. Tell the doctor honestly about every place you hurt or simply don’t feel normal. Follow the doctor’s instructions about wound care, rest, staying immobile, injury recovery, and additional medical care exactly and on-time. Do NOT ignore your doctors’ advice and Do NOT miss medical appointments!
To the extent you can do so without endangering yourself or others, try to record and document what happened in the accident and who was involved. Photos and videos of the accident scene and vehicles involved can be very important later. Writing down or otherwise documenting insurance information, names, phone numbers, emails, and addresses for the other driver and witnesses is also important.
After leaving the accident scene, keep track of: photos, videos, written lists, notes, and other documentation of your injuries, medical care, efforts to recover, property damage, lost wages, and other losses. This documentation will be helpful in obtaining fair compensation.
When it comes to serious accidents, automobile accidents are unique because of the likelihood that there will be multiple insurance companies providing insurance coverage and investigating any injuries and fatalities. Most typically, all vehicles involved in a car wreck will be covered by policies of insurance. Those injured in the wreck may receive compensation for their injuries and losses from multiple insurance companies and various insurance coverages, such as insurance for liability, protection for those injured by uninsured and underinsured motorists, property damage, and medical payments coverages. This is good news for those injured in a car accident, as there should be insurance coverage to pay for their medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. However, it also means that there will likely be multiple insurance adjusters and investigators involved in the claim, and all of them trying to limit your recovery and save the insurance companies money.
Do not post information about the accident or your injuries on social media! In fact, we suggest you take a break from posting anything on social media until you are recovered from your injuries and your claims are resolved. Remember the warnings that “anything you say can and will be held against you”. Be very careful what you write in emails, texts, and any other form of communication. Assume that everything you write, say, or post will be preserved, investigated, and seen by a judge or jury. We have seen even the most harmless posts used against those trying to receive compensation from insurance companies. Insurance companies are ruthless and will do everything they can to limit how much they pay you. Do not give them more ammunition. Stay off social media.
Be especially careful when communicating with insurance adjusters and investigators. You will be contacted by an adjuster for the insurance company that insures the at-fault-driver, your own insurance company, or both. Sometimes adjusters will talk nicely and other times they might take a very aggressive approach. Do not be intimidated and do not think they are your friend. Always remember to be honest in what you say and do and remember that the adjuster is focusing attention on you in an attempt to protect the insurance company from paying you compensation. Remember that everything you do and say will be placed under scrutiny by the insurance companies and their lawyers. When communicating with adjusters, always focus on your efforts to recover from your injuries and how much you want to be able to return to work and your normal life.
You have a duty to talk with the adjuster for your own insurance company, but only when you are able to understand his or her questions and give accurate information. You are not required to talk with the adjuster for the other driver. We encourage you to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney before deciding if you will give a statement to the other insurance company.
Obtaining fair compensation for your injuries, medical bills, and other losses is not easy. Make no mistake, there are many who will work from the moment of your accident to keep you from being fully compensated. It’s their job and they are paid very well to block your honest efforts. For this reason you should talk with an experienced injury attorney as soon as possible. You need someone in your corner to protect your interests.
If you are able to safely move around, be sure to document the accident to the fullest extent. This means taking pictures of the scene of the collision – your car and theirs – exchanging important information, and taking detailed notes of what happened while it is still fresh on your mind. The information you want to collect from the other driver(s) involved will include their driver’s license number, plate number, insurance details, contact information, and full name.
When seeking to prove fault in a car accident, it all comes down to who was careless in their actions. Negligence could mean that the driver was distracted, drunk, or perhaps driving recklessly. Whatever the case may be, if the person who caused the accident was doing something that violates a traffic law or simply places other people in danger, then they may be considered liable for the accident. They would also then be responsible for any resulting damages and/or injuries.
Yes. However, the rule of comparative negligence states that you can still pursue compensation for an accident that was partially your fault. The recovery would simply be diminished by your decided level of culpability. The state of Alaska, among others, allows the plaintiff to recover damages for an accident as long as the court finds that they are not responsible for the actual injury. If this is the case, they may be able to receive up to 65% of the damages claimed in the accident.
In the majority of motor vehicle accident situations, if you were hit from behind, the accident will be the fault of the driver behind you, no matter the reasons for you stopping. The common rules of the road encourage drivers to stay far behind the car in front of them so that there is room to stop in case of a sudden slow-down in traffic. If the driver behind you still hits your car, they were likely driving unreasonably close to you and will be considered at fault for the collision.
If you have been involved in a car accident in Anchorage or anywhere in Alaska, having a skilled legal professional on your side is in your best interest. At our firm, we are dedicated to helping our clients recover damages for their property and injuries, in the amount that they deserve. When you work with a trusted lawyer at Johnson & Associates, PC, you can be confident that your case will be handled with the level of attention and professionalism it deserves.
Contact Johnson & Associates, PC today to arrange your FREE case evaluation.