Put 20+ Years of Experience in Your Corner
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 80 car accident fatalities in 2018, 42 of which were due to speeding. Being involved in any auto accident is an incredibly stressful experience. Immediately after the crash, you should always first seek medical attention for any injuries you have suffered.
Once you have received medical treatment for your injuries, the next step is to contact an Anchorage car accident attorney who can guide you through the process of filing your claim. While you may start worrying about the process of filing a car insurance claim, your health, safety, and well-being are of the upmost importance.
At Banker Law Group, P.C., we have 20 years of legal experience and a wealth of in-depth knowledge that we can put to work for you. Our attorney, Anthony Banker, has resolved thousands of cases for clients throughout the area; when working with insurance adjusters, we know what to do and what not to do. In every instance, our goal is to recover the maximum compensation you are owed, whether it's through settlement negotiations or in front of a judge and jury.
To learn more about how we can assist you with your claim, contact Banker Law Group online or by phone at (907) 222-2999 today. We offer free initial consultations.
Do You Have a Claim?
In order to bring a car accident claim, you do not need to show that the other driver was completely at fault for the accident; you merely need to prove that he or she was partially at fault for the accident. That being said, in order to pursue compensation for you medical bills, lost wages/income, pain and suffering, and other damages, you will need to show that another person or party acted negligently or wrongfully and that this led to your damages.
Alaska's Rule of Pure Comparative Fault
The State of Alaska follows what is known as the “pure comparative fault” rule. Under this rule, you may still recover compensation for your car accident damages even if you were partly at fault for the accident.
How the rule of pure comparative fault works:
- When a fair settlement cannot be reached, your case will proceed to trial. There, a jury will determine two things:
- Your total damages in terms of a set dollar amount
- The percent for which you were at fault for the accident
- Your total award (the dollar amount you receive) will be reduced by your at-fault percentage
For example, if you suffer severe injuries after being hit by a speeding driver who was also texting while driving, but you had rolled through a stop sign, the jury may find you 20% at fault for the collision. If your total damages amount to $100,000, you will only be able to recover up to $80,000.
Common Causes of Car Accidents
Some of the most common causes of car accidents that can be attributed to negligence include:
- Distracted driving (including texting while driving)
- Driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol (DUI)
- Speeding
- Reckless driving/road rage
- Inexperienced drivers
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Failure to stop/yield at stop signs, red lights, etc.
- Defective car parts (such as tires or brakes)
At Banker Law Group, we can conduct an investigation to determine the cause of your accident. If another party is at fault, we can begin building a case aimed at recovering fair compensation on your behalf.
Steps to Take at the Scene of the Accident
After an accident, many motorists are understandably shaken up. However, after first ensuring that you and everyone
else involved in the accident are okay, there are a few necessary steps you should take.
At the scene of the accident:
- If you are not being transported by ambulance, you should always stay at the scene of the accident until the police arrive.
- Call 9-1-1 and report the auto accident to the Anchorage Police Department.
- Follow the advice of the dispatcher regarding whether to move your vehicle out of the way of traffic.
- For every driver, use your cell phone to capture:
- Name;
- Phone number;
- Driver's license number;
- Insurance information; and
- License plate information.
- Get names and phone numbers for any witnesses to the car accident.
You will also be speaking with law enforcement, medical professionals, and possibly your insurance company while at the scene of the accident. During these interviews, it is helpful to be brief, honest, and straightforward.
When it comes to receiving medical attention, don't turn down help. Even if you believe you are not injured, you should be checked by any medical personnel at the scene. With adrenaline surging, most people do not feel the full impact of the crash, and injuries can sometimes take up to a week to appear.
When Anchorage police officers arrive at the scene, they will ask about the accident. When answering these questions, you need to be calm and provide truthful answers. Again, it is helpful to be brief, honest, and straightforward.
You will need to call your own insurance company and report the auto accident. You can do this at the scene of the accident or shortly thereafter. Again, it is helpful to be brief, honest, and straightforward. Don't guess.
Steps to Take After Leaving the Scene of an Accident
Once you've left the scene of an accident, there are still several steps that you can take to help protect the integrity of your car accident claim, including:
- Get Medical Treatment - This should be completed as soon after the accident as possible. In order to recover compensation, you must prove that the injury you sustained was caused by the accident, which can be difficult if you delay getting medical treatment.
- Notify Your Insurance Company - You need to notify your insurance company of the accident and explain what happened, but you are not obligated to provide a recorded statement during that conversation.
- Track Your Expenses - Because you will be requesting compensation for all the expenses that resulted from the accident, you will need to provide receipts and bills. This includes items like medical bills, property damage, lost wages, transportation costs, etc.
- Keep a Pain Journal - It can be difficult to remember pain once it has past. That is why we would strongly recommend that you keep a pain journal during the months directly following the accidents. Not only would we recommend keeping track of the pain levels from day-to-day, but also include things like the number of missed workdays, family events that you could not attend, and if you were unable to participate in any activities. It is important to be as detailed as possible.
- Do Not Talk About the Accident - This is particularly important when it comes to speaking with the other people involved in the accident, which includes any passengers that were in your car.
- Contact Experienced Legal Counsel - The sooner you involve an attorney, the sooner they can get to work gathering evidence and building your injury claim.
At Banker Law Group, P.C., we offer all potential clients a free, initial case evaluation and if we decide to move forward with the case, our legal team works on a contingency fee bases.
Contact Our Firm for a Free Consultation
If you were injured in a car accident, or if your loved one was killed in a collision with another driver, contact the Anchorage car accident lawyer at Banker Law Group. Our firm can guide you through the legal process from start to finish. We have helped thousands of clients throughout the region successfully resolve their legal matters in both settlements and trials. Our team is prepared to fight for you.
Client Testimonial
“Great Law firm that helped us like they were helping a friend.
We understood from the start what we could expect and they delivered!”
- CZ
Call us today at (907) 222-2999 or submit an online contact form to request a free case evaluation.
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