Juneau Car Accident Lawyer

The Brown Law Firm can help you through the claims process if you’ve been injured in a car accident in Juneau. Car accidents happen every day here in Juneau, whether you’re driving to work, heading downtown, making your way along Egan Drive, or taking the kids to school. The next thing you know, you’re dealing with injuries, vehicle damage, and an insurance company that’s already asking questions. Our team can step in and help you. Set up a free consultation today.

Should I Talk to a Lawyer?

Car accidents might happen here in Juneau every day, but when you’re in one, it feels totally different. Still, not every car accident needs a lawyer’s help. If it’s a relatively minor fender-bender, you’re probably okay handling things through insurance.

However, the effects of a car accident can change quickly, and when you least expect it. That could mean your injuries end up being worse than you first thought, you have to start missing more work to go to the doctor, or you’re left with a car that needs extensive repairs or even fully replaced. That’s when it can feel lonely. But that’s also the point when talking to a lawyer starts to make more sense. When you decide to do that, our team can help you by:

• Explaining your rights under Alaska law
• Investigating how the accident happened
• Figuring out everyone who may share responsibility
• Pulling together medical records, police reports, witness statements, and other evidence
• Tallying up what your claim might be worth
• Handling the back-and-forth with the insurance company
• Filing a lawsuit if negotiations don’t lead to a fair result

You’re already dealing with enough just by being in a car accident that leaves you injured. You shouldn’t also have to try to go through the claims process yourself.

How Much Information Should I Look For After My Accident?

Most people have never been through a serious car accident before, so it’s completely normal not to know what to do next. In that situation, it’s best to start simple:

• Call 911 if anyone is injured. This also should dispatch police to the scene.
• While you wait, exchange insurance and contact information.

That will at least give you a second to collect yourself, but it’s also a good time to take a look around at the scene and document it. If it’s safe, you should also try to get:

• Pictures and videos of the vehicles, road conditions, weather, skid marks, traffic signs, visible injuries, and anything else that helps explain what happened.
• Names and contact information of any bystanders or witnesses.

Again, you should only get these things yourself if you’re able. If EMTs say you need to go to the hospital, listen to them. Things will eventually settle down in the days and weeks following, but there’s a  few other things to get, like:

• Medical records that create a timeline of your recovery and help show the extent of your injuries.
• The police report, which creates an official record of the accident and what the officer saw at the scene.
• Receipts and out-of-pocket expenses like towing bills, repair estimates, etc.
• A running diary of your pain levels, doctor’s appointments, missed work, sleep problems, mobility issues, and activities you’ve had to give up.

If you don’t have everything, don’t panic. Most people don’t. We can usually help track down records, get police reports, and fill in some of the missing pieces. The bigger point is this: the stronger the information you have, the stronger foundation your potential claim will have.

Ways of Filing a Claim After a Car Accident

For all the different ways a car accident can happen, the actual way that you file a claim and get financial support is pretty much universally split between two options: insurance and a lawsuit. Here’s a look at how both work:

• Filing an insurance claim. This is where most car accident claims begin. You file a claim against the policy of whoever was responsible for your injuries, they conduct their own investigation, and eventually make a settlement offer. The issue is that the first offer often falls short of what your claim is actually worth, especially if your injuries are still progressing. And once you accept the offer, your claim is over.
• Filing a lawsuit. If you feel like the insurance company is refusing to give you a fair settlement, filing a lawsuit may be the next step. While it usually takes longer, it’s also stronger. It takes the decision making power out of the insurance company’s hands and into the hands of a judge (and potentially a jury.)

No matter what you ultimately decide to do, the point of either an insurance claim or lawsuit is financial support for what you’ve lost—otherwise called your “damages.” That can include:

• Current and future medical bills
• Lost wages
• Reduced future earning capacity
• Vehicle repair or replacement costs
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death damages if you lost a loved one

Alaska generally gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. That may sound like a long time, but evidence has a way of disappearing. Vehicles get repaired, witnesses become harder to locate, and memories naturally fade.

Who Pays for My Damages After a Car Accident?

It’s true that there’s a lot of different ways that a car accident can play out. There’s a lot of different kinds of accidents and every one leads to different injuries and other things that the claim process can help you with. But the main question is always the same: who pays for my damages?

Legally speaking, it comes down to negligence. That’s just another way of saying that someone wasn’t careful, caused the accident, and that’s what led to your losses. That sounds straightforward, but with a real-life car accident, it also comes down to what actually happened. Usually, though, the person or group that has to pay for your damages can include:

• Another driver. This is by far the most common situation. Maybe someone was looking at their phone, following too closely, speeding, ran a stop sign, or changed lanes without checking their blind spot.
• The city or state government. Sometimes the road itself plays a role. Missing signs, poorly maintained roads, dangerous intersections, or malfunctioning traffic signals can all factor into an accident under the right circumstances.
• A business or property owner. Not every accident happens on a public road. Poorly maintained parking lots, confusing traffic flow, blocked sight lines, or unsafe private roads can sometimes leave a business or property owner responsible.
• The vehicle manufacturer. Occasionally, the problem isn’t the driver at all. If faulty brakes, defective airbags, steering problems, or another mechanical issue contributed to the crash, the manufacturer may share responsibility.

This is also where Alaska’s modified comparative negligence law comes into play. If the insurance company can argue that you were partly responsible for the accident, they’ll usually try to reduce what they have to pay. That doesn’t necessarily mean you lose your claim, but it does make it even more important to understand exactly what happened before accepting any amount of blame.

What Types of Car Accidents Happen in Juneau?

Even though Juneau doesn’t have the same traffic volume of bigger cities, accidents still happen every day. And when you think about it, it’s not all that surprising. Here’s a look at some of the more common types of car accidents that we see:

• Rear-end collisions. These are common along Egan Drive and Glacier Highway, where traffic can slow unexpectedly near intersections, shopping areas, schools, and construction zones.
• T-bone collisions. These often happen at intersections when drivers misjudge traffic, fail to yield, or attempt turns without enough space.
• Head-on collisions. While less common, these crashes often cause the most severe injuries and can happen when drivers lose control on wet or icy roads or cross the center line.
• Chain-reaction collisions. During poor weather, one crash can quickly turn into several as other drivers struggle to stop in time.
• Sideswipe accidents. Lane changes, merging traffic, and narrow roadways can all cause these kinds of accidents.
• Parking lot accidents. Even low-speed crashes at shopping centers, schools, apartment complexes, and downtown parking lots can lead to injuries and insurance disputes.

So yes, there are a lot of different ways you could end up in a car accident in Juneau. But no matter how your accident happened, it usually means the beginning of a long recovery process. Having someone who understands both the legal process and what you’re going through can make that process a little easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to report every car accident?

Not every minor fender-bender requires a police report, but if someone is injured or there’s significant property damage, reporting the accident is usually a good idea. An official report can also become valuable evidence during your claim.

What if the other driver leaves the scene?

Hit-and-run accidents create a lot of uncertainty, but you may still have options through your uninsured motorist coverage or other available insurance. Report the accident as soon as possible and try to gather whatever information you can about the other vehicle.

How long will my case take?

There’s no single answer because every case is different. Some claims settle in a matter of months, while others take longer if serious injuries or disputed liability are involved. Generally speaking, more complicated cases require more time.

Should I accept the insurance company’s first offer?

In many cases, it’s worth taking a closer look before accepting an early settlement. Once you settle, you typically can’t come back later for additional compensation if your injuries end up being more serious than you originally thought.

Talk With Our Juneau Car Accident Lawyers During a Free Consultation

Car accidents create a lot of hardships in a split-second, and it’s not easy to try to handle it all on your own. At The Brown Law Firm, our Juneau car accident lawyers are here to help you make sense of it all. We’ll answer your questions, explain your options, and handle the legal side of your claim so you can focus on getting better. Set up a free consultation today to get the process started.