1. Pentlarge Law Group, LLC
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, premises liability, product liability, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, motorcycle vs. car accidents, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, hit-and-run accidents, drunk driving accidents, distracted driving accidents, intersection crashes, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injury cases, road rash injuries
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, liability determination, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, accident reconstruction, expert witness coordination, medical record review, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation, comparative negligence analysis under Alaska law
Background: Pentlarge Law Group, LLC is an Anchorage-based law firm with over 75 years of combined professional experience handling personal injury cases throughout Alaska. The firm handles motorcycle and bicycle accident cases and understands the unique dangers Alaskan motorcyclists face on the road. The attorneys recognize that motorcycle riders are at a significant disadvantage due to size and exposure compared to other vehicles.
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Contact: Contact via website | https://www.pentlargelaw.com
Consultation: Free initial consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.
2. Law Office of Jason Skala, LLC
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, motorcycle vs. car accidents, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, intersection crashes, rear-end collisions, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injury cases, spinal cord injury cases
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, liability analysis, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, expert witness coordination, medical record analysis, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation, comparative fault analysis under Alaska law
Background: Attorney Jason Skala has more than two decades of experience handling personal injury and motorcycle accident cases. He serves clients in Anchorage and other areas of Alaska, including Bethel, Kotzebue, and Barrow (Utqiagvik). Mr. Skala is known as a tough negotiator and handles insurance adjusters on behalf of clients. He understands Alaska’s pure comparative negligence rules and works to minimize any fault attribution to clients.
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Contact: Contact via website | https://www.907attorney.com
Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.
3. Banker Law Group, P.C.
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, maritime law, catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injuries, wrongful death
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, motorcycle vs. car accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, intersection crashes, hit-and-run accidents, distracted driving accidents, drunk driving accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injury cases, spinal cord injury cases
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, insurance claim filing and negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, medical record analysis, expert witness coordination, lost wage calculation, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation
Background: Attorney Anthony N. Banker is the lead attorney at Banker Law Group, P.C., with 20 years of legal experience. He has handled thousands of injury cases and achieved numerous successful settlements and jury verdicts. Mr. Banker previously worked in insurance defense, which gives him insight into how insurance companies evaluate and handle claims. The firm understands Alaska’s two-year statute of limitations and works to ensure claims are filed properly and on time.
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Contact: (907) 222-2999 | https://www.bankerlaw.com
Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.
4. Alaska Accident and Injury Law Center (Sean Brown)
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, motorcycle vs. car accidents, motorcycle vs. truck accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, hit-and-run accidents, distracted driving accidents, failure to yield accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injury cases, spinal cord injury cases, road rash injuries
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, liability determination, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, medical record review, expert witness coordination, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation, comparative negligence analysis
Background: Attorney Sean Brown has represented dozens of individuals whose lives have been permanently or temporarily changed due to motorcycle accidents. The firm handles insurance companies and other parties to claims and works diligently to resolve cases efficiently. The attorneys understand Alaska’s pure comparative negligence rule and work to maximize compensation for clients even when partial fault may be attributed.
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Contact: Contact via website | https://browninjurylawfirm.com
Consultation: Free consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.
5. Farnsworth & Vance
Practice Focus: Motorcycle accidents, car accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, pedestrian accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents
Case Types Handled: Motorcycle collisions, motorcycle vs. car accidents, fatal motorcycle accidents, intersection crashes, rear-end collisions, hit-and-run accidents, wrongful death claims, traumatic brain injury cases, spinal cord injury cases
Legal Services: Negligence investigation, liability determination, insurance claim negotiation, settlement negotiations, trial representation, accident reconstruction, expert witness coordination, medical record analysis, lost wage recovery, pain and suffering claims, wrongful death litigation, comparative fault analysis
Background: Farnsworth & Vance represents injured motorcyclists and families of those killed in collisions with other motorists throughout Alaska. The firm understands the unique concerns of injured motorcyclists and works to secure maximum compensation to help clients move forward without immense financial burdens. The attorneys understand Alaska’s comparative fault rules and work to pursue compensation even when clients may be found partially liable.
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Contact: (907) 416-9071 | https://www.injuryak.com
Consultation: Free no-obligation consultation offered. Contingency fee basis.
Motorcycle Accident Laws and Regulations in Alaska
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Claims: Alaska has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from motorcycle accidents. This means you must file your lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident. If you fail to file within this timeframe, you will lose your right to seek compensation. The statute of limitations may be tolled (paused) in certain circumstances, such as when the victim is a minor or when the defendant leaves the state after the accident.
Statute of Limitations for Property Damage Claims: Property damage claims in Alaska also have a two-year statute of limitations.
Statute of Limitations for Wrongful Death Claims: Wrongful death claims in Alaska must be filed within two years from the date of death.
Fault vs. No-Fault Insurance Status: Alaska is a fault-based (tort) insurance state. The person responsible for causing the accident is also responsible for paying for the damages resulting from the accident. Injured parties can file claims with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, file claims with their own insurance company (which may then seek reimbursement from the at-fault party), or file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party.
Comparative Negligence Rules: Alaska follows a pure comparative negligence rule. This means you can recover compensation even if you are found to be partially at fault for the accident. However, your damages award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are 40% at fault and have $100,000 in damages, you would recover $60,000. Unlike some states that bar recovery if you are more than 50% at fault, Alaska allows recovery even if you are 99% at fault (though your award would be reduced accordingly).
Minimum Motorcycle Insurance Requirements: Alaska requires motorcyclists to carry liability insurance with the following minimum coverage: $50,000 per person for bodily injury, $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage. These minimums are higher than many other states. Additional coverage options such as collision, comprehensive, medical payments, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage are available but not mandatory.
Helmet Law: Alaska has a partial helmet law. Under Alaska Statute 28.35.245, motorcycle operators and passengers under 18 years of age must wear DOT-approved helmets. Riders 18 and older who hold a valid motorcycle license or endorsement are not required to wear a helmet. All motorcycle passengers, regardless of age, must wear helmets. Operators with only an instruction permit must also wear helmets. Helmets must conform to standards established by the Alaska Commissioner of Public Safety and meet USDOT requirements.
Eye Protection Requirements: Alaska mandates eye protection for motorcycle riders unless the motorcycle is equipped with a windscreen that rises at least 15 inches above the handlebars.
Lane Splitting/Lane Filtering Laws: Lane splitting is not specifically addressed in Alaska’s traffic laws, meaning it is neither explicitly legal nor illegal. However, the Alaska Department of Public Safety encourages motorcyclists to ride safely and responsibly and recommends avoiding actions such as lane splitting that may increase the risk of accidents. If an accident occurs while lane splitting, it could affect fault determination.
Motorcycle Licensing Requirements: To operate a motorcycle in Alaska, you must have a Class M1 or M2 endorsement on your driver’s license. The M1 endorsement allows operation of any motorcycle, while the M2 is restricted to motor-driven cycles with an engine displacement of 50cc or less. Applicants must be at least 16 years old and pass a written knowledge test and a road/skills test. Completing a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course may waive the road test requirement.
Motorcycle Equipment Requirements: Motorcycles in Alaska must be equipped with functional headlights (required to be on during operation), taillights, turn signals, mirrors, brakes, and a muffler that prevents excessive noise. Motorcycles must be designed to carry passengers if carrying a passenger, with a designated seat and footrests.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Alaska does not require motorcyclists to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, but it is recommended given the state’s remote roads and limited emergency response capabilities.
Damage Caps: Alaska does not impose caps on compensatory damages (economic and non-economic) in most personal injury cases. Punitive damages may be available in cases involving egregious conduct.
Helmet Use as Evidence of Comparative Negligence: Under Alaska’s pure comparative negligence system, failure to wear a helmet when not legally required could potentially be used by defendants or insurers to argue that the motorcyclist contributed to their head injuries, which could reduce the damages award.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the statute of limitations for filing a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Alaska?
A: Alaska has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims arising from motorcycle accidents. This means you must file your lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident. For wrongful death claims, the two-year period generally runs from the date of death. If you do not discover your injury until later, the limitation period may begin from the date of discovery. Missing this deadline will result in the dismissal of your case. Certain exceptions may extend or toll the limitation period, such as when the injured person is a minor or when the defendant leaves the state. Consulting with an attorney promptly after an accident is important to preserve your rights.
Q: How does Alaska’s pure comparative negligence rule affect my motorcycle accident claim?
A: Alaska follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which is more favorable to plaintiffs than the rules in many other states. Under this rule, you can recover compensation even if you are found to be partially at fault for the accident. Your damages award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are awarded $100,000 but are found to be 30% at fault, you would receive $70,000. Even if you are found to be 80% or 90% at fault, you can still recover the remaining percentage of damages. Insurance companies may try to assign greater fault to motorcyclists, so having an attorney to defend against inflated fault claims is important.
Q: Do I have to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle in Alaska?
A: Alaska has a partial helmet law. If you are under 18 years of age, you must wear a DOT-approved helmet while operating or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle. If you are 18 or older and hold a valid motorcycle license or endorsement, you are not required to wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle. However, all motorcycle passengers of any age must wear helmets. Operators with only an instruction permit must also wear helmets regardless of age. Even if you are not legally required to wear a helmet, choosing not to wear one could affect your injury claim if you sustain head injuries, as the defense may argue your injuries would have been less severe with a helmet.
Q: Is lane splitting legal in Alaska, and how does it affect accident liability?
A: Lane splitting is not specifically addressed in Alaska’s traffic laws, meaning it is technically neither legal nor illegal. However, the Alaska Department of Public Safety encourages motorcyclists to avoid actions that may increase accident risk, such as lane splitting. If you are involved in an accident while riding between lanes of traffic, the other party may argue that your actions contributed to the collision. Under Alaska’s pure comparative negligence rule, this could result in a reduction of your damages award based on your percentage of fault. Other drivers may not expect motorcycles to be riding between lanes, which increases collision risk.
Q: What happens if the at-fault driver in my motorcycle accident is uninsured or underinsured in Alaska?
A: If the at-fault driver does not have adequate insurance to cover your damages, you may be able to recover compensation through uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own motorcycle insurance policy. While Alaska does not require motorcyclists to carry UM/UIM coverage, it is highly recommended given the state’s remote roads and the possibility of encountering uninsured drivers. If you have UM/UIM coverage, you can file a claim with your own insurer to cover the gap between the at-fault driver’s coverage and your actual damages. An attorney can help you identify all available sources of compensation and navigate claims with multiple insurance companies.