A motor vehicle accident can have a devastating impact on you and your family. If you or a loved one has been injured, contact our firm to schedule a consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Help You Need After a Motor Vehicle Accident in Alaska
According to the Alaska Department of Transportation, nearly 10,000 motor vehicle accidents occur every year, more than 30 percent of which result in injuries. If you or someone you love has been involved in a motor vehicle accident in Alaska, it is important you talk with an attorney about your rights and the compensation that you may be entitled to under the law.
At Walther & Flanigan, our lawyers represent people who have been injured in car, truck and motorcycle accidents, as well as bicyclists and pedestrians who have been struck by negligent motorists. Contact us to schedule a free consultation and talk with us about your claim. Call to make an appointment at 888-734-6547. We serve clients throughout Alaska, including Anchorage, Fairbanks, the Kenai Peninsula, Mat-Su Valley, and Southeast, along with Bush and other remote communities.
No recovery, no fee.
Thank you for contacting Walther & Flanigan. Your message has been sent.
Call us now
or use the form below.
If you are in a motor vehicle accident with a driver who does not have insurance coverage, you will have to rely on your own policy to provide the compensation you deserve. Let us help you deal with the insurance company to make sure they treat you fairly.
In addition to our personal injury representation, we also work with the family members of people who have suffered catastrophic or fatal injuries in Alaska automobile accidents. We can help you pursue the benefits you deserve after a tragedy in a respectful and honest manner.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists
When a driver refuses or is unable to carry proper motor vehicle insurance, that driver puts more than just him- or herself at risk. If the driver injures another person, the insurance will be inadequate to cover the damages. Injured parties, however, may be covered by their own insurance policies; uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects accident victims in these cases. If you have been involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, it is important to contact an attorney at Walther & Flanigan in Anchorage, Alaska, to create a plan of action.
Uninsured Motorists
Even if your state requires all drivers to carry auto insurance, the driver who injured you or your passenger may not have had insurance. Or you may have been hurt in a hit-and-run accident, making it impossible to identify the driver at all.
This is when uninsured motorist coverage will step in to protect your interests. Many states require auto insurance companies to offer uninsured motorist coverage. If your insurance company offers uninsured motorist coverage, and you chose to include it in your policy, then your insurance company will act as if it were the at-fault driver’s insurance company in compensating you.
When you file an uninsured motorist claim, your insurance company’s interests can be adverse to your interests. Consulting with an attorney before filing a claim is wise.
Underinsured Motorists
When the at-fault driver is underinsured, this means that the driver has purchased an auto insurance policy that does not provide enough coverage for your damages. If you have underinsured motorist coverage, you may be able to collect, from your own insurance company, the amount of your damages that exceeds the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage.
Collecting Insurance Benefits
To recover benefits under an uninsured or underinsured motorist policy, the victim typically will need to show that the other motorist was at fault. The victim will also need to prove that his or her bodily injuries were significant. To collect benefits under an underinsured motorist policy, the victim will need to collect as much as possible from the at-fault driver’s insurance company first.
Stacking Insurance Coverage
In some states and under some insurance policies, an injured party may “stack” various policies to reach a satisfactory level of compensation. By stacking coverage from more than one auto insurance policy — or coverage for more than one car on a single policy — the injured party increases monetary recovery. Stackable coverage is not allowed in every state; in some cases, the insured must choose to have stackable coverage upon purchasing the policy.
Contact an Attorney
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects accident victims when they are most vulnerable. Not every policy has such coverage, however, and the victim’s approach to the situation can change the level of compensation he or she receives. Indeed, some rules do not require the victim’s insurance company to pay the victim if the victim settles prematurely with the at-fault motorist’s insurance company. This is why it is so important to work with an experienced attorney from Walther & Flanigan in Anchorage, Alaska.
Copyright ©2009 FindLaw, a Thomson Business
DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.
