Anchorage After a car accident, truck wreck, motorcycle crash, or slip and fall, it’s important to prove who was liable for your accident; meaning, who made the mistake or was negligent? It may be obvious to you, but many times, an investigation needs to be launched to figure out who is responsible for your injuries. Once a party is found liable for your accident and injuries, your next concern should be figuring out what compensation you’re entitled to for medical bills, loss of wages, and pain and suffering.
Economic Damages
Through a personal injury claim, you may seek to be reimbursed for the costs of repairing your damaged vehicle, past and future medical bills associated with the injury, and lost income due to being off work to recover from your injuries. All of these damages have objective costs, which is why they are called economic damages.
Noneconomic Damages
On the other hand, you can also seek damages for pain and suffering, known as noneconomic losses or noneconomic damages. By law, noneconomic damages in Alaska include:
- Pain and suffering
- Inconvenience
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement or amputation
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
Statues of Limitations and Damage Limits
In Alaska, you have two years to file a personal injury claim and a wrongful death claim. You have three years to file a medical malpractice claim. However, you may get more time thanks to Alaska’s discovery rule, which states that the statute of limitations starts when you discover, or should have discovered, your injury; this is mostly the case with medical malpractice.
When it comes to non-economic damages, personal injury actions cap damages at $400,000, and $1,000,000 for severe disfigurement or impairment. In medical malpractice cases, the caps are $250,000 or $400,000 for severe impairment. There are no limits on economic damages.
At Denali Law Group, our Wasilla personal injury lawyers have more than 75 years of combined experience protecting your rights and getting you the compensation you deserve. Call (907) 357-5297 or contact us online today.
