Alaska Car Accident Report Basics

Even the most careful drivers stand a good chance of being in a car accident during their lives. Alaska's wide-open spaces are not immune to fender benders. While you can't always prevent an auto accident, you can educate yourself about your legal obligations after one occurs. 

Knowing what steps to take after a motor vehicle accident can save you a lot of trouble later on. This article will examine how Alaska laws deal with motor vehicle crashes. We'll look at accident report forms, making a car accident claim, and how to deal with insurance companies. 

Read on to learn about Alaska car accident report basics.

Understanding Alaska Motor Vehicle Laws

If you are involved in a road accident in Alaska, you may have to report the accident to the police, submit a written report to the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or both. It may depend on whether there was an injury or the amount of property damage. 

If local police or state troopers investigated the accident, law enforcement must generate a report within 24 hours of the incident.

There are hefty penalties for not making a required report after an accident. Failure to do so may result in the state suspending your driving privileges until you file the report. Under Alaska law, failing to make a report is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $200, imprisonment for 90 days, or both. You could also have your driver's license suspended.

Drivers in Alaska must carry mandatory liability insurance. This includes minimums of:

• $50,000 for bodily injury of one person in one accident
• $100,000 for bodily injury or death of two or persons in one accident
• $25,000 for property damage in one accident

Alaska is a comparative negligence state, which means that car accident claims payouts from insurance companies will be affected by the amount of fault designated to each driver. The state also follows the fault system, which means the driver found at fault for the accident is responsible for the injuries that occurred.

You can find out more about insurance claims in FindLaw's Alaska Car Accident Compensation Laws article.

After an Accident: What To Do

No matter how minor the hit may have been, it's normal to be confused, disoriented, and shaken up in the aftermath of an auto accident. First and foremost, the most important issue is the safety of everyone involved, including yourself. Check on both your passengers and those in other vehicles. 

When you call 911 to report the accident, alert them to any injuries. If a motorist is injured, getting medical assistance to the scene as quickly as possible is of utmost importance.

Alaska law requires you to stay at the accident scene and offer aid to others, if possible. If you hit a parked vehicle and can't locate the owner, you must leave a note with your contact information and a description of what happened.

Unless the vehicles involved in the accident are in imminent danger of further harm, don't move them before the police arrive. Exchange information with the other driver(s), such as name, phone number, driver's license number, insurance company name, and insurance policy.

Get the contact information from any witnesses. Take pictures of the damage on all cars and the accident scene. If your accident isn't that bad and there are no police close enough to respond to a minor incident, this will be the only information your insurance company will have to work with. 

Let your car insurance company know about the accident as soon as possible. You should file a claim whether you were at fault or not. FindLaw's Alaska Car Accident Settlement Process and Timeline article will give you a better idea of what will happen with your insurance claim and how long it should take.

Alaska and Auto Accident Police Reports

When a law enforcement officer shows up, try to remain calm as you provide your side of the incident. Try not to admit fault, even if you think you're to blame. At the same time, don't lie. Giving false information in a car accident report is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to one year, or both.

The officer will also speak to drivers, passengers, and witnesses. In filling out the report, they'll note information that includes:

• General information such as weather, time of day, road conditions, traffic signals, and more
• Positions of the vehicles after the crash and the visible damage
• Data from all involved drivers, including licenses, addresses, insurance information, and contact information
• Diagrams showing the type of collision
• Statements and contracts from any witnesses
• Statements from all drivers

The officer should focus on what they can see when filling out the report unless they saw the accident as it occurred.

You will need a copy of the police accident report. It's available through the Alaska DMV and will cost $10 per copy. Remember that you must also file your own report with the Alaska DMV.

If your vehicle sustains damage in an accident that does not involve injury or death and no police come to the scene, you must have it inspected by law enforcement before having it repaired. 

Alaska Car Accident Report Summary

The following chart offers a quick recap on filing a car accident report in Alaska. You can find more user-friendly summaries on state statutes at FindLaw's Alaska Law section.

Note: State laws are subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts that include federal decisions, ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Alaska Car Accident Reports: Additional Questions

No two auto accidents are the same, but many share similar aspects. The answers to the questions below may prove helpful to you.

I slid off the road on a rural highway and bashed my fender. I'm having it fixed at a local shop, but the nearest law enforcement officer is 30 miles away. Can I get the repairs done?

If there were no injuries or deaths associated with the accident, you do not need to have the damage inspected by law enforcement if there isn't an officer within 10 miles. If you were just outside of Anchorage, you would need to have it inspected, or the shop would be obligated to impound your car until it was looked at.

My neck hurt a little bit after my accident, but it wasn't bad at the time. It's eight months later, and I can barely move my head. Is it too late to file a personal injury claim?

You must file a civil case within a certain period, called a statute of limitations. In Alaska, the statute of limitations for personal injuries is two years, so you still have time. Make sure you have copies of your accident report and all medical expenses before seeking a personal injury attorney.

Can the accident report be used against me as evidence in either civil or criminal court?

No, the accident report itself cannot be used as evidence in a court of law. Unless the official who wrote the report was present at the moment of the accident, they were not a witness, and their conclusions on what may have happened are not admissible. Those who witnessed the accident can give testimony.

Related Car Accident Resources

• Alaska Department of Transportation: Crash Reporting
• Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles
• After a Car Accident: First Steps
• How Long Do You Have to Report a Car Accident?
• What to Do After a Car Accident That's Not Your Fault

Get an Alaska Attorney's Help With Your Car Accident Case

Putting your life back together after a car accident is difficult. If you were injured, it's even more problematic. Depending on your circumstances, you may want to consider speaking with a professional about your car accident case to learn about your options. Get started by contacting a car accident attorney for legal advice.