Frequently Asked Personal Injury Law Questions in Anchorage, AK
The Law Office of Jason Skala in Anchorage, Alaska has been working to serve the communities of Anchorage and the surrounding cities for over a decade. Jason Skala, a reputable personal injury attorney in Anchorage, works diligently to ensure that your legal rights are protected in the event that you or someone you love becomes injured due to the negligence, carelessness, or recklessness of another person. Whether it be a car accident, pedestrian accident, motorcycle, or another type of accident, Jason Skala is here for you.
In our many years of practice, we have encountered a number of questions pertaining to personal injury law. The following paragraphs will address some of the most frequently asked questions we have heard over the years in an attempt to help you better understand the claims process, and personal injury law in general.
The most frequently asked question seems to be: What is my case worth, and what will your services cost? Unfortunately, there is no way to place a specific value on any claim. The value may be estimated by your lawyer, who will take the amount of your economic and non-economic damages, such as medical bills, mental health services, property damage costs, lost wages, among others, and total those losses. We then apply a multiplier to that total of 1-1.5 for moderate to severe injuries up to 5 for severe injuries. Pain and suffering costs are usually included in severe injury cases. Your ability to pay for any damages you may have encountered as well as any existing resources you possess will also be taken into consideration.
The assistance you receive from the Law Office of Jason Skala will never cost you anything out of pocket or upfront. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis which means that you pay nothing unless you receive financial compensation for your injuries and losses. Yes, your lawyer will get a portion of what you end up with when all is said and done, but you will always walk away with more than what your lawyer earns from your case.
Another frequently asked question we encounter at the Law Office of Jason Skala when dealing with Anchorage traffic accidents is: What if the accident was partially my fault? As long as you are not the sole person to blame for the crash, and you are not more to blame than the defendant, you are able to recover a proportional share of what you may have recovered otherwise. This system is called comparative negligence and is used when more than one person is at fault for an accident. The court will usually determine the percentage of fault for each party and pay financial compensation based on that percentage. For instance, if you are found to be 20% at fault for your crash, the jury may award you approximately 80% of the total damages sought in the case.
Important note: Never accept or admit fault in a car accident. Wait until you speak with a lawyer, and never speak to your insurance company without first speaking with an attorney.
The third most common question we hear concerning personal injury law is: How long does it take to receive a settlement? Some of the shortest cases may be resolved in just a few weeks sans any formal litigation. Oftentimes your personal injury attorney in Anchorage will be able to work directly with the opposing party or the insurance company in order to come to a swift resolution. Other times, litigation can stretch for a year or more, depending on the circumstances of your case. The more complicated and complex your claim, the longer it will take to be resolved. You yourself have some form of control over the length of your claim due to your ability to accept or reject settlement offers.
To learn more about personal injury claims, you can visit the American Bar website. To learn more about driving laws and regulations in Alaska, you can visit the Alaska Department of Transportation’s website.
The Law Office of Jason Skala has successfully handled a large number of personal injury claims in Anchorage and the surrounding cities. Jason Skala is passionate about providing his clients with some of the best legal representation available in Alaska. Contact our law firm in order to be connected with a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney in Anchorage.