Frequently Asked Questions

Every case, every injury, and everyone’s medical bills are different. However, having a respected injury attorney on your team can often double or triple the value of your claim.” Our attorneys are available to review your specific case and provide you a FREE value evaluation.

Not necessarily. Traffic tickets are only a piece of the puzzle and are not always the deciding factor when assessing blame for a crash. While being issued a citation might mean you are partially at fault, it is entirely possible that an investigation may reveal the other driver played a greater role in causing the crash. Additionally, it is important to know that signing your ticket is not an admission of guilt, but rather an acknowledgement that you have received a notice to appear in court.

An attorney may not be the first person that comes to mind to contact after a car crash. At the scene, it may be more important to call 911 and summon medical help or contact family members and let them know what happened. After you have taken care of all urgent and potentially life-threatening issues, contact an attorney. The sooner you get in touch with an attorney, the sooner you can get advice on how to protect your rights, how to act quickly to preserve evidence, and how to put yourself in the best position possible to recover compensation for your injuries. The longer you wait to take action, the greater potential there is for costly errors or roadblocks to arise in your case.

There is no exact science as to when you should and when you should not hire a lawyer to represent you in a car accident case. However, if at any time you do not feel comfortable handling your claim on your own, for any reason, you should at the very least consult with an attorney and discuss your legal options in full. Some car accident cases that result in only cosmetic damage or minor scrapes and bruises can usually be resolved on your own without the assistance of an attorney. If your case involves considerable damage to your vehicle, severe injuries, missed time at work due, or if the opposition is denying fault for the crash, it is in your best interests to hire an attorney.

The last thing you need after being injured in a car accident is to face the high cost of legal fees during your pursuit of compensation from the at-fault driver. Most car accident lawyers, including those at Farnsworth & Vance, accept cases on a “contingency fee basis,” meaning that you will not be required to pay any out of pocket expenses if the firm agrees to take on your case. Instead, your attorneys will only be paid if they are successful in securing a financial award or settlement on your behalf.

After you report your accident to your or the at-fault party’s insurance company, you can expect to be contacted by a representative soon after. It is important that you do not speak with them about the collision, as they may pressure you into accepting a settlement that is lower than you deserve. Instead instruct them to speak with your attorney and let them handle all negotiations on your behalf.

The answer to this question may vary depending on the specific situation, but generally speaking, if you are awarded a settlement that compensates you for your out-of-pocket expenses related to your accident, you will not be taxed on this settlement. With that being said, it is always best to consult with a tax professional to determine the exact tax implications of your car accident settlement.

Not necessarily. Most car accident cases are resolved through out-of-court negotiations between your attorney and the at-fault driver’s insurance company. However, if our attorneys believe that you are being treated unfairly or that the insurance company is refusing to offer you an amount that fully compensates you for your losses, we are fully prepared to take your case to trial.

No. In fact, it is encouraged that you discuss your claim with an experienced attorney before accepting any settlement being offered by an insurance company. The last thing you want is to accept a settlement that is far lower than the full value of your losses associated with your injuries, thereby preventing you from being able to get the treatment or recovery options you deserve. Always review any settlement offer with a car accident attorney before making a decision.

You should call us first because we can leverage your coverage and get a better outcome for you. This is a difficult question. It is often easier to have the doctor bill your medical payments coverage, but it can also reduce the amount of money you take home from your injury claim. It is always best to let our firm handle your medical payments coverage. We can negotiate your medical bills lower before applying for your medical payments coverage in order to get the most value out of your benefits.

Possibly, but it will come at a cost. It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle in Alaska without insurance. If you get in a collision while driving without insurance, you will likely face fines, a suspension of your driving privileges, and even possible jail time. Driving uninsured can make it difficult to be compensated for damages if you are not at fault and can have long-lasting and life-changing consequences if you are at fault.

If the accident is your fault, you will be responsible for paying for all damages out of your own pocket, which can easily total into the tens of thousands of dollars. Both the other driver and their insurance company can sue you and have your future wages and savings garnished to pay for the damages.

If the accident was not your fault, there is a chance you may be able to recover some for your medical bills and other damages under the at-fault driver’s liability coverage. Under Alaska’s pure comparative negligence laws, however, you will likely not be able to recover all of your losses. While driving uninsured does not absolve the other driver of any liability, you will almost certainly be penalized and unable to recover everything you would be entitled to if you had insurance.

Possibly. If the driver that hit you does not have insurance, does not have enough coverage to cover your losses, or fled the scene of the accident, you will need to pursue a claim with your own insurance company under your policy’s Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM). Unlike liability coverage which pays for any injuries or damage you may cause, UM coverage covers you for any damages that an uninsured driver should cause, including medical bills, vehicle repairs, and other property damage costs. UIM coverage is essentially the same, with the difference being that it provides an additional layer of coverage for any damages that exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits. Insurance companies in Alaska are required to offer UM/UIM coverage, though drivers are given the ability to opt out.

If you do not have UM/UIM coverage, there is a chance you may be able to file a civil lawsuit against the at-fault driver in pursuit of compensation. With that being said, since many uninsured drivers have little in terms of money or personal assets, actually collecting on any judgment you may receive is unlikely. For this reason, we urge drivers to never leave themselves vulnerable and purchase at least the minimum amount of UM/UIM coverage.