Anchorage Wrongful Death Lawyer

Did you lose a loved one in Anchorage, Alaska? Was someone else responsible? An experienced Anchorage wrongful death lawyer can help. Call (907) 999-9999 to schedule a free consultation and learn how Farnsworth & Vance Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for justice.

We’re prepared to put decades of experience to work for your family. To date, we’ve recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our efforts.

We know how to help you maximize your compensation award for lost financial support, medical costs, loss of your loved one’s company, and more. To learn more about how we can help, call our law offices in Anchorage, Alaska, to schedule a free consultation.

Why Choose Farnsworth & Vance Personal Injury Lawyers for Help After a Wrongful Death in Anchorage, AK?

Dealing with your grief is difficult enough. You shouldn’t have to deal with insurance companies and defense lawyers who will try to manipulate you at every turn.

The insurance adjuster’s job is to convince you to take a lowball deal. They might blame the victim. They might downplay the extent of your family’s losses–or deny liability entirely.

Count on our experienced Anchorage personal injury lawyers to protect your family’s financial interests. Farnsworth & Vance Personal Injury Lawyers is a highly respected law firm with decades of legal experience. We have the legal knowledge, resources, and experience you need to win your case.

We’re always available to discuss your case and how we can put our proven track record of success to work in your case. Just reach out to schedule a free consultation with a trusted Anchorage personal injury attorney.

Overview of the Laws Governing Wrongful Death Cases in Alaska

A wrongful death in Alaska is any death:

Caused by the wrongful act or omission of another person, if
The victim could have sued for damages based on that wrongful act or omission had they lived

The victim’s personal representative formally files the lawsuit in wrongful death cases.

Any damages are awarded to:

A surviving spouse
The victim’s children
Dependents of the victim

In cases where the victim had no spouse, child, or dependent, damages are awarded according to the victim’s will or Alaska state intestacy laws if there was no will.

When the victim is a minor child, the victim’s parents have the right to pursue compensation for wrongful death.

How Do Wrongful Death Claims Work in Anchorage?

Wrongful death cases are civil actions. They’re very similar to personal injury cases. The victim’s personal injury lawyer may engage in negotiations with the insurance company or file a lawsuit. When successful, the award is financial compensation.

Most wrongful death cases are based on negligence theories. They typically involve accidents.

You may have a lawsuit based on:

Negligence-based acts, like a car accident or a boating accident
Medical malpractice
Strict liability in product defect cases

That said, you can also pursue compensation if your loved one died because of someone’s intentional criminal act.

Crime or no crime, the wrongful death matter is entirely separate from any criminal action. The standard of proof in wrongful death cases is also lower. It’s possible to win a case even if the defendant was acquitted of the crime.

What is My Anchorage Wrongful Death Case Worth?

Your lawyer will evaluate many different factors when determining how much money you deserve.

Examples of the types of factors that may be relevant include:

The victim’s age at the time of death
The identity of surviving heirs and dependent children
The victim’s earning capacity
How the victim contributed to the family and household
The nature of the at-fault party’s actions
Your family’s emotional and mental suffering
Available insurance coverage
Whether shared fault is an issue

Under Alaska law, your family is entitled to the full value of your financial losses. Non-financial losses are capped. The cap is the greater of (1) $400,000 or (2) the victim’s life expectancy multiplied by $8,000.

Your family deserves all of the justice that the law has to offer. When you hire our Anchorage wrongful death attorneys, you can rest assured that we’ll do everything possible to recover the full compensation you deserve.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Survivors in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Anchorage?

Generally speaking, Alaska laws classify damages as economic damages or non-economic damages.

All relevant facts and circumstances must be considered when calculating damages in a wrongful death case.

Examples of the types of damages your family may recover include:

Loss of your loved one’s financial support
Loss of financial benefits your family would have received had the victim lived
Loss of the victim’s assistance and household services
Loss of parental guidance and instruction
Loss of consortium, or loss of a spouse’s companionship and support
Medical expenses incurred between the date of an injury and the date of death
Funeral expenses

In wrongful death cases where the victim had a spouse, child, or dependent, damages are awarded based on what is “fair and just”, considering all financial and non-financial losses the family has experienced. Damages are limited to financial losses when the victim had no spouse, child, or dependent.

Punitive damages may be available in cases involving extremely outrageous conduct or reckless indifference to your loved one’s safety.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Wrongful Death Lawyer in Alaska?

Like most injury law firms, our lawyers in Anchorage work on a contingency fee basis. Contingency fee arrangements involve zero upfront fees. You only pay legal fees if our lawyers recover a settlement or win a jury verdict in your case.

When your lawyer does recover compensation, your family will pay a pre-agreed upon percentage of the final compensation award.

Can Alaska Shared Fault Laws Impact the Value of a Wrongful Death Claim?

Yes, though the significance of the impact will depend on how much blame was attributed to your loved one.

Alaska has pure comparative negligence laws. When multiple parties share fault, liability is allocated between them. Each party is then responsible for their percentage of fault.

Any blame allocated to your loved one will reduce your family’s compensation award. Still, you do not lose your right to damages unless your loved one was completely responsible for their fatal injuries.

When someone is trying to pin the blame on a deceased victim, hiring an experienced attorney is critical. The victim isn’t here to refute the allegations or tell their side of the story. Our lawyers are well-prepared to fight to protect your loved one’s good name.

What Causes Most Wrongful Deaths in Anchorage?

Unfortunately, people lose their lives because of all types of preventable actions.

At Farnsworth & Vance Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent families in all types of wrongful death cases, including those based on:

Car accidents
Slip and fall accidents
Intentional violence
Truck accidents
Motorcycle accidents
Pedestrian accidents
Bicycle accidents
Aviation accidents
Bus accidents
Accidents involving recreational vehicles
Fishing accidents
Boating accidents
Construction accidents
Workplace accidents
Dog bites
Defective products
Medical malpractice
Nursing home abuse and neglect

If you suspect you have a wrongful death case, reach out to our lawyers today. We offer a free case review. You can learn about your legal options without any financial obligation or pressure to hire us.

What Do I Have to Prove to Recover Compensation for a Wrongful Death in Alaska?

Your burden of proof will depend on the circumstances. Most wrongful death cases are negligence-based.

To win a negligence-based claim, you must prove:

The defendant owed the deceased person a legal duty of care (for example, a duty to obey traffic laws)
They breached their duty by failing to exercise a reasonable amount of caution given the circumstances
The death would not have occurred “but for” the defendant’s breach of duty (the causation element)
The specific damages that your family has suffered as a result

Different types of evidence are relevant in different types of cases.

Our lawyers will search for:

Accident reports
Eyewitnesses who can testify about what happened
Medical records
Physical evidence from an accident scene
Video surveillance footage
Employment records
Maintenance records
Autopsy results
Drug and alcohol test results
Opinions from experts in various relevant fields when necessary

It’s never too early to start building your case. While you’re grieving, our lawyers will be working tirelessly to hold the responsible parties accountable for your loss.

How Long Do I Have to File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit After a Fatal Accident in Alaska?

In Alaska, you have two years from the date of death to file a lawsuit. Missing the two-year deadline has serious consequences. You’ll be prohibited from seeking any compensation at all if you wait longer than two years to take legal action.

Contact an Anchorage Wrongful Death Lawyer for a Free Consultation Today

If you’re grieving the loss of a loved one due to someone else’s actions, help is just a call away. An experienced Anchorage wrongful death attorney can help your family maximize your financial award. Call Farnsworth & Vance Personal Injury Lawyers for your free consultation today.