If you get into a car accident in Alaska, know your legal duties before you take any action.
Every driver has a legal obligation to take certain steps after an accident. Unfortunately, failing to comply with these rules can lead to serious consequences, including fines and jail time. To protect yourself, it is important to understand your legal responsibilities when dealing with a car crash.
Keep reading for an overview of drivers’ key duties after an accident in Alaska. To learn more, check out Chapter 35, Article 2 of Alaska’s Motor Vehicle Code.
1. Alaska Driver Exchange of Information Law
If you are involved in a car accident in Alaska that results in injury, death, or damage to a vehicle, you are required by law to stop your vehicle at the scene of the accident. You must then give your name, address, and vehicle license number to the other driver.
Failing to comply with these requirements is punishable by one year in jail and a fine of up to $500. This rule does not apply if the accident incapacitated you and renders you unable to fulfill your obligations.
The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death or damage to a vehicle shall give the operator’s name, address, and vehicle license number to the person struck or injured, or the operator or occupant, or the person attending, and the vehicle collided with.
A person who fails to comply with any of the requirements of this section is, upon conviction, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than $500, or by both. This provision does not apply to a person incapacitated by the accident to the extent that the person is physically incapable of complying with the requirement.
An operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to it as possible and return to, and remain at, the scene until the operator has fulfilled the requirements of AS 28.35.060.
2. Alaska Car Accident Injury Law: Duty to Render Aid
In Alaska, you have a legal duty to provide “reasonable assistance” if you are in a car accident that injures another person. This includes making arrangements for transportation to a hospital for medical treatment if needed.
If you fail to comply with this requirement, you can be convicted of a felony and sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $10,000. However, this law does not apply if you were physically unable to render aid.
The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death or damage to a vehicle shall render to any person injured reasonable assistance, including making of arrangements for attendance upon the person by a physician and transportation, in a manner that will not cause further injury, to a hospital for medical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is desirable.
A person who fails to comply with a requirement of this section regarding assisting an injured person is, upon conviction, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both. This provision does not apply to a person incapacitated by the accident to the extent that the person is physically incapable of complying with the requirement.
3. Alaska Law on Reporting a Car Accident to Police
According to Alaska law, any driver involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury, death, or property damage exceeding $2,000 must immediately notify the local police department. If the accident occurs outside of a municipality, the driver must notify the Department of Public Safety.
Within 10 days of the accident, the driver must also submit a written or electronic report to the Department of Administration and the local police department. However, you don’t need to submit a report if a peace officer investigates the accident or if you are physically unable to do so.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury to or death of a person or total property damage to an apparent extent of $2,000 or more shall immediately by the quickest means of communication give notice of the accident to the local police department if the accident occurs within a municipality, otherwise to the Department of Public Safety.
The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in bodily injury to or death of a person or total property damage to an apparent extent of $2,000 or more shall, within 10 days after the accident, forward a written or electronic report of the accident to the Department of Administration and to the local police department if the accident occurs within a municipality. A report is not required under this subsection if the accident is investigated by a peace officer.
An accident report is not required under this section from a person who is physically incapable of making the report during the period of incapacity.
What if I Fail to Report an Accident in Alaska?
If you fail to report an accident in Alaska, you can receive a misdemeanor conviction. This offense is punishable by 90 days imprisonment and a fine of up to $200. In addition, your driver’s license can be suspended until you file the required report. Once you file the accident report, the suspension can be extended for up to 30 more days.
The department shall suspend the license or permit to drive and the nonresident operating privileges of a person failing to report an accident until the report is filed. The department may extend the suspension by not more than 30 days. A person failing to make a report is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction is punishable by a fine of not more than $200, or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by both.
4. Alaska Car Accident With No Injuries: Your Legal Duty
Alaska law says you must stop your car at the scene of an accident that damages a vehicle. You are required to remain at the scene until you exchange information with the other driver. If you do not stop and fulfill these requirements, you may be guilty of hit and run, which is a serious crime.
The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle driven or attended by a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to it as possible and return to, and remain at, the scene of the accident until the operator has fulfilled the requirements of AS 28.35.060.
The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to or death or damage to a vehicle shall give the operator’s name, address, and vehicle license number to the person struck or injured, or the operator or occupant, or the person attending, and the vehicle collided with.
A person who fails to comply with any of the requirements of this section is, upon conviction, punishable by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by a fine of not more than $500, or by both. This provision does not apply to a person incapacitated by the accident to the extent that the person is physically incapable of complying with the requirement.
5. What if I Hit a Parked Car in Alaska?
When you hit a parked car in Alaska and damage it, you must stop at the scene of the accident and make a reasonable effort to locate and notify the owner of the damaged vehicle. Once you find them, you must provide your name and address.
If the owner can’t be located, the law requires you to leave a note on the vehicle with your name and address. Your note must also explain what happened.
The operator of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting only in damage to a vehicle that is unattended shall immediately stop at the scene of the accident and undertake reasonable means and efforts to locate and notify the operator or owner of the damaged unattended vehicle of the name and address of the operator and owner of the vehicle striking the unattended vehicle. If the operator or owner of the unattended vehicle cannot be located then the operator shall leave in a conspicuous place in or upon the unattended vehicle, a writing stating the name and address of the operator and of the owner of the vehicle that struck the unattended vehicle and setting forth a statement of the circumstances of the accident.
If you are unfortunate enough to find yourself in a car accident in Alaska, it is important to comply with your legal duties. By knowing the law and following it, you can avoid serious consequences like losing your license or going to jail.
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