Anchorage Slip and Fall Lawyers: Snow, Ice & Premises Injuries
Alaska winters are hard on everyone. Property owners still have to keep their walkways, lots, and buildings reasonably safe.
Quick answer
Alaska property owners must use reasonable care to keep walkways, lots, and stairs safe, including in winter. Photograph the ice and the spot where you fell the same day if you can, and report the fall. Most Alaska injury claims must be filed within two years (AS 09.10.070). Claims against cities and other public bodies can involve special rules.
Owners must plan for winter
Everyone in Alaska expects snow and ice. Businesses, landlords, and property managers know it is coming too. They are expected to plan for it with sanding, de-icing, snow removal, and proper drainage.
In Alaska, property owners owe the people on their property a duty of reasonable care under the circumstances. When an owner ignores a known hazard, or fails to look for one, an injured person may have a claim.
Common hazards
- Unsanded or unsalted parking lots and sidewalks.
- Refreeze from melting snow and leaking gutters.
- Snow and ice sliding off roofs.
- Icicles over entrances.
- Icy stairs, ramps, and handrails.
- Poor lighting in lots and walkways.
- Broken stairs, loose railings, and uneven flooring indoors.
- Wet floors at entrances.
Who is responsible for clearing snow and ice?
- Property owners and landlords.
- Businesses that lease the space.
- Property management companies.
- Snow removal and maintenance contractors.
Lease terms and contracts often decide who was supposed to clear the snow. We get those documents early.
What should you do after a slip and fall?
- Get medical care, even if the injury seems minor.
- Photograph the spot where you fell, the ice or hazard, and your footwear, the same day if you can.
- Report the fall to the business or owner and ask for a copy of the incident report.
- Get the names of witnesses.
- Keep your shoes and clothing as they are.
Conditions change fast in winter. Ice can melt or be sanded within hours. Security video is often recorded over within days. Call us quickly so we can ask the owner to preserve it.
Partial fault does not end a claim
Owners often argue that the injured person should have seen the ice. Alaska uses comparative fault. A share of fault reduces the recovery by that percentage, but it does not bar the claim (AS 09.17.060).
Which Alaska rules affect an injury claim?
- Filing deadline. Most Alaska injury claims must be filed within two years (AS 09.10.070). Some claims follow different rules, so call early.
- Shared fault. If you share some of the fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage. Partial fault does not bar the claim (AS 09.17.060).
- Damages caps. Alaska limits non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, in most injury cases. The statute does not limit medical bills or lost earnings (AS 09.17.010).
- Fee shifting. The winning party in an Alaska lawsuit can usually recover part of its attorney's fees from the losing party (Alaska Civil Rule 82).
We handle most injury cases on a contingency fee. No attorney's fee unless we recover for you. Clients may be responsible for case costs, and under Alaska law a losing party may be ordered to pay part of the other side's attorney's fees and costs. See how our fees work and our guide to Alaska injury law basics.
Frequently asked questions
What does a consultation cost?
Nothing. The first consultation is free, and talking with us does not obligate you to hire the firm.
Is there a deadline to bring a claim?
Yes. Alaska law sets deadlines for filing claims, and some are short. If you miss one, you may lose the right to recover. Call us early so we can protect your claim.
Can I bring a claim for a fall on a public sidewalk?
Possibly. Claims against cities and other public bodies can involve special rules and defenses. Talk with a lawyer early about who was responsible for the sidewalk.
Does it matter that I was a customer, a guest, or just passing through?
In Alaska the duty of reasonable care does not turn on the old categories of visitors. Your reason for being on the property can still matter to the facts of the case.
Sources
- AS 09.10.070 (two-year limit for most injury claims).
- AS 09.17.060 (comparative fault).
- AS 09.17.010 (limits on non-economic damages).
- Alaska Civil Rule 82 (attorney's fees).
This page gives general information, not legal advice for your situation.