Alaska Snowmachine & ATV Accident Lawyers

How do snowmachine and ATV crashes happen?

• Collisions with other riders on trails and frozen rivers.
• Operators who are impaired, inexperienced, or going too fast for the conditions.
• Passengers hurt by a careless driver.
• Tour and rental operators who send out poorly maintained machines or skip safety briefings.
• Defective throttles, brakes, steering, or other parts.
• Collisions with cars and trucks at road crossings.

Who may be responsible

• The operator of another machine, or the operator of the machine you were riding on.
• Tour guides and rental companies.
• Manufacturers and sellers of defective machines or parts.
• Drivers of cars and trucks.

When a defect causes a crash, Alaska product liability law can hold the manufacturer and sellers responsible. See our products liability page.

Does a signed release end your claim?

Many tour and rental companies ask riders to sign a release before they ride. A signed release does not always end a claim. Whether it applies depends on its wording and the facts. Do not assume you have no case because you signed something. Bring the release to your consultation.

Land use and remote locations

Alaska law limits the liability of landowners who let people use undeveloped land for recreation without charge. That protection does not cover gross negligence or reckless or intentional misconduct (AS 09.65.200).

Crashes in remote places also make evidence harder to gather. Photos, GPS data, trail conditions, and the machines themselves can all matter. Keep the machine as it is if you can.

Injuries we see

Common injuries include broken bones, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, crush injuries, cold injuries from long rescue times, and deaths. If you were hurt, get medical care and keep every record.

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

Sources

• AS 09.10.070 (two-year limit for most injury claims).
• AS 09.65.200 (recreational use of land).
• 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.