Slip & Fall Attorney in Anchorage

Handling Anchorage Slip & Fall Cases Personally Since 1975

Under Alaska premises liability law, a property owner can be held legally responsible when a slip, trip, or fall results from their failure to maintain safe conditions or their direct negligence. At Kelley & Canterbury, we’ve represented injured Alaskans in these claims since 1975. Michaela Kelley Canterbury and Christopher Canterbury each bring more than 30 years of individual legal experience to every case, and both attorneys work each matter personally. Clients aren’t handed off to junior associates.

Our firm is family-owned and has handled personal injury cases through the Alaska Supreme Court. If you were hurt because a property owner failed to maintain safe conditions, we can help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you may be entitled to seek.

Contact our Anchorage office today at (888) 639-4817 to speak with an attorney about your slip and fall claim.

Slip, Trip & Fall Statistics

Slips, trips, and falls are one of the leading causes of injury in the United States, with more than one million Americans hurt in these accidents each year. According to OSHA, they cause 15 percent of all accidental deaths and rank second only to motor vehicle accidents as a cause of accidental death. There are two types of falls: same-level falls and elevated falls.

About 65 percent of fall injuries result from same-level falls, meaning the person slipped on a wet or icy surface or tripped over an uneven surface or walkway hazard. More than half of same-level falls occur in wholesale and retail settings, including big box stores, restaurants, and grocery stores. Elevated falls are less common but more likely to result in serious injury or death.

Why Falls Happen in Anchorage

Most falls aren’t caused by carelessness on the part of the injured person. They result from hazardous conditions a property owner failed to address.

Indoor Hazards

Indoor hazards include wet floors, spills, bunched floor mats, poor lighting, uneven carpeting, non-uniform stair risers, and protruding nails or boards. Water and snow tracked inside during Alaska’s long winter season add to the risk on hard indoor floors throughout the colder months.

Outdoor Hazards & Alaska’s Winter Conditions

Outdoor hazards present particular challenges in Anchorage. Broken or cracked sidewalks, potholes, and ice and snow accumulation on walkways, parking lots, and building entrances cause a significant share of local falls each year. Anchorage’s frequent freeze-thaw cycles, limited daylight hours, and persistently icy surfaces make these conditions especially dangerous from late fall through early spring. A property owner who allows ice to accumulate, refreeze, and thaw repeatedly without remediation may be held liable even when a storm was the initial cause of the hazard.

Property owners in Anchorage are subject to municipal codes governing snow removal and property maintenance. Those obligations establish their duty of care during and after winter weather events, and failing to meet them is central to many of the slip and fall claims we handle.

Common Injuries From Slip & Fall Accidents

Between 20 and 30 percent of people injured in slip, trip, and fall accidents suffer moderate to severe injuries. Fractures, head injuries, and back and neck injuries are among the most common. Broken wrists occur frequently when a person extends a hand to break a fall. Slip and fall accidents are also the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, accounting for approximately half of fatal falls among the elderly.

Additional injuries include concussions, knee and ankle injuries, spinal injuries, lacerations, and soft tissue damage. Some of these conditions require ongoing medical care or physical therapy, and some result in lasting limitations on a person’s ability to work or manage daily activities.

Your Rights After a Slip, Trip, or Fall

When you’re in a public space, you have the right to be warned of hazards that could cause you to slip and fall. When warning signs are present and a person proceeds anyway, they may assume a portion of the risk. If a known hazard was ignored or concealed, the property owner may be held responsible for resulting injuries.

Poor lighting can itself constitute a failure to maintain safe premises. When inadequate illumination disguises surface defects or hazardous conditions, property owners have an obligation to ensure walking surfaces are adequately lit with sufficient contrast to allow pedestrians to see what lies ahead.

Determining Liability in Anchorage Slip & Fall Claims

Under Alaska premises liability law, liability turns on whether the property owner exercised due care to prevent accidents and whether the injured party’s own actions contributed to the fall. Time is a critical factor. A hazard that existed for only seconds may not support a negligence claim, while one that went unaddressed for an extended period despite employee awareness significantly strengthens it. The property owner must have known about the dangerous condition, or reasonably should have known, and the harm must have been a foreseeable result of failing to act.

Alaska follows a pure comparative negligence standard under AS 09.17.060. Even if you’re found partially at fault for a fall, you may still recover compensation, reduced by your percentage of fault. Insurance companies may attempt to assign fault to injured parties to reduce their payout. Our attorneys can counter those tactics and advocate for a fair accounting of the facts.

Damages Available to Slip & Fall Victims in Alaska

Slip and fall victims in Alaska may pursue two categories of damages.

Economic Damages
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses: medical bills, lost wages, future medical expenses, reduced earning capacity, and out-of-pocket costs related to the injury.

Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of quality of life, anxiety, depression, and loss of consortium.

Thorough documentation, including medical records, bills, employer records, and photographs of the scene and injuries, supports the value of both categories. Insurance companies often minimize non-economic damages. We understand how Alaska courts evaluate these losses, and we advocate for the full value of our clients’ claims.

Preserving Evidence After a Fall

Evidence in slip and fall cases can disappear quickly. Surveillance footage can be overwritten, spills can get cleaned, and surfaces can get repaired. Acting promptly can make a significant difference.

Report the incident to store or property personnel as soon as possible and complete any required incident report forms. Photograph the hazard, the surrounding area, and your injuries before leaving the scene. If others witnessed the fall or the hazardous condition, collect their names and contact information. Witness statements can corroborate your account and help establish what the property owner knew or should have known.

Our attorneys protect clients’ rights throughout the evidence-gathering and claims process, from the initial consultation through resolution.

Why Anchorage Residents Choose Kelley & Canterbury

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases in Anchorage since 1975. That history isn’t background detail. It reflects decades of experience with Alaska’s courts, its laws, and the local conditions that give rise to the claims we handle. When icy sidewalks, snow-covered parking lots, and municipal maintenance failures are at issue, local knowledge matters.

Both Michaela Kelley Canterbury and Christopher Canterbury handle each case personally, each with more than 30 years of individual legal experience. You won’t work with a rotating cast of associates. You’ll work with the same two attorneys from your first call through the resolution of your case. Our firm has handled matters up to the Alaska Supreme Court and has experience shaping Alaska case law. National firms have trusted us for co-counsel and co-representation on Alaska matters.

Clients describe our office as welcoming and family-like. That reflects who we are. We take the time to understand what happened, explain your options clearly, and help you feel supported throughout a process that can otherwise feel overwhelming.

Contact Our Anchorage Slip & Fall Attorneys

If you or someone you love was injured in a slip, trip, or fall in Anchorage or the surrounding area, we’re ready to help. Contact Kelley & Canterbury to schedule a consultation. We can review your situation, answer your questions, and help you understand your options before you make any decisions.

Call us at (888) 639-4817 or reach us through our contact form. On your side, at your side, every step of the way.