Alaska Hit and Run Laws: Penalties and What to Do

Overview of Alaska Hit and Run Laws

Last verified: March 2026. This article reflects current Alaska Statutes Title 28 and recent case law.

Alaska treats hit and run as a serious offense under two interlocking statutes. AS 28.35.050 requires drivers to stop and remain at the scene of any accident. AS 28.35.060 requires drivers to exchange information and render reasonable assistance to injured persons. Violating either statute carries criminal penalties, license revocation, and civil liability.

The severity of consequences depends on the circumstances. A driver who leaves the scene of a minor fender-bender faces misdemeanor charges. A driver who flees after causing serious injury or death and fails to render aid faces potential imprisonment of up to 10 years.

What Alaska Law Requires After an Accident

Duty to Stop (AS 28.35.050)

Under Alaska Statute 28.35.050, any driver involved in an accident must immediately stop at the scene or as close to it as safely possible. This applies to three categories of accidents:

• Injury or death accidents: The driver must stop and remain at the scene until fulfilling all duties under AS 28.35.060.
• Attended vehicle damage: The driver must stop and remain until fulfilling all duties under AS 28.35.060.
• Unattended vehicle damage: The driver must stop, make reasonable efforts to locate and notify the owner of the damaged vehicle, and if the owner cannot be found, leave a written note in a visible location on the unattended vehicle stating the driver's name, address, and a description of the circumstances.

Duty to Give Information and Render Aid (AS 28.35.060)

Once stopped, Alaska law requires drivers to take the following actions:

• Provide your name, address, and vehicle registration number to the injured person, a passenger, or a law enforcement officer.
• Show your driver's license upon request.
• Render reasonable assistance to any injured person.
• Arrange for medical care and transportation to a hospital if treatment appears necessary.

The statute includes an important protection: complying with these requirements and rendering assistance is not considered evidence of liability for the accident. This means helping an injured person cannot be used against you in court.

These obligations do not apply if you are physically incapable of fulfilling them due to your own injuries from the accident.

Penalties for Hit and Run in Alaska

Alaska's hit and run penalties come from multiple statutes and vary based on the type of violation and the severity of the accident.

Penalty Summary Table

Violation	Statute	Classification	Maximum Imprisonment	Maximum Fine
Failure to stop at scene	AS 28.35.050	Misdemeanor	90 days	$500
Failure to provide information	AS 28.35.060	Misdemeanor	1 year	Per AS 28.90.010
Failure to render assistance	AS 28.35.060	Felony-level penalty	10 years	$10,000
Failure to report accident	AS 28.35.080	Misdemeanor	90 days	$200

Failure to Stop at the Scene

Violating AS 28.35.050 by leaving the scene of any accident is a misdemeanor. Under the general penalty provision of AS 28.90.010, a person convicted of a Title 28 misdemeanor for which no other penalty is specifically provided faces up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.

Failure to Provide Information

A person who fails to comply with the information-exchange requirements of AS 28.35.060 faces up to one year of imprisonment.

Failure to Render Assistance to an Injured Person

This is the most serious hit and run offense in Alaska. A person who fails to render reasonable assistance to an injured person faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. This penalty applies when the driver knows (or should reasonably know) that someone was injured and leaves without providing help.

Driver's License Revocation (AS 28.15.181)

A conviction for failure to stop and render aid when a motor vehicle accident results in death or personal injury triggers mandatory license revocation under AS 28.15.181. The minimum revocation periods are:

• First offense: Not less than 90 days
• Second offense: Not less than 1 year
• Third offense: Not less than 3 years
• Fourth or subsequent offense: Not less than 5 years

During the minimum revocation period, the court generally cannot grant limited driving privileges.

Additional Criminal Charges

A hit and run incident can result in charges beyond the hit and run statutes themselves. Prosecutors may add charges such as:

• DUI (AS 28.35.030): If intoxication is involved, a first-offense DUI is a class A misdemeanor carrying a mandatory minimum of 72 hours imprisonment.
• Manslaughter (AS 11.41.120): If a person dies as a result of the accident and the driver's conduct was reckless.
• Vehicular assault or negligent driving (AS 28.35.400): If injuries result from negligent operation of a vehicle.

These additional charges carry their own penalties, which may be imposed on top of hit and run penalties.

Accident Reporting Requirements (AS 28.35.080)

Alaska law requires immediate reporting of certain accidents. You must notify law enforcement by the quickest available means if your accident involves:

• Bodily injury or death
• Total property damage of $2,000 or more

If the accident occurs within a municipality, contact the local police department. If it occurs outside a municipality, contact the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

If law enforcement does not investigate the accident at the scene, you must submit a written or electronic crash report to the Alaska Department of Administration and the local police department within 10 days. You can file this report online through the Alaska DMV using Form 12-209.

Failure to report an accident carries penalties of up to 90 days imprisonment and a fine of up to $200.

Criminal Statute of Limitations

Under AS 12.10.010, Alaska sets a five-year statute of limitations for prosecution of most felonies and all misdemeanors. This means the state has five years from the date of the hit and run to file criminal charges.

The five-year clock stops running if the suspect leaves Alaska. It does not resume until the person returns to the state.

Civil Statute of Limitations

Victims of hit and run accidents have two years from the date of the incident to file a personal injury lawsuit under AS 09.10.070. This deadline applies to claims for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.

Missing this deadline generally bars you from recovering compensation through the courts.

Insurance Implications of Hit and Run in Alaska

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

If you are the victim of a hit and run and cannot identify the other driver, your uninsured motorist (UM) coverage may apply. Alaska law (AS 28.22.201) requires all auto insurance companies to offer UM/UIM coverage, though you can reject it in writing.

Uninsured motorist coverage in Alaska applies to hit and run situations, including cases where your parked vehicle is struck and the other driver leaves. Key details:

• Bodily injury: UM bodily injury coverage pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
• Property damage: UM property damage coverage pays for vehicle repairs, subject to a deductible of up to $250.
• Filing threshold: Because of the deductible, only file a UM property damage claim if repair costs exceed $250.

Minimum Liability Insurance Requirements

Alaska requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of:

• $50,000 per person for bodily injury
• $100,000 per accident for bodily injury
• $25,000 per accident for property damage

Driving without insurance is a separate violation that compounds the legal consequences of a hit and run.

How Fault Is Determined in Alaska

Alaska follows the pure comparative fault rule under AS 09.17.060. This means:

• You may recover damages even if you were partly responsible for the accident.
• Your damages award is reduced by your percentage of fault.
• A jury determines the fault percentage for each party.
• There is no threshold that bars recovery. Even a plaintiff who is 99% at fault can recover 1% of damages.

Example: If a jury finds you 40% at fault for an accident and your total damages are $100,000, you would recover $60,000.

Why You Should Not Admit Fault at the Scene

Avoid statements like:

• "I apologize"
• "It was my fault"
• "I did not see the other car"

These statements can be used against you in insurance claims and civil litigation. Provide the required information under AS 28.35.060 and let investigators determine fault based on evidence.

What to Do After an Accident in Alaska

Steps for Drivers

1. Stop immediately at the scene or as close as safely possible.
2. Call 911 if anyone is injured.
3. Render reasonable assistance to any injured person, including arranging transportation to a hospital.
4. Exchange information with the other party: name, address, vehicle registration, and driver's license.
5. Do not move the vehicle if the accident results in serious injury or death, unless directed by law enforcement.
6. Report the accident to law enforcement if it involves injury, death, or $2,000 or more in property damage.
7. File a written crash report within 10 days if law enforcement did not investigate at the scene.
8. Contact a defense attorney before making detailed statements beyond the required information.

Steps for Victims

1. Call law enforcement immediately.
2. Document the incident: Take photos of vehicle damage, license plates, road conditions, and injuries.
3. Record vehicle descriptions and plate numbers of the fleeing vehicle if possible.
4. Gather witness contact information.
5. Seek medical attention promptly and keep all medical records.
6. Contact your insurance company to report the incident and ask about UM/UIM coverage.
7. Consult with an attorney about civil claims within the two-year statute of limitations.

Unattended Vehicle Collisions

If you hit a parked or unattended vehicle and cannot locate the owner, you must leave a written note in a visible location on the vehicle. The note must include your name, address, and a description of the circumstances of the accident.

Hit and Run Defenses in Alaska

The facts of each case determine available defenses. Common defenses include:

Lack of Knowledge

Prosecutors must prove you knew you were involved in an accident. If you genuinely did not realize you struck someone or something, this may serve as a defense. Investigators will examine vehicle damage, surveillance footage, and impact evidence to challenge this defense.

Vehicle Not in Your Possession

If your vehicle was stolen or operated by another person at the time of the accident, documentation of this fact may serve as a defense.

Physical Incapacity

AS 28.35.060 explicitly exempts drivers who are physically incapable of complying with the statute's requirements due to injuries sustained in the accident.

Fear for Safety

If you reasonably feared for your personal safety at the scene, you may leave and immediately report to law enforcement. Document your concerns thoroughly and report the accident as soon as you reach a safe location.

Alaska Crash Statistics

Traffic safety data from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities provides context for the scope of hit and run incidents:

• Fatal crashes: Alaska recorded 82 traffic fatalities in 2022, and 2024 saw a significant increase in fatal crashes statewide.
• Pedestrian fatalities: Anchorage experienced its highest pedestrian fatality count in the past decade in 2024, with 14 deaths. In the 12 months ending June 2025, 16 pedestrians were killed by vehicles in Anchorage.
• Geographic distribution: Approximately 59% of fatal crashes in Alaska occur in rural areas, where higher speeds and limited infrastructure increase risk.
• Crash volume: Alaska DOT reports approximately 10,200 crashes statewide annually, with Anchorage accounting for roughly 40% of all reported crashes.

These numbers underscore why Alaska enforces strict penalties for leaving the scene of an accident.

Notable Alaska Hit and Run Cases

Larry W. Anderson Jr. Case (2024)

In May 2024, Anchorage police arrested Larry W. Anderson Jr., age 40, for striking and killing a woman crossing A Street in Midtown Anchorage. Anderson fled the scene after the collision. Investigators used surveillance footage and witness statements to identify and locate the suspect, demonstrating how law enforcement pursues hit and run cases even after the driver flees.

Joshua Vargas Case (2025)

In September 2025, 27-year-old Joshua Vargas was arrested and charged with manslaughter following a fatal hit and run in Anchorage. This case illustrated how fleeing the scene can lead to additional serious criminal charges beyond the hit and run statutes.

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• Alaska Whistleblower Laws