Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Complaint - Alaska

UNINSURED / UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COMPLAINT

Table of Contents

1. Caption
2. Parties
3. Jurisdiction and Venue
4. General Allegations
5. Policy Identification and Coverage
6. UM vs. UIM Status
7. First Cause of Action — Breach of Contract (UM/UIM Benefits)
8. Second Cause of Action — Bad Faith
9. Damages
10. Separate Jury Demand
11. Prayer for Relief

Caption

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE STATE OF ALASKA

[JUDICIAL DISTRICT] JUDICIAL DISTRICT AT [CITY]

Parties

1. Plaintiff, [PLAINTIFF FULL NAME] ("Plaintiff"), is an individual residing at [PLAINTIFF ADDRESS], [CITY], Alaska [ZIP CODE], and is an insured under the automobile insurance policy described herein.

2. Defendant, [INSURANCE COMPANY NAME] ("Defendant Insurer"), is an insurance company authorized to transact business in the State of Alaska, with its principal place of business at [INSURER ADDRESS].

3. [JOHN/JANE DOE] ("Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist") is an individual who, at all relevant times, operated a motor vehicle [☐ without liability insurance / ☐ with liability insurance inadequate to compensate Plaintiff's damages].

Jurisdiction and Venue

4. This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to AS 22.10.020.

5. The amount in controversy exceeds the jurisdictional minimum of this Court.

6. Venue is proper in the [JUDICIAL DISTRICT] Judicial District pursuant to Alaska Civil Rule 3(c) because [☐ the accident occurred in this judicial district / ☐ Defendant may be found in this judicial district / ☐ Plaintiff resides in this judicial district].

General Allegations

7. On or about [DATE OF ACCIDENT], at approximately [TIME], Plaintiff was [☐ operating / ☐ a passenger in] a motor vehicle on [STREET/HIGHWAY/ROUTE], in or near [CITY/BOROUGH], Alaska.

8. At said time and place, the Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist negligently operated a motor vehicle, proximately causing a collision with Plaintiff's vehicle.

9. The Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist was negligent in one or more of the following respects:

☐ Operating a vehicle at an excessive or unreasonable speed
☐ Failure to yield the right of way (13 AAC 02.010 – 02.020)
☐ Following too closely (13 AAC 02.090)
☐ Driving under the influence (AS 28.35.030)
☐ Failure to obey a traffic control device
☐ Improper lane change
☐ Failure to maintain a proper lookout
☐ Distracted driving / use of electronic device
☐ Other: [________________________________]

10. As a direct and proximate result of the above-described negligence, Plaintiff sustained serious bodily injuries and damages.

Policy Identification and Coverage

11. At the time of the accident, Plaintiff was insured under an automobile insurance policy issued by Defendant Insurer, Policy No. [POLICY NUMBER], effective from [POLICY START DATE] to [POLICY END DATE] (the "Policy").

12. The Policy includes uninsured motorist ("UM") bodily injury coverage with limits of $[UM LIMIT PER PERSON] per person / $[UM LIMIT PER ACCIDENT] per accident.

13. The Policy includes underinsured motorist ("UIM") bodily injury coverage with limits of $[UIM LIMIT PER PERSON] per person / $[UIM LIMIT PER ACCIDENT] per accident.

14. Plaintiff has paid all premiums due under the Policy and has complied with all conditions precedent.

15. Defendant Insurer offered UM/UIM coverage pursuant to AS 21.96.020, and Plaintiff [☐ accepted coverage / ☐ did not execute a valid written waiver of coverage].

Stacking Provisions and Coverage Priority

16. Plaintiff is entitled to UM/UIM benefits under the following coverage priority established by AS 28.22.221:

☐ Priority (1): Policy covering the motor vehicle occupied by Plaintiff as named insured
☐ Priority (2): Policy covering the motor vehicle occupied by Plaintiff as an insured other than named insured
☐ Priority (3): Policy not covering the occupied vehicle but covering Plaintiff as named insured
☐ Priority (4): Policy not covering the occupied vehicle but covering Plaintiff as an insured other than named insured

UM vs. UIM Status

Select one:

☐ Uninsured Motorist (UM) Claim:

17. The at-fault motorist was uninsured at the time of the accident in that [☐ no bodily injury liability policy was in effect / ☐ the at-fault motorist is unknown (hit-and-run) / ☐ the at-fault motorist's insurer denied coverage or is insolvent].

☐ Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Claim:

18. The at-fault motorist maintained bodily injury liability coverage with limits of $[TORTFEASOR POLICY LIMIT], which is less than Plaintiff's UIM coverage limits.

19. Plaintiff has exhausted the at-fault motorist's bodily injury liability limits and received $[AMOUNT RECOVERED FROM TORTFEASOR] in [☐ settlement / ☐ judgment].

20. Defendant Insurer was provided with timely written notice and the opportunity to consent to the settlement with the tortfeasor's insurer.

First Cause of Action

Breach of Contract (UM/UIM Benefits)

21. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 20.

22. The Policy constitutes a valid and enforceable contract between Plaintiff and Defendant Insurer.

23. Plaintiff has performed all obligations and satisfied all conditions precedent required under the Policy.

24. Defendant Insurer has breached the Policy by failing and refusing to pay UM/UIM benefits owed to Plaintiff despite proper and timely demand.

25. As a direct and proximate result of Defendant Insurer's breach, Plaintiff has been damaged in an amount to be proven at trial.

Second Cause of Action

Bad Faith

26. Plaintiff re-alleges and incorporates by reference paragraphs 1 through 25.

27. Under Alaska law, an insurer owes a duty of good faith and fair dealing to its insureds. An insurer that unreasonably denies or delays payment of a valid claim may be liable for the tort of bad faith.

28. Defendant Insurer acted in bad faith by:

☐ Unreasonably delaying investigation and/or processing of the claim
☐ Denying benefits without a reasonable justification
☐ Failing to make a good-faith effort to settle the claim
☐ Refusing to pay an amount clearly owed while disputing only the excess
☐ Misrepresenting policy provisions
☐ Other: [________________________________]

29. Defendant Insurer's bad faith conduct was knowing, intentional, and without reasonable cause, entitling Plaintiff to compensatory and punitive damages.

Damages

30. As a result of the accident and Defendant Insurer's breaches, Plaintiff has suffered the following damages:

☐ Past medical expenses: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Future medical expenses: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Past lost wages/earnings: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Future lost wages/earning capacity: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Pain and suffering (past and future): $[AMOUNT]
☐ Mental anguish and emotional distress: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Physical disability and disfigurement: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Loss of enjoyment of life: $[AMOUNT]
☐ Loss of consortium (if applicable): $[AMOUNT]
☐ Punitive damages (bad faith claim): According to proof
☐ Prejudgment interest (AS 09.30.070)
☐ Attorney's fees (Alaska Civil Rule 82)
☐ Costs of suit

Separate Jury Demand

[COPY COMPLETE CAPTION AND CASE NUMBER HERE]

Plaintiff separately demands a trial by jury on all issues so triable under Alaska Civil Rule 38.

DATED: [__/__/____]

Signature: ________________________________________

Printed name / Alaska Bar No.: [________________________________]

Prayer for Relief

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendant Insurer as follows:

1. Compensatory damages in an amount to be determined at trial;
2. UM/UIM benefits in the full amount owed under the Policy;
3. Punitive damages for Defendant Insurer's bad faith;
4. Prejudgment interest pursuant to AS 09.30.070;
5. Attorney's fees pursuant to Alaska Civil Rule 82;
6. Costs of this action; and
7. Such other and further relief as this Court deems just and equitable.

Respectfully submitted,

[ATTORNEY NAME], Alaska Bar No. [BAR NUMBER]
[FIRM NAME]
[FIRM ADDRESS]
[CITY], Alaska [ZIP CODE]
Telephone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]
Attorney for Plaintiff

State-Specific Notes — Alaska

Sources and References

• AS 28.22.201 — Justia (2025)
• AS 21.96.020 — Justia (2025)
• AS 28.22.221 — Justia (2025)
• AS 09.10.053 (Contract SOL) — Justia (2025)
• AS 09.10.070 (Tort/Personal Injury SOL) — Justia (2025)
• AS 09.30.070 (Prejudgment Interest) — Justia (2025)
• McDonnell v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 299 P.3d 715 (Alaska 2013) — FindLaw
• Alaska UM/UIM Overview — Guess & Rudd