Is there a cap on brain injury damages in Alaska?

Yes, $400,000 or $8,000 per year of life expectancy, rising to $1,000,000 or $25,000 per year for severe permanent impairment.

Is fault or the cap applied first?

Fault first, per Kisling v. Grosz (2025).

Can I sue a friend for an injury at their home?

Yes; Grosz recovered $300,000 from his friend in Kisling (2025).

What is the statute of limitations for head & brain claims in Alaska?

2 years from date of injury or discovery. Source: Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070. Filing after the period expires generally bars the claim absent a tolling exception.

★ Alaska · head & brain

Head & brain settlements
in Alaska.

By MyClaimWorth EditorialPublished 9 May 2026Updated 30 September 20269 min read

A man helping a friend hang a crucifix above a staircase fell when the wire broke, suffering broken ribs, a spinal fracture and a traumatic brain injury. The jury valued his noneconomic loss at $1.2 million, twice what he asked, but found him 75% at fault, so he received $300,000. A dancer rehearsing in Sitka was concussed by a falling lantern and lost at trial.

Facts that decide a head & brain claim in Alaska

Fault first, then the cap	Comparative fault is applied to the verdict before the noneconomic cap, so 25% of $1.2 million ($300,000) stood under the $400,000 cap.Kisling v. Grosz (Alaska 2025)
Volunteers at events	A volunteer who hung the lantern could not be held financially responsible under federal law, and the city was not vicariously liable for him.Sulzbach v. City & Borough of Sitka (Alaska 2022)
Deadline to sue	Two years from accrual for a personal injury claim, head injuries included.Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070(a)

★ band · US federal frame

$500,000 to multi-million

Severe traumatic brain injury

Catastrophic-case reported decisions

The US band is the starting point. Alaska's fault rule and any applicable cap then adjust the figure.

united states · sister site

Your head & brain claim in Alaska. See the number for your own case.

The range above is a starting point. FairSettlement gives you a free estimate for your own head & brain case in about two minutes, no cost and no obligation.

Check my case

★ AK · reported head & brain outcomes

What Alaska courts have awarded.

Real Alaska decisions and verdicts, each linked to the court record or official report.

Kisling v. Grosz
Alaska Supreme Court · 2025
$300,000 judgment affirmed
Paul Grosz stood on a homemade walking plank to help his friend Gregory Kisling hang a crucifix above the stairs in Kisling’s home. The wire broke and Grosz fell with the artwork, suffering broken ribs, a spinal fracture and a traumatic brain injury. The jury found $1.2 million in noneconomic loss and Kisling 25% at fault. The court affirmed $300,000.
Sulzbach v. City & Borough of Sitka
Alaska Supreme Court · 2022
Defense verdict affirmed
During preparations for Sitka’s 2016 Alaska Day celebration at Harrigan Centennial Hall, a volunteer temporarily fastened ten cloth lanterns of about 5.5 pounds each and left for about 15 minutes. One fell and struck Sandy Sulzbach, rehearsing with a dance group, on the head and upper back; she was diagnosed with a concussion. The jury found no negligence; affirmed.

★ AK · head & brain · in practice

What changes the number here.

What actually moves a head & brain settlement in Alaska.

1
Your own share of fault can cost more than the cap; document why the hazard was the other side’s.
2
Ask for a severe impairment finding if the injury qualifies for the higher cap.
3
Sue the group that ran the event, not only the building owner.

★ AK · statute of limitations

2 years from date of injury or discovery

Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070

★ AK · fault rule

Pure comparative negligence

Pure comparative negligence, recovery available even at 99% claimant fault, reduced proportionally.

★ AK · caps

What caps recovery.

Statutory caps that may bear on a head & brain settlement in Alaska.

Non-economic damages cap
Personal injury
$400,000 or $1M for severe permanent injury
Alaska Stat. § 09.17.010
Punitive damages cap
Most tort claims
Greater of 3× compensatory or $500,000
Alaska Stat. § 09.17.020

★ head & brain severity tiers · US frame

How the band stratifies.

The state-by-state tort law · jury verdict reporters · statutory caps stratifies head & brain into the tiers below. Alaska courts apply the same tier structure, adjusted for state-specific factors.

Severity tier	Band	Basis
Concussion / mild TBI	$25,000 to $100,000	Reported decisions
Severe traumatic brain injury	$500,000 to multi-million	Catastrophic-case reported decisions

★ head & brain · same region & fault regime

Compare to like jurisdictions.

How Alaska's fault rule and limitation period compare to jurisdictions in the same US region and to those running the same fault rule for head & brain claims.

Jurisdiction	Fault rule	Limitation	Head & brain page
Alaska · you are here	Pure comparative negligence	2 years from date of injury or discovery	—
California	Pure comparative negligence	2 years for personal injury; 1 year for medical malpractice (with 3-year repose)	CA · head & brain →
Colorado	Modified comparative, 50% bar	2 years for personal injury; 3 years for motor vehicle	CO · head & brain →
Hawaii	Modified comparative, 51% bar	2 years from date of injury	HI · head & brain →
Idaho	Modified comparative, 50% bar	2 years from date of injury	ID · head & brain →
Montana	Modified comparative, 51% bar	3 years from date of injury	MT · head & brain →
Nevada	Modified comparative, 51% bar	2 years for personal injury; 3 years for medical malpractice	NV · head & brain →
Arizona	Pure comparative negligence	2 years from date of injury	AZ · head & brain →
Kentucky	Pure comparative negligence	1 year for personal injury (one of the shortest in the US)	KY · head & brain →
Mississippi	Pure comparative negligence	3 years from date of injury	MS · head & brain →
Missouri	Pure comparative negligence	5 years for personal injury; 2 years for medical malpractice	MO · head & brain →
Arkansas	Modified comparative, 50% bar	3 years for personal injury; 2 years for medical malpractice	AR · head & brain →
Connecticut	Modified comparative, 51% bar	2 years from date of injury	CT · head & brain →

★ AK · head & brain · frequently asked

Common questions.

Each answer is independently coherent and references the relevant statute or authority document.

Is there a cap on brain injury damages in Alaska?
Yes, $400,000 or $8,000 per year of life expectancy, rising to $1,000,000 or $25,000 per year for severe permanent impairment.
Is fault or the cap applied first?
Fault first, per Kisling v. Grosz (2025).
Can I sue a friend for an injury at their home?
Yes; Grosz recovered $300,000 from his friend in Kisling (2025).
What is the statute of limitations for head & brain claims in Alaska?
2 years from date of injury or discovery. Source: Alaska Stat. § 09.10.070. Filing after the period expires generally bars the claim absent a tolling exception.

Sources

Checked 2026-09-30. Every figure on this page comes from one of these documents.

★ all of AK

Alaska overview

Fault rule, statute, caps, and key facts for Alaska as a whole.

★ federal frame

Head & brain in United States

Head & brain band structure and severity tiers at the US level.

★ all 15 countries

Head & brain · everywhere

Cross-jurisdiction comparison of head & brain bands.

★ editorial note

Figures on this page are starting points: the US band adjusted for Alaska's statutory framework. They are not quotes for any specific case. For representation, consult an attorney admitted in Alaska. See /methodology, /sources, and /disclaimer.

Head & brain settlementsin Alaska.

Facts that decide a head & brain claim in Alaska

Sources

Head & brain settlements
in Alaska.