Legal Beagles AK

Kelley and Canterbury LLC

The Legal Beagles Podcast is your go-to legal resource from two attorneys who actually know what it's like to live in Alaska — because they do. Chris Canterbury and Michaela Kelley-Canterbury were both raised in Alaska and they are the husband-and-wife legal team behind Kelley & Canterbury, L.L.C. in Anchorage. Together, they break down the personal injury questions that matter most to Alaskans: what to do after a car accident on an icy highway, what your rights are after a dog bite, and what it means when you're hurt on someone else's property. No legal jargon, no mainland perspective — just honest, practical guidance rooted in the real conditions of Alaska life. Whether you're navigating the aftermath of an accident, trying to understand your options, or just want to know your rights before something happens, Chris and Michaela are here to help. They've seen these cases. They know these roads, these winters, and these communities — because this is their home. On your side, at your side, every step of the way. Schedule a free consultation at www.kelleyandcanterbury.com

Episodes

  1. Nov 1

    Episode 11: Driving in the Dark: Getting Ready for an Alaska Winter

    How do you drive safely in the dark during an Alaska winter? Get the car ready before the snow does: good winter tires, fresh wiper blades, and working headlights and brake lights. Then slow down, leave more room to stop, and watch for people walking along the road in dark clothes, because in Alaska, ice and darkness don't excuse a crash. The clocks fall back this morning, and the commute home gets darker every week. Chris and Michaela share the case of a driver who got rear-ended after a load of snow slid onto her windshield, and why low winter sun right under the visor doesn't get anyone off the hook. Their advice for the season is short: "Don't be cheap" on your tires. COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED Q: How should I get my car ready for winter driving in Alaska? A: Before winter driving in Alaska, put on winter or studded tires with good tread, switch to winter wiper blades, and check that both headlights and all brake lights work. Keeping reflective triangles or flares in the trunk helps other drivers see you if you get stuck or come up on a crash. Q: Is bad weather a defense after a car accident in Alaska? A: In Alaska, icy roads and snow usually aren't a defense after a crash. Drivers are expected to match their speed, following distance and equipment to the conditions, even if that means driving well under the posted limit or not driving at all. Q: How can pedestrians stay visible when it's dark in Alaska? A: Pedestrians in Alaska are much easier to see in the dark with a small piece of reflective tape or gear on a hat, jacket or backpack, since dark clothing absorbs headlight glare. Kids waiting at bus stops in the winter dark benefit most from reflective strips on their arms and back. Q: What should I do after a car accident in the dark in Alaska? A: After a car accident in the dark in Alaska, get the vehicles out of the roadway if you safely can, get everyone to a safe spot, and use flares or reflective triangles so oncoming drivers see the scene in time. Free Alaska Car Accident Checklist: kelleyandcanterbury.com/checklist/ ABOUT KELLEY & CANTERBURY Kelley & Canterbury LLC is a boutique personal injury law firm in Anchorage, Alaska, founded in 1975 and serving Alaskans for over fifty years. Attorneys Chris Canterbury and Michaela Kelley-Canterbury work directly with every client, focusing on car accident and personal injury cases across Alaska. Call 907.276.8185 | kelleyandcanterbury.com | info@kelleyandcanterbury.com We're on your side, at your side, every step of the way. Attorney advertising. This podcast is for general information only and is not legal advice. Listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro: Shorter Days Ahead(00:00:44) - Preparing Your Car for Winter(00:01:57) - Brake Lights and Visibility Checks(00:02:47) - Handling Accidents in the Dark(00:03:50) - Stopping Distances and Driving Caution(00:04:56) - Pedestrians and Reflective Gear(00:07:19) - Low Sun Glare Challenges(00:08:36) - Intersections and Safe Speeds(00:08:57) - Tires, Excuses, and Standard of Care(00:10:29) - Closing Thoughts on Winter Safety

    Episode 11: Driving in the Dark: Getting Ready for an Alaska Winter
  2. Oct 15

    Episode 10: Slipped in a Parking Lot in Alaska? Who's Responsible?

    Who is responsible if you slip and fall in a store or strip mall parking lot in Alaska? Often it isn't the store you just walked out of. The lot, the curb, the sidewalk and the front steps can each belong to a different owner, property manager or snow removal contractor, and the answer usually sits in agreements you never see. You walk out of the shoe store, the grocery is next door, the haircut place is down the row, and the ice doesn't care who owns which square of asphalt. Chris and Michaela explain how they track down who was responsible, why a written request to save the security video can make or break a case, and what to photograph besides the exact spot where you landed. They also cover med pay, the no-fault coverage many properties carry for medical bills. COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED Q: Who is responsible if I fall in a strip mall parking lot in Alaska? A: After a fall in an Alaska strip mall parking lot, the responsible party could be the property owner, a developer, a property manager, the business renting the space, or a snow removal contractor. Site and lease agreements usually decide who was in charge of that exact spot. Q: Can a snow plowing or sanding company be responsible for a slip and fall in Alaska? A: In Alaska, a snow removal or graveling contractor hired to maintain a parking lot has its own duties under its contract, such as showing up after a certain amount of snow or within a set time of an icy call. If the contractor didn't do the job, some of the responsibility may fall on them. Q: How do I make sure a store keeps the security video of my fall in Alaska? A: After a fall at an Alaska store or mall, ask in writing for the security video to be saved, because many systems record over footage within a day or a week. Once the owner has written notice, they have a duty to preserve it. Q: Who pays my medical bills after a fall in a parking lot in Alaska? A: Many commercial properties in Alaska carry medical payments coverage, often called med pay, that can pay medical bills from an accident on the property no matter who was at fault. When you report the fall, ask for the owner's insurance information. Free Alaska Car Accident Checklist: kelleyandcanterbury.com/checklist/ ABOUT KELLEY & CANTERBURY Kelley & Canterbury LLC is a boutique personal injury law firm in Anchorage, Alaska, founded in 1975 and serving Alaskans for over fifty years. Attorneys Chris Canterbury and Michaela Kelley-Canterbury work directly with every client, focusing on car accident and personal injury cases across Alaska. Call 907.276.8185 | kelleyandcanterbury.com | info@kelleyandcanterbury.com We're on your side, at your side, every step of the way. Attorney advertising. This podcast is for general information only and is not legal advice. Listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction: Slip and falls in commercial parking lots(00:00:34) - Who holds the duty of care in strip malls(00:01:17) - Site agreements and contractors' responsibilities(00:03:02) - Confusion over bills and responsibilities after injury(00:03:31) - Reporting the incident promptly(00:04:41) - Preserving video evidence and spoliation claims(00:05:52) - Documenting the scene, lighting, and your own condition(00:07:40) - Acting quickly before evidence disappears(00:08:22) - Insurance, med pay coverage, and reporting details(00:09:39) - Getting copies of reports and witness names

    Episode 10: Slipped in a Parking Lot in Alaska? Who's Responsible?
  3. Oct 1

    Episode 9: Slip and Fall Season: Who Pays If You Slip on Ice in Alaska?

    Who pays if you slip on ice at someone's home, your apartment, or a store in Alaska? It depends on who controlled the spot where you fell, whether they knew or should have known about the ice, and whether they had a fair chance to fix it. Alaska property owners don't have to make winter fail-safe, but they do have to keep things reasonably safe for the people they expect to show up. Chris and Michaela walk through a fall on a stranger's stairs during a Marketplace pickup, a packed parking lot on hockey tournament day, and a hotel guest who expected frost-free steps in Denali. They cover how a lease changes who clears the ice at your apartment and why your own shoes matter. They finish with what to do in the first hours after a fall, and what not to say when the insurance company calls. COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED Q: Who is responsible if I slip on ice at someone's house in Alaska? A: In Alaska, a homeowner who invites people over has a duty to keep their property reasonably safe, which can mean salting or graveling icy stairs or warning guests about a bad spot. Whether the homeowner is responsible depends on what they knew about the ice and whether they had time to deal with it. Q: What makes a slip and fall case in Alaska? A: Chris Canterbury looks at three things in an Alaska slip and fall case: whether the owner knew or should have known about the dangerous condition, what duty of care they had, and whether they had a reasonable chance to fix it after they found out. Weather changes fast in Alaska, so timing matters. Q: Who is responsible if I fall on ice at my apartment in Alaska? A: At an Alaska apartment, responsibility often comes down to the lease. Parking lots and shared sidewalks are usually common areas the landlord or property manager handles, while some leases put the renter in charge of their own steps. Q: What should I do right after I slip and fall on ice in Alaska? A: After a slip and fall in Alaska, report it to the owner or manager before you leave if you can, or have a friend do it. Take photos of the spot and the area around it, and write down what happened, what caused it, and what shoes you had on. Q: Should I talk to the property owner's insurance after a fall in Alaska? A: Be careful what you say to an insurance adjuster or risk manager after a fall in Alaska. Comments like "it was my fault" or "I'm not that hurt" can be used against you, so it's smart to talk with an attorney first. Free Alaska Car Accident Checklist: kelleyandcanterbury.com/checklist/ ABOUT KELLEY & CANTERBURY Kelley & Canterbury LLC is a boutique personal injury law firm in Anchorage, Alaska, founded in 1975 and serving Alaskans for over fifty years. Attorneys Chris Canterbury and Michaela Kelley-Canterbury work directly with every client, focusing on car accident and personal injury cases across Alaska. Call 907.276.8185 | kelleyandcanterbury.com | info@kelleyandcanterbury.com We're on your side, at your side, every step of the way. Attorney advertising. This podcast is for general information only and is not legal advice. Listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome. Chapters (00:00:00) - Intro: Winter Slip and Fall Season(00:00:42) - Premises Liability Basics by Location(00:01:24) - Slip and Falls at Someone's Home(00:03:02) - Open and Obvious Danger & Comparative Fault(00:03:58) - Three Factors for Landowner Liability(00:06:27) - Apartment and Rental Property Falls(00:07:57) - Common Areas and Vulnerable Residents(00:10:48) - Commercial Premises: Stores and Parking Lots(00:12:11) - Owner Knowledge of Recurring Hazards(00:13:51) - Alaska's Reasonable Standard for Ice and Snow(00:16:00) - Artificial vs Natural Accumulation and Comparative Fault(00:17:12) - What To Do at the Scene After a Fall(00:18:49) - Documenting the Incident: Photos and Details(00:20:19) - Dealing with Risk Management and What Not to Say(00:21:28) - Your Own Duty of Care and Closing Thoughts

    Episode 9: Slip and Fall Season: Who Pays If You Slip on Ice in Alaska?

About

The Legal Beagles Podcast is your go-to legal resource from two attorneys who actually know what it's like to live in Alaska — because they do. Chris Canterbury and Michaela Kelley-Canterbury were both raised in Alaska and they are the husband-and-wife legal team behind Kelley & Canterbury, L.L.C. in Anchorage. Together, they break down the personal injury questions that matter most to Alaskans: what to do after a car accident on an icy highway, what your rights are after a dog bite, and what it means when you're hurt on someone else's property. No legal jargon, no mainland perspective — just honest, practical guidance rooted in the real conditions of Alaska life. Whether you're navigating the aftermath of an accident, trying to understand your options, or just want to know your rights before something happens, Chris and Michaela are here to help. They've seen these cases. They know these roads, these winters, and these communities — because this is their home. On your side, at your side, every step of the way. Schedule a free consultation at www.kelleyandcanterbury.com