Fairbanks Alaska Statewide Personal Injury Lawyers: Personal Injury Law

Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Personal Injury Law Blogs

Personal Injury Law

Fairbanks Alaska Statewide Personal Injury Lawyers

Post Frequency: 0.3/day

Last Entry: July 18, 2009 at 09:29:42

Summer Means Visitors

Posted on July 18, 2009
Summer in Alaska is beautiful. The frigid snow and ice give way to 23 hours of sunshine, relative warmth, and beautiful natural scenery. While native Alaskans spend all year earning their birthright—enjoyment of an Alaskan summer—others come to Alaska but once a year to enjoy its majestic beauty and to work a variety of seasonal jobs...

I was hurt in a car wreck. What's my claim worth?

Posted on July 01, 2009
I'm a personal injury attorney. We're asked this question every day. The phone rings. We hear about a wreck, a tragedy that changed the caller's life. We're then asked the dreaded question: "What do you think this claim is worth?" The caller then waits expectantly while we try to explain that we have don't (yet) have a clue...

I was hurt in a car wreck. What's my claim worth?

Posted on June 28, 2009
I'm a personal injury attorney. We're asked this question every day. The phone rings. We hear about a wreck, a tragedy that changed the caller's life. We're then asked the dreaded question: "What do you think this claim is worth?" The caller then waits expectantly while we try to explain that we have don't (yet) have a clue...

2 Critically Injured in Wasilla Crash

Posted on June 25, 2009
Wasilla, Alaska—The Fairbanks Daily News Miner reports that two motorists were critically injured near Mile 5 of Bogard road in Wasilla on June 1, 2009. The drivers have been identified as 41 year old Kathleen Coslow and 63 year old James Libby of Wasilla...

To access blog feed reader register for free. (You will also learn about new ways to read and access the freshest law blogs.)

28 year old National Guardsman Dies in Tragic Motorcycle Accident

Posted on June 01, 2009
Fairbanks, Alaska—The Fairbanks Daily News Miner reports that 28 year old Nathan Gray of Fairbanks died last week when he lost control of his motorcycle and traveled off of the Johansen Expressway. According to reports, Gray may have been traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour when he lost control of his bike at a slight curve in the roadway...

The Insurance Company Fixed My Car, But Who Pays for My Lost Re-Sale Value?

Posted on June 01, 2009
So you're involved in an auto-accident. Your vehicle is wrecked. You are injured. Perhaps you never contacted an attorney and just handled things through your and the other guy's insurance company. The insurance company pays for your medical bills...

Wasilla Man Passes Away From Injuries Sustained in Roll-Over

Posted on May 05, 2009
Palmer, Alaska—The Anchorage Daily News reports that 29 year old Joshua A. Brown has passed away from injuries sustained in a one-vehicle, roll-over accident on April 25, 2009. New information has come to light regarding the cause of the accident...

Female Driver Seriously Injured After Being Ejected From Vehicle

Posted on April 29, 2009
Anchorage, Alaska—The Anchorage Daily News reports that a woman was seriously injured on April 27, 2009 after she was ejected from her seat following a collision with another vehicle. The accident occurred around 8:30 p.m. when two vehicles collided at the intersection of Boundary Ave...

Single Vehicle Roll-Over in Palmer Injures Two Wasilla Men

Posted on April 29, 2009
Palmer, Alaska—The Fairbanks News Miner reports that two Wasilla men were hurt after their vehicle overturned on the Old Glenn Highway in Palmer, Alaska. The driver was 23 year old Edward Domrude II and his passenger was 29 year old Joshua Brown...

What to Say...and Not Say...After an Accident

Posted on April 15, 2009
An accident, even one in which you aren't severely injured, can be a shocking experience. Accidents can leave your heart racing and your hands shaking. And often, while you are in this state, you'll start to receive questions. What happened? Was it your fault? How fast were you going? Just after an accident, and as the insurance claims process progresses, many questions will come your way...

I Was Hurt In An Accident...Who Pays My Medical Bills?

Posted on April 09, 2009
If you were hurt in an accident, get immediate medical care. Do not delay receiving medical care until your insurance claim is settled. In fact, many insurance companies will ask that you provide receipts and proof of the treatment that you've received after an accident...

AAJ CEO Jon Haber Resigns - Missing a Good Man

Posted on April 08, 2009
The American Association for Justice's CEO Jon Haber resigned recently. He did a great job for the AAJ. His enthusiasm and hard work will be missed. The injured, weak and downtrodden will want in his absence. Jon, thank you for all you did.Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ward Merdes

What's "Negligence"? [Hint: It's Just Being Stupid]

Posted on April 04, 2009
For the last 20+ years, I've been a personal injury attorney in Alaska. My phone rings every day with people who have had bad things happen to them. Nobody wants to call me. They only call me when they must. They call because they got run over by a drunk...

History Channel Accident Near Prudhoe

Posted on March 25, 2009
The Seattle times reports that two occupants of a pickup truck slammed into the back of a parked Carlyle Trucking rig about 20 miles north of Prudhoe Bay last week. Conditions were white-out and the pickup should not have been moving. Ironically, the men were working for the Discovery Channel - building a story on "Ice Road Truckers...

Mary L. White Injured in Bus Accident - What She Needs To Know

Posted on March 09, 2009
On 02/25/09, Mary L. White was badly burned when the school bus she occupied was hit by a 1974 Ford Van that was Westbound at 10.5 mile Chena Hot Springs Rd. Bus driver Vick L. Glebavicius suffered a broken leg. It appears that the on-coming 1974 Ford Van lost control and spun, entering the School Bus' lane...

Escalator Catastrophe Frames Tort Reform Debate for Alaskans

Posted on February 23, 2009
The Anchorage Daily News reports that on February 8, 2009 a three year old girl lost 3 fingers in an escalator accident at an Anchorage J.C. Penny’s department store. According to news reports, the three year old was riding the escalator by herself while her mother paid for some recently purchased items at a nearby register...

Warm Roads? Slow Down in Alaska

Posted on February 18, 2009
It's February 18th and getting warmer in interior Alaska. We're gaining sunlight every day and are up to eight hours. Roads are thawing on sunny days. Black ice is upon us. My phone is ringing with folks who have been smeared on the roads. Let's review how to avoid calling me: SLOW DOWN...

Sterling Highway Crash leaves 1 dead and 3 in critical condition

Posted on February 17, 2009
Soldotna, Alaska—KTTU and the Anchorage Daily News report that a head-on collision left 1 dead and 8 injured (3 critically) on February 16, 2009. At around 3:25 p.m., while traveling along the Sterling Highway, a 2000 Ford Windstar driven by 74-year old Saylor Rehm of Kenai collided head-on with a 2006 Dodge Pick-up driven by Galen McIver of Wasilla...

Why You Need Uninsured Motorist Insurance

Posted on February 07, 2009
After twenty years representing people who are injured and killed in motor vehicle wrecks, I've learned a thing-or-two. The most important one - for you - is to buy the right automobile insurance. The guidelines are simple: Buy as much as you can afford...

Juneau Woman Dies in Glacier Highway Auto Accident

Posted on February 03, 2009
The Fort Mill Times report that Mary Grace Needham, a 31 year old Juneau woman, died as a result of injuries sustained in a car crash on the Glacier highway on Sunday, February 1, 2009. According to the Times, Ms. Needham was driving her Mercury Sedan when, for unknown reasons, she lost control of her sedan and crossed over into oncoming traffic...

Five Fatalities Signal a Brutal End to an Unusually Safe Year for Alaskan Drivers

Posted on January 08, 2009
The Alaska Department of Transportation recently revealed its year-end report regarding traffic accidents. The report notes that this year there were fewer traffic accident fatalities than in 2007. In fact, the report indicates that the 63 fatalities in 2008 was an “all-time low” for the state of Alaska...

19 year old U.S. Army Soldier dies in Alaska Car Wreck

Posted on January 07, 2009
Anchorage, Alaska—The Alaska Daily News reports that 19 year old soldier Travis Foster died in a car crash on the Tok Cutoff near Anchorage on December 23, 2008. According to reports, Mr. Foster was driving north on the cutoff when, for reasons unknown, he crossed the centerline and collided with a freightliner traveling in the opposite direction...

Two-Car Accident on Christmas Eve Sends Three to the Hospital. What Those Involved Need to Know..

Posted on January 05, 2009
Anchorage, Alaska—KTTU news reports that on Wednesday, December 24, 2008 a two-car accident closed the southbound Seward Highway ramp at O’Malley road for over two hours. The accident occurred when the driver of a Volkswagen Beetle attempted to turn onto the Seward highway from O’Malley road and was struck by oncoming traffic while crossing over to the opposite lane of the highway...

Crash on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway leaves one dead. Here's the law..

Posted on January 05, 2009
The Anchorage Daily news reports that a two-car accident on December 19, 2008 in the Mat-Su valley left one woman dead. According to reports, the sedan driven by the deceased, Judy White, was rear-ended by a large pick-up truck at approximately 3:30 p...

Crash at Seward Highway/Bird Creek leaves one dead and two injured. What those involved need to know..

Posted on January 05, 2009
Anchorage, Alaska—KTTU news reports that on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 a two-car accident closed the Seward highway near Bird Creek for nearly four hours and left one dead and two seriously injured. The Alaska Daily News Reports that the crash occurred at approximately 3:40 p...

Update on Christmas Eve Crash

Posted on January 05, 2009
We recently blogged a Christmas Eve crash on the Seward Highway at O'Malley road. The post can be found here. Sadly, this is an update to that post. The Anchorage Daily News reports that 7 year old Nicholas Sims has succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash and passed away on December 29, 2008...

5 Car Mash-Up Kills One and Injures Two on Seward Highway Near Girdwood

Posted on December 31, 2008
The Anchorage Daily News reports that a five-car accident on the Seward Highway took one life and left at least two others seriously injured. The paper reports that the accident occurred when a motorist traveling north attempted to pass vehicles in front of him/her by accelerating into the passing lane where a collision with a southbound vehicle occurred...

Three-Car Accident on Sterling Highway Sends Three to the Hospital

Posted on December 21, 2008
Soldotna, Alaska—The Peninsula Clarion reports that that a three-car accident on December 15, 2008 sent three people to the hospital and closed down the Sterling Highway for 40 minutes. Those injured in the accident include 21 year old Amber Sawyer of Anchorage, 62 year old Norma Daniels of Sterling and an unidentified passenger in the third vehicle which was driven by 17 year old Karen Duffy of Sterling...

Two-Car Accident in Fairbanks Takes Out Traffic Light: What Those Involved Need to Know

Posted on November 30, 2008
Fairbanks, Alaska—The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports that a two-car accident on November 25, 2008 took out a major traffic signal at the intersection of Ballaine and Farmer’s Loop roads near the University of Alaska campus. The accident involved four people...

87 Year Old Alaskan Woman Killed in Two-Car Accident on Sterling Highway

Posted on November 25, 2008
Soldotna, Alaska—KTTU News Alaska reports that 87 year old Mary Hunter was killed in a two-car collision on Alaska’s Sterling Highway outside Soldotna on Tuesday, November 11, 2008. Ms. Hunter was a passenger in a vehicle traveling north when the driver of a southbound vehicle, 17 year old Savanna Schoessler, lost control of her vehicle, crossed the center lane, and collided with the vehicle Ms...

24 year old Alaskan, Karen Burke, Involved in Serious Automobile Accident Outside Nevada City, California

Posted on October 27, 2008
Nevada City, CA—The Union newspaper reports that 24 year old Alaskan, Karen Burke, was involved a serious automobile accident on October 10, 2008 while traveling to Paramedic training on California Highway 20. The Union notes that Ms. Burke suffered serious injuries including two broken arms and two broken legs and remained in serious condition in Reno, Nevada following surgery to correct her injuries...

Fairbanks Resident Blessing Wallace and Climie Douglas Involved in Parks Highway Crash

Posted on October 21, 2008
The Alaska State Troopers report that Fairbanks resident Blessing Wallace, 22 and her passenger, 29-year-old Climie Douglas were involved in a 2-car accident on the Parks highway on October 10, 2008. Both occupants were trapped inside their vehicle following a head-on collision with a commercial vehicle...

Christopher Robin Gould Killed. His Family Should File These Claims:

Posted on July 23, 2008
The Alaska State Troopers report that 33-year-old Christopher Robin Gould was run over and killed by a front-loader at Viking Lumber, outside of Klawock, Alaska. The accident happened this weekend. Mr. Gould's family should be aware: (1) the Statute of Limitations for personal injury and death claims in Alaska is normally two years (AS 09...

Alaska Car Crash. One Fatality, Hoogland and Popovich Injured. Here's the Law.

Posted on July 22, 2008
The Alaska State Troopers Report that a motor vehicle wreck occurred on 07/03/08 at 0930 Alaska Standard Time near mile 43.5 of the Seward Highway. It appears that Donald Setters, 61, was driving a 1998 Jeep Cherokee northbound on the Seward Highway when he crossed the center-line and struck a 1993 Ford Aerostar, driven by JoeAnna Hoogland, 26, head-on...

Alaska Rollover Kills 3, injures 2. Alcohol Involved. Here's the Tort Law...

Posted on July 08, 2008
An Alaska single-vehicle automobile wreck killed three young men and badly injured two more on Friday. The roll-over occurred at mile 131 of the Parks Highway, about 2 miles South of Denali National Park. Killed were: (1) William Bradley, 21, of Whittier, CA; (2) Nathan Pollard, 21, of La Mirada, CA; and (3) Jerry Luzzi, 21, of La Habra, CA...

Alaska Bus Wreck - Korean Luxury Coach Line Corp. - Legal Claims For Injured

Posted on June 11, 2008
Thirteen Korean tourists were injured when a Luxury Coach Line bus left the roadway near mile 151 of the Richardson Hwy. It rolled. Three passengers were critically injured and air-lifted to hospitals. The families of these thirteen need to know:1...

Terry Bowyer Killed in Alaska Motorcycle Wreck. Legal Analysis.

Posted on June 10, 2008
The Fairbanks Daily News Miner reports that Terry Bowyer, 57 of San Diego, was killed in a motorcycle wreck at mile 132 of Alaska's Dalton Hwy. It is a gravel road, and very dangerous. The report indicates that Mr. Dalton was riding with "other motorcyclists...

Fairbanks Alaska Boating Accident Injures Two Women - Here's The Law They Need To Know...

Posted on June 10, 2008
The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports that two women were injured in a boating accident allegedly caused by Avery Thomas - who was apparently drunk. The police report that Thomas blew a .137. The legal limit is .08. That's more than 150% of the legal limit...

"I Got Run Over In Alaska ... Twice"

Posted on May 31, 2008
Alaska has the highest incident of industrial accidents in the nation. A good portion of those arise from motor vehicle wrecks. An increasing portion of those are SECOND wrecks. More and more of my clients are getting injured a SECOND time, while recovering from the first wreck...

Rich Nielsen Dies In Motorcycle Wreck. Here's The Law...

Posted on May 30, 2008
Sadly, yet another Alaskan motorcyclist was killed. Rich Nielsen, 62, died in a motorcycle wreck that took place near Beaver Creek in BC. It is reported that a female oncoming driver swerved into Mr. Nielsen's lane, forcing his motorcycle off the road...

Donn Johnson Dies In Alaskan Car Crash. Here's What His Family Should Know...

Posted on May 26, 2008
The Peninsula Clarion reports that Donn P. Johnson, 53, of Cass Lake, Minn. was killed in a head-on collision at approximately 1700 on Saturday. The wreck occurred on Kalifornsky Beach Road and involved Elizabeth Miller, 54, of Soldotna. Ms. Miller's 2003 Honda Element apparently crossed into Johnson's lane, striking Johnson's 2000 Hyundai head-on...

George Greene Killed in Alasksan ATV Wreck. Here's the Law...

Posted on May 24, 2008
The Anchorage Daily News reports that 38 year old George Green was killed, and his 17 year old passenger was badly injured in an ATV accident near Mat-Su Alaska on Thursday. It appears that the accident occurred at at the intersection of the Old Glenn Highway and the north end of Bodenburg Loop across from Plumley Road...

Gene Burch's Claims Against Adam Milazzo - Alaska Drunk Driving Death

Posted on May 17, 2008
Adam Milazzo was convicted of second degree murder for the drunk driving death of Gene Burch. The wreck occurred at the corner of Northern Lights Boulevard and Boniface Parkway on July 13, 2006. While fleeing police, a drunk Milazzo ran a red light, crashing into People Mover bus driver Gene Burch, who was on his way home from work...

Alaskan Auto Wreck in Seldovia. The Passenger's Rights:

Posted on May 01, 2008
The Homer Alaska News reports that a 04/24/08, single-car crash killed Seldovia resident Laramie Morrison, 28, and injured his passenger, Sonny Agli, 29. The wreck occurred when Morrison lost control and hit a tree near Mile 1 Jakolof Bay Road in Seldovia...

"I Got Run Over In Alaska ... Twice"

Posted on April 25, 2008
Alaska has the highest incident of industrial accidents in the nation. A good portion of those arise from motor vehicle wrecks. An increasing portion of those are SECOND wrecks. More and more of my clients are getting injured a SECOND time, while recovering from the first wreck...

No Insurance For Your Injuries? Think Again...

Posted on April 17, 2008
Insurance companies sell Alaskan Uninsured Motorist Insurance. Unfortunately, they never tell their clients what it does for them - and never admit that it's there to help their injured clients after a car wreck. Here's what you need to know about Uninsured Motorist Insurance...

Turn Tightly - Then Change Lanes

Posted on April 17, 2008
Here's a driving irritant that has been killing me... When did it become OK to "turn wide" (pardon the grammar)? The driving law in Alaska, and (I've got to believe) every other state makes it painfully clear that when turning onto a multi-lane highway, you MUST first turn into the nearest lane, travel until it's safe, and THEN change lanes to the distant lanes...

Alaska Helicopter Crash Killes 3, injures 14 year old boy

Posted on April 17, 2008
It was reported today that a helicopter crash off the Glenn Highway killed Michael Seward, 37, of Palmer; Thomas Middleton, 46, of Anchorage; Joseph O'Donnell, 48, of Girdwood; and Benoit Pin, a 39-year-old Anchorage pilot for Era Helicopters. Quinn Ellington, 14, was also injured in the crash...

Tok Snowmobile Wreck...

Posted on March 27, 2008
The AP reports that Tok resident Kenneth Albright, 41, was killed when his snowmobile collided with a pickup truck in Tok. The passenger on Albright's snowmobile was also injured. That passenger needs to IMMEDIATELY contact an attorney who will investigate this wreck...

Tok Snowmobile Wreck...

Posted on March 26, 2008
The AP reports that Tok resident Kenneth Albright, 41, was killed when his snowmobile collided with a pickup truck in Tok. The passenger on Albright's snowmobile was also injured. That passenger needs to IMMEDIATELY contact an attorney who will investigate this wreck...

Insurance Adjuster Being Unfair?

Posted on March 06, 2008
After a motor vehicle wreck in Alaska, many folks try to deal with insurance adjusters on the phone. The problem is that insurance adjusters are trained to always say "No." It's in their blood. Don't feel bad when they tell you "No" - or if they tell you that your injury "just isn't worth that much...

Smart Folks File Uninsured Motorist Claims ...

Posted on February 10, 2008
Almost all automobile insurance includes "Uninsured Motorist" (UM) or "Underinsured Motorist" (UIM) coverage. Yet, most people who buy this insurance fail to file a claim when they are hurt by an uninsured or underinsured motorist. Here's what you need to know

Alaska Republicans: Poor People Worth Less Than Rich People...

Posted on January 19, 2008
Alaska's House/Senate and the Governor's mansion have been occupied by a Republican majority for more than decade. A few years ago, they decided that, in the name of "accountability" - Poor Folks are Worth Less than Rich Folks." This one must be changed...

Alaska's Glenn Highway Kills Three, Injures Two More...

Posted on January 19, 2008
The Alaska State Troopers report that three people died Saturday and two others were hurt in a crash on the Glenn Highway. The accident occurred a mile north of the Palmer-Wasilla interchange. A late model Chevy pickup, driven by 26-year-old Joshua Swigart of Anchorage was apparently heading south when it crossed the center line and sideswiped a Subaru...

Knutson Charged With Vehicular Murder of Fairbanks Man

Posted on December 03, 2007
KTTU Anchorage reports that Tim Oates, a long-time Fairbanksan, was killed in a motor vehicle wreck Sunday. The crash was caused by Trent Knutson. Mr. Knutson faces assault, drunk driving and murder charges. Here is what the Oates family should be doing...

Semi-Truck Collision Kills Marvin Harris. What His Family Should Do...

Posted on December 02, 2007
The Anchorage Daily News reports that Marvin Harris, 52, was killed on 11/29/07 while driving a semi southbound at mile 53 of the Dalton Highway. The oncoming trailer was being pulled by Jason Knight, 34 of Fairbanks. Knight was driving a 2006 Freightliner...

Woody Trefon Killed by Four-Wheeler. Here's What His Family Needs To Know:

Posted on December 02, 2007
The Anchorage Daily News reports that 20 year old Woody Trefon was killed in Nondalton, Alaska on Tuesday - run over by a four-wheeler driven by his cousin, 19 year old Sean Trefon. Woody's family needs to...

The Family Trust - Who's Sticking It To Whom?

Posted on December 01, 2007
From an attorney's perspective, the key is tracking what the surviving spouse did with the money. If he/she simply treated the money as his/her own - and spent it however he/she saw fit, huge problems await down the road. You see, the minute the first spouse died, the trust was set in stone...

Christopher Jenkins Killed by Gifford. Claims To File

Posted on November 21, 2007
The AP reports that Matthew Brent Gifford was charged with second degree murder in the automobile related death of Christopher Jenkins in April. Gifford apparently had alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and other illicit drugs in his system when Jenkins was killed...

What Horace Field's Family Needs To Do, Now.

Posted on November 19, 2007
KTUU of Anchorage reports that Horace Field, 45 of Noorvik may have been drinking when he was struck, dragged and killed by a semi-truck last week. While this sounds bad for any related claims, Mr. Field's family needs to immediately...

Are Alaskan Drivers Getting More Stupid, or Just Better Connected?

Posted on November 12, 2007
A friend phoned me today, complaining that in his 30 years in Fairbanks, Alaska - he has never seen such poor driving as he's encountered this winter. "Ward, are folks just getting stupid, or what?" "Just yesterday, another person was killed on the Steese...

Myong Thayer's Death An Accident... What To Do Now?

Posted on November 11, 2007
Channel 2 of Anchorage reports that investigation of Myong Thayer's death in Ketchikan Alaska reveals that it was an "accident." Thayer apparently stepped out in front of a bus owned by Alaska Amphibious Tours. Also, there was no presence of alcohol or drugs in the bus driver's system...