All Topics

• "What Can You Get For Me?"

  Ward Merdes | March 31, 2006 10:45 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Injured people phone me every week, asking what I can get for them. They want to know what Alaskan law allows them to recover. Here's the list...If you are injured in a motor vehicle crash, for example, Alaskan law allows you to claim these "damages" from the defendant: (1) past and future medical bills; (2) past and future lost wages; and (3) past and future "non-economic" losses. The term...

• The Discovery Rule

  Ward Merdes | March 31, 2006 9:08 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

• Protect Your Rights

  Ward Merdes | March 30, 2006 9:17 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  If you, or someone you know, has been injured in a motor vehicle crash, and there is a related injury or death claim act quickly. Alaska state laws limit the time Alaskans have to file a claim or bring a lawsuit.A statute of limitations is a law limiting the time for you to pursue a legal remedy. Once the statutory period lapses, unless a legal exception applies, an injured person loses his/her...

• Alaska Commercial Fishing Is Deadliest Catch

  Ward Merdes | March 23, 2006 12:44 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Families of commercial fisherman in Alaska await news of missing family members believed to be taken by rough Alaskan seas. Alaska State Troopers are resuming the search for Juneau fisherman Rick Nebert and crewman Matthew Young of Sitka. Both have been missing since their boat disappeared one week ago. "Commercial fishing in Alaska accounts for an occupational fatality rate that is 28 times the...

• Disclaimer

  Staff Writer | March 17, 2005 9:10 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  The information found on this website should not be construed as legal advice and is not a substitute for professional legal consultation. You should not base your legal decisions solely on the information found in this site and you are encouraged to seek the counsel of an attorney regarding your specific questions or situation. The information found herein may represent the opinions or...

• Hazel Mary Hopson Killed In Car Crash - Related Law

  Ward Merdes | July 24, 2007 10:00 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Hazel Mary Hopson's death is a tragedy. All that can b e done is to ensure that all available insurance is taken for her family. This entry explains Alaska law about car accidents and how insurance claims should be filed when a person is killed in a wreck.Hazel Mary Hopson, 37, was killed in a car crash on Sunday night near North Pole, Alaska. She was a restrained passenger in a motor vehicle...

• Drug Companies Try and Stall the Release of Generic Drugs

  Jenny Albano | July 10, 2007 10:23 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  As a patent is about to expire, generic drug makers can request FDA approval for their drug if it is a bioequivalent of the patented version. The brand-name companies obviously do not want the generic drugs to be approved because they will lose money. One way companies have found to delay the release of generic drugs is through "citizen petitions". These petitions allow anyone to express...

• Accident or Negligence?

  Ward Merdes | May 12, 2007 7:25 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Negligence is stupidity. As a juror, just ask yourself if the defendant could have avoided this situation by being more careful. If your answer is "Yes" - then hold the defendant Negligent and give the injured person enough money to get back on their horse. It's that simple. If you break it - you buy it.Jurors are sometimes confused between "Accidents" and "Negligence." After conducting dozens...

• Single Car Wrecks - "Can I Sue Daddy?"

  Ward Merdes | March 10, 2007 4:06 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Kids hurt when a family vehicle goes off the road are doubly-helpless. A driving parent doesn't want to admit fault, and their own insurance carrier will deny benefits to the injured child. Call an attorney ASAP when your family is in a single-vehicle wreck. You have rights that your insurer won't mention.Motor vehicle wrecks. Nobody wants to think about them - but they happen anyway. Real...

• HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED IN A CRASH?

  Ward Merdes | April 25, 2006 2:27 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  The insurance company of the individual responsible for injuring you will contact you very soon after the crash. They will want to ask you questions about your injuries. These first conversations after the crash may by difficult. You may be agitated or in pain. But common sense and a few guiding principles will prevent you from saying anything that may negatively effect your claim in the long...