Automobile Accidents

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

  Ward Merdes | January 19, 2008 5:57 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  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...At the urging of the national automobile insurance companies and the Chamber of Commerce, Alaskan Republicans decided that people who are...

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

  Ward Merdes | January 19, 2008 5:45 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  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. The three dead, who were riding in a 2002...

• Knutson Charged With Vehicular Murder of Fairbanks Man

  Ward Merdes | December 03, 2007 6:58 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  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...Investigate what insurance carrier covers Mr. Knutson - and file a claim ASAP - in writing. Then, file a claim against Mr. Oates' own...

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

  Ward Merdes | December 02, 2007 4:40 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  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. It appears that Knight's trailer drifted into the Southbound (oncoming) lane occupied by Harris, killing Harris on impact. Harris was...

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

  Ward Merdes | December 01, 2007 8:02 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  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...First, see how the accident occurred. If there is any indication that Sean was doing anything wrong - driving while intoxicated - driving without paying close attention - driving at the...

• Christopher Jenkins Killed by Gifford. Claims To File

  Ward Merdes | November 21, 2007 1:16 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  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. Jenkins' family needs to hire a good personal injury attorney NOW, and ...1. File liability claims against Gifford's insurer. Be sure to...

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

  Ward Merdes | November 19, 2007 9:21 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  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...1. Find an Accident Reconstruction (AR) expert. That expert will view the scene, the statement, the police report and surveillance footage from the nearby FBI...

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

  Ward Merdes | November 11, 2007 8:16 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  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. How many will it take before folks stop talking on their cell phones?" I also had a phone call from a woman who was literally run over by a...

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

  Ward Merdes | November 11, 2007 10:06 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Accidents provide foundation to almost all civil actions.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. Does this mean that the Thayer family has no claim? ...

• Correction: Two Injured - Not Killed On Kenai Spur

  Ward Merdes | October 29, 2007 5:26 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  A quick correction - the Peninsula Clarion reported that Baier, 20, and Norman Copeland, 30 were injured, not killed on the Kenai Spur Highway. My apologies for the mistake.