Automobile Accidents

• Warm Roads? Slow Down in Alaska

  Ward Merdes | February 18, 2009 1:52 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  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...

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

  James Cool | January 09, 2009 2:01 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  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...

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

  Ward Merdes | April 25, 2008 9:24 PM | 1 CommentFairbanks, AK

  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...

• No Insurance For Your Injuries? Think Again...

  Ward Merdes | April 18, 2008 1:50 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  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...

• 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...

• 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...

• Snowmachiner Killed By Well Casing. The Law...

  Ward Merdes | October 22, 2007 4:14 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Stolach family needs to hire an accident reconstructionist.The Alaska State Troopers report that Dewey J. Staloch, 61,died Sunday after his snowmachine collided with a well casing. Mr. Staloch was declared dead at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, where he was taken after the accident on Calder Road in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough east of Wasilla.Troopers responded at 5:50 p.m. to a snowmachine...

• Wasilla Highway Claims Another Victim. Here's The law:

  Ward Merdes | October 19, 2007 3:22 PM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Other driver in Zehrung accident needs to hire an attorney ASAP.The Associated Press reports that 24-year-old Denis L Zehrung was killed in a two-car crash this morning on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Alaska State Troopers say Zehrung was westbound at mile 6.5 when her vehicle crossed the center line and hit another vehicle nearly head-on. The other driver has been hospitalized. Here is what the...

• Slow Down Fairbanks...

  Ward Merdes | October 13, 2007 7:45 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Fairbanks is experiencing a rash of motor vehicle accidents, horrible injuries and deaths. The new snow is (again) forcing folks to test their skills in traffic. Please slow down as you renew your winter driving skills. In case you didn't get that, let me repeat ... SLOW DOWN. The phone in our law office is ringing off the hook with callers who have been hurt in wrecks. Folks are getting hurt,...

• Ft. Richardson Soldier Dies in Iraq Car Crash. What His Family Needs To Know About Insurance Claims...

  Ward Merdes | October 12, 2007 7:40 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  The AP reports that Jason M. Lantieri died 10/10/07 in Iraq - from injuries suffered in a car crash. Sgt. Lantieri was stationed in Ft. Richardson, Alaska. His family should closely examine its right to bring insurance claim(s) for this loss. Specifically, Sgt. Lantieri's family should consider bringing Uninsured Motorist claims under all policies that may apply to this wreck. Those insurance...