Woody Trefon Killed by Four-Wheeler. Here's What His Family Needs To Know:
Attorney
(866) 735-1102 Ext 455
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 wrong location or wrong direction - then claims must be filed against Sean's insurer. The reason people buy insurance is to ensure that if they cause an accident - there is money to cover their mistake. Let's hope that Sean's four-wheeler was insured.
Second, get a final copy of the police report. It will explain a lot of the details.
Third, talk to witnesses. Surprisingly, the police often times miss, or are just too busy, to speak with eye-witnesses. They can shed a lot of light on situations like this.
Fourth, see if Woody owned an insured vehicle of his own. If so, be sure to file a claim for Uninsured / Underinsured motorist benefits. This is very important.
Fifth, keep an eye on the Statute of Limitations. Normally, you must file wrongful death claims in Alaska within two years of when the person was killed. Other deadlines may apply. Check with a qualified attorney to see which deadlines apply to you.
Sadly, recreational vehicle injuries/deaths are surging in Alaska. Many folks like Woody are getting crippled and killed in situations just like this. As state-wide Alaskan personal injury attorneys, we see this tragedy over and over again. Alaska needs to take strong steps to ensure that recreational vehicles like the one involved in this situations are insured. Cars have mandatory insurance - it is time for the Legislature to extend that rule to cover four-wheelers and snowmobiles. They are ubiquitous - and Alaskans are getting injured/killed. Enough is enough.
Finally, don't listen to a word that the insurance companies tell you. Do you own investigation. Find a good attorney to help you.
The Trefon family is in our prayers. It has been a rough year for recreational vehicle injuries/deaths in Alaska.
For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Car and Motorcycle Accidents.