Automobile Accidents

• Driver Dead of Injuries In Sterling Highway Crash

  Jane Schneider | January 07, 2008 12:51 AM | 0 CommentsAnchorage, AK

  David Chapman, 43, was northbound on the Sterling Highway near mile 85 when his vehicle fishtailed on the icy road when he attempted to stop for a vehicle in front of him turning west. He slid into the oncoming lane and was hit by a southbound tractor trailer. Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene. Unless the turning vehicle stopped abruptly and without warning, there is little Chapman's...

• Alcohol & Drug-Related Deaths At Ten Year High

  Jane Schneider | November 26, 2007 12:30 AM | 0 CommentsAnchorage, AK

  Anchorage alone has had 12 traffic deaths this year where alcohol or drugs contributed. Alcohol and drug related deaths comprise 76% of total traffic deaths for the year. The figures haven't been that bad in a decade. If you or a loved one is the victim of a drunk or drugged up driver, hire a good personal injury attorney as soon as possible. You may have special rights against impaired...

• 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.

• Head-On Crash Causes Death and Serious Injury

  Jane Schneider | October 24, 2007 12:08 AM | 0 CommentsAnchorage, AK

  Denise Zehrung crossed the center line of the Palmer/Wasilla highway at mile 6.5. The head-on collision she caused took her life, and sent the other driver to the hospital with serious injuries. Both vehicles were total losses.Often there isn't enough liability insurance to take care of the injury caused by negligent driving. The survivor will likely have to look to her own underinsured...

• 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,...

• Civil Law Issues Related To the Garner Homicide Trial

  Ward Merdes | October 04, 2007 8:10 AM | 0 CommentsFairbanks, AK

  Kevin Garner is on trial for his involvement in Catherine Ahsoak's death. It is alleged that Garner was intoxicated when he ran over Ahsoak on a Fairbanks street. At the same time, Ahsoak had blood levels of Alcohol and Benadryl. She was also deaf. Ahsoak was allegedly dragged for blocks under Garner's vehicle. This is what Ahsoak's family needs to know about related insurance claims:First,...

• Drunk, Drugged Up Driver Not Guilty of Homicide

  Jane Schneider | October 01, 2007 12:06 AM | 0 CommentsAnchorage, AK

  In May of 2005, a Fairbanks woman crashed into a vehicle and killed the driver. She was high on alcohol and drugs.But video footage showed that the dead driver went through a traffic control device and caused the crash. The female driver was convicted of no more than driving while under the influence. Probably the right result.For more information on this subject, please see our section on...

• Near Head-on Crash Leads to Arrest of Drunk Driver

  Jane Schneider | August 13, 2007 12:26 AM | 0 CommentsAnchorage, AK

  Last Wednesday around 5:00 a.m., a woman was nearly hit head-on by a drunk driver. She called police, who found David Keller, husband of Wasilla's mayor, standing in a ditch next to his undrivable vehicle. Keller over corrected in the process of trying to avoid the crash. He was taken into custody and is charged with drunk driving. Both drivers were lucky. Alaska has a high number of...

• Young Driver Causes Brain Damage: Leaves Scene

  Mike Schneider | July 23, 2007 12:05 AM | 0 CommentsAnchorage, AK

  A sixteen-year-old driver with no more than a learner's permit tried to enter the Seward Highway from Brayton drive. Other drivers tried to avoid him. The crash that followed left a young woman with brain damage. The young driver left the scene but was later located. The law required that those driving on a learner's permit be in the company of an adult licensed driver. The sixteen-year-old...

• Critical Injury Caused by Crash With Moose

  Mike Schneider | July 13, 2007 12:16 AM | 0 CommentsAnchorage, AK

  A Cadillac crashed with a moose near Trapper Creek last week. The roof was peeled back and trapped the passenger, and Anchorage woman, until first responders could free her. She was critically injured. Auto manufacturers have been sued successfully for failing to design cars to withstand such crashes. Whether it is moose in Alaska or cattle in the Western US, vehicle occupants need...