Anchorage Personal Injury Lawyer

Three Men Killed In Dimond Car Accident

Chrissie Cole — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:21:00 GMT

Three men killed in a car accident Friday night, were identified Saturday, according to Anchorage police.

The three men were riding in one of the two vehicles involved in the crash. They were identified as James Breslin, 41, of Oklahoma, Ronald Staggs, 45, of Montana and Jeffrey Gardinier, 49, of Colorado.

Witnesses told police that the Mustang, owned by Staggs, was headed west on Dimond at a high rate of speed when it appeared to lose control and jumped a median just west of Arctic Blvd.

The Mustang collided with a Chevy pickup carrying a family of four, said police. They were treated for non-life threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Death During Drug Deal Could Lead to Civil Claims

Mike Schneider — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:12:00 GMT

Brenda Baehm, 42 died recently in Anchorage when she was run over by a vehicle operated by Cora Williams, 37. Williams claims she wasn't trying to hit Baehm, who had been allegedly trying to buy drugs from Williams' passenger, Sarah Savage-Williams, 37. Baehm's family has wrongful death claims that can be brought against Williams, and possibly Savage-Williams, and if Ms. Baehm had uninsured or underinsured motor vehicle insurance, claims can likely be made against that coverage as well. The family should contact an attorney knowledgeable in such matters as soon as possible.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

Woman Ejected From Car Has Claims Against Driver

Mike Schneider — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:06:10 GMT

Kenneth Christenson, 51, was unhappy with his girlfriend and passenger. He forced her out of the moving vehicle at about mile 133 of the Parks Highway, drug her for some distance, and beat her, according to police. He has been charged with assault and driving while under the influence. The 25 year old woman has claims she can make against her drunk driver boyfriend. Even though his conduct may be found to be criminal, liability insurance on the vehicle he was driving, and/or her own uninsured or underinsured motorvehicle coverage should respond to her claims.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

Toddler Run Over by Nome Taxi

Mike Schneider — Mon, 04 May 2009 06:07:00 GMT

Tragedy struck a Nome family a week ago, when a Nome Checker Cab ran over 22 month old Christopher Johnson-Orzenna. Christopher and his Dad had been dropped off. As his father got luggage from the rear of the cab, Christopher wandered in front of the vehicle. The cab moved forward hitting the toddler just after the rear baggage door closed. Charges have not yet been filed, but there is certain civil liability where a commercial driver fails to "clear the area" before moving the vehicle, especially when he knows small children are near.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

Alaska Supreme Court Gives Bad Bars a Pass

Mike Schneider — Sun, 03 May 2009 17:56:39 GMT

It has been the law for decades, that if a bar served a minor or an obviously drunken person with "criminal negligence," the bar was responsible for all the harm caused by the drunken person or minor in question. This was the "trade off" for the bar's immunity from liability when it was guilty of no more than "ordinary negligence." But that rule came to an end with the Alaska Supreme Court's decision in the Sowinski case, issued 12/31/08. That case, a 3 to 2 decision by the Court, held that the strict several liability provisions of AS 09.17.080 demanded that the fault of the bar get compared to the fault of the minor or drunk and damages paid according to fault. The ruling, another driving home the impact of various "tort reforms," will keep claims from being brought against bad bars. They will simply be too risky to pursue. Criminally negligent sellers of alcohol will have "tort reformed" themselves into immunity. That was the plan all along.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

Crime Victims Have a Chance to Get Their Losses Back

Mike Schneider — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:30:19 GMT

Violence is easily found in most editions of the local paper. But the criminal justice system rarely does much to take care of the wage losses, medical bills, and other harms and losses that crime often inflicts on crime victims. Most crime victims who have such losses should consult an attorney that knows something about insurance law and claims handling. If the crime has as its basis, an act of "recklessness" or "criminal negligence" the criminal may be covered for the losses he/she inflicted by a policy of homeowner's insurance. Youthful offenders often "reside" with parents or other relatives who own or are buying a home. Almost always, these homes are covered by homeowners insurance and residents of the home are "additional insureds" under the policy.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

AAJ CEO Jon Haber Made a Difference for All of Us

Mike Schneider — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:02:10 GMT

Jon Haber worked tirelessly for the American Association of Justice over the last many years. He brought the AAJ into the current century by updating its use of technology and making it appreciate what needed to be done to better advocate the "People Over Profits" philosophy of the organization. Attorneys who work for people owe him a debt of gratitude, as do all Americans who value their right to be treated fairly in America's courtrooms.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

Recent Shooting Could Lead to Civil Claims

Mike Schneider — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:31:41 GMT

March 15, 2009, a party at a warehouse in South Anchorage went bad. Chad Zurfluh tried to break up a fight, was assaulted himself, and thrown out of the warehouse where the party was going on. Stupidly, he returned with a friend, Oscar J. Lajoei, 29. Lajoei was armed. According to witnesses, as Zurfluh tried to open the door to the warehouse, Lajoei opened fire with a handgun. Bullets went throught the door striking and killing Dimond High student, Colton Crow, and injurying Robert Lee, 21 and Alexandru Hidan, 22, both of Anchorage.

Criminal charges are pending, but won't do much to pay for the medical bills or funeral expenses. The injured and the family of the dead young man should consider making claims for personal injury and wrongful death. A good lawyer handling these claims will assert "joint" or "conserted action" liability against Lajoei and Zurfluh. If either or both are named, or additional, insureds under a homeowner's policy, then that insurance should respond to pay the claims in full. Alaska's statute of limitations will bar these claims if not asserted by filing a complaint in the right court, naming the right defendants, by the second anniversary of the shooting.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider

Anchorage Police Advise Drivers To Stay Off Roads

Chrissie Cole — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:32:00 GMT

Drivers are advised to stay off roads if possible and to drive slowly and carefully, due to dangerous driving conditions.

On Friday evening, within a five our period, the Anchorage Police Department responded to 79 accidents – 16 involved injuries – and 34 involved vehicles in distress.

One of the many car accidents involved a single crash on the Glenn Highway by Fort Richardson. The accident, which injured three people, occurred when the driver lost control of the vehicle and rolled over several times before coming to rest in the median.

The driver was treated at the scene for minor injuries to his hands and arms.

One of his passengers, 21, suffered facial and head injuries when he was ejected from the vehicle.

The third passenger was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

According to police, no one was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Chrissie Cole

Medical Mistakes and What to do About Them

Mike Schneider — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:35:41 GMT

Medical negligence is common, according to the medical industry's own findings. One of the worst places to be is the hospital...particularly late at night or in July. And in Alaska, where these cases are made more challenging by legal rules set by politicians, it is hard to find a good attorney to help. For an informative article on how to best protect yourself, see the link above.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Schneider