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Alaska car crash gets repeat offender 6 years in prison

On behalf of Law Office Of Chadwick McGrady P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Monday, May 20, 2013.

Between 2009 and 2011, a now 27-year-old man caused two serious car accidents on Alaska roadways. The second car crash resulted in the death of his 19-year-old passenger. It occurred while the driver was already on probation for a conviction in connection with a previous collision in 2009 that resulted in serious injury to a pedestrian.

The 2009 incident was apparently the result of a drug deal gone bad. Apparently, the man arranged to sell prescription drugs to a teenager. When she gave him the money, he sped away in his truck instead of giving her the drugs. In the course of doing so, he dragged the 19-year-old and caused her serious injuries. He was ultimately convicted of several crimes related to the hit and run tragedy.

Creative approach to uninsured motorist problem: 1 state's remedy

On behalf of Law Office Of Chadwick McGrady P.C. posted in Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Accidents on Monday, May 13, 2013.

Uninsured and underinsured drivers are a growing concern in Alaska and across the country. Whenever a motor vehicle accident results in serious injury or death, insurance issues are an inevitable part of any post accident investigation by accident victims. If the injury or death was caused by the negligence of an underinsured of uninsured motorist, the avenues of financial recovery are limited. In the end, all of us pay more when this occurs -- in the form of higher insurance rates and/or out of pocket expenses.

One state in the south central part of the country is trying to do something about it. A new law was just signed by the governor. It's specifically aimed at uninsured motorists and gives law enforcement personnel an additional weapon in cracking down on offenders.

Drunk driving accident blamed for fatal Alaska snow machine crash

On behalf of Law Office Of Chadwick McGrady P.C. posted in Drunk Driving Accidents on Monday, May 6, 2013.

Personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits are not limited to motor vehicle accidents in Alaska. Whenever someone is serious injured or killed due to the negligent or reckless conduct of another, our laws provide for the right of those affected to pursue claims for reimbursement of monetary damages sustained. One recent snow machine crash has already been characterized by authorities as a fatal drunk driving accident.

An autopsy by the Alaska State Medical Examiner was planned in the aftermath of a collision in Aniak that resulted in the death of a 15-year-old boy. The collision occurred on a weekday night sometime before 9:43 p.m., when it was reported to authorities. The deceased was said to be standing, along with another boy, beside a snow vehicle on an Aniak Airstrip runway at the westerly edge when tragedy struck.

Elderly, Native Alaskans have higher risk of pedestrian accident

On behalf of Law Office Of Chadwick McGrady P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Friday, May 3, 2013.

Each year, close to 34,000 people die in motor vehicles accidents across the country, including Alaska. Of those, about 4,000 are attributable to a pedestrian accident. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published the results of a study focused on these types of fatal accidents.

In the 10 year period prior to 2011, the CDC found that some 47,000 pedestrians lost their lives in a traffic-related collision. Those over the age of 75 were said to be more than twice as likely to become a fatal pedestrian accident victim as those younger than age 35. It has been suggested that age-related factors such as diminished vision, declining motor skills and reduced mental capacity might explain the findings. Moreover, older walkers are more likely to lost their lives in a pedestrian accident, an alarming statistic given that our population overall is aging.

Alaska head-on truck crashes often fatal, even with no DUI

On behalf of Law Office Of Chadwick McGrady P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Monday, April 22, 2013.

Not all accidents are attributable to drunk driving. Nevertheless, the consequences resulting from truck crashes due to a head-on collision are often devastating, whether alcohol was involved or not. A recent crash in Denali Borough resulted in the death of both drivers and serious injuries to a passenger in each vehicle.

Initial reports were unclear as to precisely what happened, though it appears a northbound pickup towing a trailer full of snow machines struck a southbound truck that was hauling a pickup by trailer. The drivers, both 57-year-old residents of Alaska, died in the crash. The northbound driver was accompanied by his 55-year-old wife, and she was hospitalized with undisclosed injuries. The southbound driver had his 24-year-old daughter as his passenger, and she was taken to a separate hospital. Both women were expected to survive their injuries, which were not otherwise described.

Alaska troopers say wrong way crash a drunk driving accident

On behalf of Law Office Of Chadwick McGrady P.C. posted in Drunk Driving Accidents on Friday, April 19, 2013.

Early in the morning of the last Saturday in March, an Alaska State Trooper in Matanuska-Susitna Borough had to act quickly to avoid a collision with an oncoming pickup truck. The near collision took place near Copper Creek. The trooper was headed eastbound when the westbound pickup crossed into the peace officer's lane of travel. Though a collision was avoided, authorities say it was a precursor to a drunk driving accident that soon followed.

After the near miss, the trooper turned around to give chase to the pickup. When he caught up, the pickup was still traveling on the wrong side of the roadway. A westbound sedan was then struck head-on by the pickup.

Driver loses control of car in Alaska car crash: 4 hurt

On behalf of Law Office Of Chadwick McGrady P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, April 11, 2013.

It was not immediately clear what caused a 26-year-old man to lose control of his car on a roadway near Wasilla, Alaska. The consequences, however, were severe. Four people in the car the man struck were seriously hurt. One of them, a 5-year-old boy was said to be in critical condition following the car crash.

The accident involved two vehicles. Authorities say that the driver deemed at fault veered into the oncoming lane of travel and collided with a car containing the four injured victims. Alaska State Troopers responded to the scene of the accident.

Motorcycle helmets in Alaska could help prevent a head injury

On behalf of Law Office Of Chadwick McGrady P.C. posted in Brain Injury on Friday, April 5, 2013.

Motorcyclists in Alaska may take interest in a recent news report championing the use of helmets to prevent head injuries. The risk of a brain injury from a motorcycle accident on our roadways is significant, particularly for riders without appropriate safety gear. Of course, there is no guarantee that a helmet is going to save a biker from injury in every crash. However, their use has been shown to greatly reduce the risk of a head injury in many collisions.

Regardless of the type of accident, a concussion cannot always be immediately diagnosed. It is crucial to seek medical care immediately, even if there are no immediate symptoms. On occasion, internal bleeding can lead to medical problems quickly. Prompt intervention is required. Often, a formal diagnosis is not possible absent a CAT scan.

Failure to yield cited as cause of Alaska car crash, 2 hurt

On behalf of Law Office Of Chadwick McGrady P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, March 28, 2013.

Teenagers account for a fair share of the motor vehicle accidents that happen in Alaska. Sometimes, the car accidents are caused by a lack of driving experience, and on other occasions a lack of maturity may be a factor. It is not yet clear if either or both of those possibilities played a part in a recent car crash in Juneau. Nevertheless, two people were hurt, including the person that police deem responsible for the collision.

The crash occurred in mid March on a Wednesday evening. According to law enforcement personnel, an 18-year-old driver cut out in front of another vehicle while she was trying to execute a left turn. The two cars collided in the intersection. Both she and a passenger in the other car were injured, though the specific nature and extent of their injuries were not further detailed. Both were transported by private vehicle to a local hospital.

Alaska single car crash injures 3 in Juneau

On behalf of Law Office Of Chadwick McGrady P.C. posted in Car Accidents on Wednesday, March 20, 2013.

Alaska law enforcement personnel have still not released the names of the victims of a single car crash on Feb. 14. The single car crash remains under active investigation, with as many as nine police officers actively involved in the investigation. Authorities have not disclosed the identities of the parties since no one has as yet been charged with a crime.

Nevertheless, police say the initial evidence suggests that both speed and alcohol played a part in the serious wreck. First reports of the accident came in shortly before 7 p.m. on Valentine's Day. A 30-year-old male was reportedly driving a Honda Civic on the Glacier Highway when he struck a rock wall. Two female passengers, 30 and 52 years of age, occupied the vehicle with the driver.

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