Practice These Tips To Help Avoid Accidents

• Frequently check your side and rear view mirrors for approaching vehicles;
• If you are first in line at a red light, look before entering the intersection on the green light;
• When stopping behind another vehicle allow plenty of time to slow down;
• Brake gently and avoid sudden stops while winter driving;
• When stopping behind a vehicle leave approximately 4 feet between vehicles (a good gauge is to stop while you can still see the rear tires of the vehicle ahead of you);
• Follow posted speed limits – or – if road conditions or weather visibility warrant lower speeds, adjust accordingly;
• Never speed while winter driving;
• Do not engage in distracting activities (i.e. texting, eating, reading, etc.);
• Remove snow off all vehicle windows and the hood before driving;
• Avoid using cruise control and overdrive on icy roads;
• Be extra cautious on bridges and shady spots – they are more prone to icy conditions;
• Most importantly, always wear your seat belt.

Slow Down Alaska

Awareness and preparation increases Alaska Road Safety. Slow Down Alaska. It is much harder to control or stop your vehicle on a slick or snow-covered surface. Always remember that you are not the only one on the road. Avoid hard breaks and never speed into turns. Drivers must give snowplows, large trucks, and emergency vehicles even more space than normal.

Lastly, be prepared for any emergency while winter driving. The temperatures during winter can drop to a staggering -40° F. If you are stranded in these temperatures it is of paramount importance that you have a well-stocked emergency kit in your vehicle. Items such as jumper cables, tow straps and flashlights are a definite must. Also, all vehicles should have extra blankets and water, as well as both tool and first aid kits.

We hope you and yours enjoy the beautiful snow and the outdoor activities associated with this winter driving season. May you have a fun and safe winter, free of accidents and injuries.

Call Johnson Law at  (907)277-3090 or use our Contact Form to discuss your winter driving motor vehicle crash injury case. We are here to serve you.

Johnson Law has been helping Alaskans injured in winter driving accidents for 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Image Source: Alaska Car Transport

Alaska Auto Insurance Requirements

According to the mandatory insurance law, the vehicle owner or driver has to have liability coverage on a vehicle. The minimum Alaska Auto Insurance coverage requirement is $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for injuries or death and $25,000 for property damage.

Although Alaska has set minimum levels of auto insurance. Many crashes cause damages exceeding those minimum requirements. For example, a serious crash may result in long-term injuries. These kind of injuries may reduce a victim’s ability to earn a living and limit his or her quality of life. When this occurs, the injured person may need financial help beyond the at-fault driver’s policy limits. Our advice is to review your insurance and then buy as much Liability insurance coverage as you can afford.

Penalties For Driving Without Insurance

If a negligent driver is driving without Alaska Auto Insurance and the auto crash injury victims can’t collect from an insurance company following an accident, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may suspend the negligent driver’s license until injured parties are paid in full in accordance with any judgment made by the court. There is a mandatory insurance law in Alaska. Being uninsured violates state law.

Drivers who do not carry Alaska Auto Insurance coverage may lose their license for at least 90 days when unable to produce proof of insurance. This keeps uninsured drivers off of the roads while they make required payments for your care and financial losses.

The Financial Responsibility law requires any negligent driver who hits another driver to pay for related losses, whether or not the negligent driver carries Alaska Auto Insurance. Once parties agree to a settlement, the negligent driver may regain their driver license upon court approval.

Johnson Law knows Alaska and Alaska Auto Insurance Law. Find out how we can help. Call Johnson Law at  (907)277-3090 or use our Contact Form to discuss your motor vehicle crash injury case. We are here to serve you.

Johnson Law has been serving Alaska auto injury victims for 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Image Source: Car And Driver

Dangers Of The Seward Highway

• Road layout: The Seward Highway is filled with sharp curves, steep grades, and areas of limited visibility, particularly along the Turnagain Arm where the road is squeezed between mountains and the ocean. In some places, there are steep drop-offs with no guardrails.
• Weather: Weather changes quickly and dramatically, even during summer months. Unexpected weather, freezing temperatures, ice, hail, and snow make driving the Seward Highway hazardous. In winter months, avalanches often close the highway for extended periods.
• Traffic: A popular tourist route, the Seward Highway sees heavy traffic during the summer, including large commercial trucks and RVs. Distracted drivers stopping to look at scenery or wildlife often congest traffic, causing accidents. Impatient drivers also cause head-on collisions while passing other vehicles.
• Wildlife: Encounters with animals such as moose, bears, and Dahl sheep are common, especially at dawn and dusk. Striking an animal may cause a serious accident and injuries.
• Natural hazards: Rockfalls and ice near areas like Beluga Point pose serious threats for drivers.

Safety Tips For Alaska’s Drivers

• Watch for wildlife: Slow down and be vigilant in areas with wildlife crossing signs, especially while driving in the dawn and dusk hours. 
• Be patient: Avoid passing slower vehicles along the Seward Highway, especially on blind curves. Only stop using designated pull-outs.
• Stay alert: Pay close attention to the road, maintain awareness of your surroundings, and avoid distractions
• Check conditions in advance: Always check the latest road and weather conditions along the Seward Highway via the 511.alaska.gov traveler information system before you leave.
• Be prepared: Consider carrying extra water, blankets, and gas, especially during winter travel.

Consult An Alaska Personal Injury Attorney After An Accident

After a serious auto accident on the Seward Highway, some insurance adjusters will make a policy limits settlement offer but only under one layer of coverage, when multiple layers may be available. I have found this to be true in too many situations. Clients approach me to discuss initial policy limits settlement offers. When, in reality, a thorough facts and insurance policy review, reveals additional coverage and better financial recovery for the victims and their families.

Another consideration, semi-trucks involvement in Seward Highway accidents, may open up product liability and/or maintenance liability claims associated with the truck or its manufacturer. This claims expose additional sources of compensation for victims and families of those injured in vehicle collisions.

If you are considering a serious injury claim after a Seward Highway accident, speak to the experienced Anchorage, Alaska personal injury attorneys at Johnson Law, P.C. We know Alaska and Alaskan Law.

If you or a loved one is the victim of a Seward Highway auto accident, do not hesitate to contact Johnson Law for a free case evaluation and find out how we can help. Johnson Law has been serving Alaska auto injury victims for 30 years. It’s who we are.

Call Johnson Law at  (907)277-3090 or use our Contact Form to discuss your serious injury case. We are here to serve you.

No matter where you’re driving this weekend, please drive safely this weekend

Image Source: Travel Alaska

Where Do Alaska Traffic Crashes Occur?

Where do Alaska traffic crashes occur? About half of Anchorage traffic crashes arise at intersections. More than 50 percent take place within the Municipality of Anchorage boundaries. Alaska’s law enforcement agencies, such as the Anchorage Police Department – along with other organizations – are working to reduce traffic fatalities. These efforts to increase safety come after 2024 saw a 93% increase in all types of fatal Alaska traffic crashes.

Fatal car accidents throughout Alaska occur most frequently on major highways, particularly the Richardson Highway, Seward Highway, and Parks Highway. Around 59 percent occur in rural areas and 41 percent take place in urban areas. Accidents on rural roads are more likely to be fatal. This is likely due to a lack of dividers, higher speeds and single lane roads.

Key Human Factors

When officers arrive on scene of an Alaska auto accident, they investigate causes. The most commonly cited contributing factor in all accidents is human behavior.

Driver Negligence: This is the primary cause of accidents in Alaska, leading to many fatal or injury-related crashes. 

Speeding: Contributing to a majority of fatal and injury-related crashes, especially on slippery or icy roads. 

Impaired and Distracted Driving: Alcohol and drug impairment are factors in nearly 40% of road fatalities. Serious crashes are increasingly caused by distracted driving, typically from cell phone use. 

Following Too Closely: This behavior is a common cause of accidents, particularly rear-end collisions. In short, drivers fail to leave adequate space to stop safely. 

Defective Vehicles: Vehicle problems, such as vehicle malfunctions, account for about 1.2 percent of Alaska traffic crashes compared to human error. 

Key Environmental Factors

The second most commonly cited contributing factor in all accidents was roadway circumstances, such as missing traffic controls or debris in the road.

Weather conditions in Alaska can be challenging and slick roads or snowstorms can increase the potential for accidents. weather circumstances accounted for around six percent of Alaska auto accidents.

The wildlife is another factor to consider. Consequently, it is important to be on the lookout for animals in the road. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game estimates there are at least 800 moose-vehicle collisions per year in Alaska.

Need Help After An Alaska Auto Accident?

Johnson Law represents accident victims injured by another person’s negligence. Contact our Anchorage Personal Injury Law Firm if you believe you have an Alaska traffic crash case for a firm dedicated to serving Alaska.

Johnson Law has been serving injury victims of Alaska traffic crashes for nearly 30 years. It’s who we are. Call Johnson Law at  (907)277-3090 or use our Contact Form to discuss your serious injury case. We are here to serve you.

And while we hope you never need us… We’re here if you do. ~ Doug Johnson

Information Sources: Alaska Highway Safety Annual Report, Alaska’s News Source, Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Image Source: Anchorage Daily News (Bill Roth / ADN)