barber and associates

How a Personal Injury Victim Recovers Compensation

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When someone is injured due to the negligence of another person or party, the person who was injured may be entitled to receive compensation for damages and losses. This is often done by filing a personal injury claim. It is very important for the person who was injured, and needs help, to understand the steps … Read more

The Lifelong Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious medical condition that occurs when a sudden blow or jolt to the head disrupts the normal function of the brain. It can result in a wide range of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social difficulties. TBI can happen to anyone, and its effects can last long after the initial … Read more

Spinal Cord Injuries: Understanding the Impact

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The spinal cord is a vital part of our body’s central nervous system. It serves as a messenger, transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Unfortunately, accidents can happen that lead to spinal cord injuries. These injuries can have a profound and lasting impact on a person’s life. In this article, … Read more

Winter Activites Can Be Fun, But Be Careful!

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Winter brings with it plenty of opportunities for outdoor fun, but it is important to be aware of the potential risks and hazards that also exist during cold weather. From skiing and snowboarding to ice skating and sledding, there are potential dangers and risks associated with most winter sports. While these recreational pastimes can be thrilling, it is also important to prioritize safety to prevent accidents and injuries.

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Three Types of Slip and Fall Accidents

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Slip and fall accidents are some of the most common types of personal injury accidents.  Every day, someone is injured and taken to a hospital as a result of a serious slip and fall.  Even minor slips and falls that do not require hospitalization can still cause lasting problems for victims.  Those who are injured in slip-and-fall accidents must understand how to protect themselves from insurance companies and others who may try to downplay the seriousness of their claims and deny them the compensation they need to pay for their medical bills and other expenses.

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Traumatic Brain Injury Risks with School Sports

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As school begins again, it is time to think about a topic that affects millions of people each year:  traumatic brain injuries, particularly those related to sporting activities.  Each year in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control estimate that as many as 3.8 million people will be affected by a TBI, with about 10 percent of those coming from sports and recreational activities.  For children, at least 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries are sports-related.

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Prevent Traumatic Brain Injury From Outdoor Activities

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Everyone loves enjoying the summer months with outdoor activities, especially in places where winter is so cold!  However, being outdoors can also pose safety hazards that should not be ignored.  There is often a surge in personal injuries during the summer months as people are outside and more active.  Following some basic safety tips may help to prevent many of these injuries.

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A Complete Look At Back Injuries–Part 3

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Knowing how back injuries occur and the types of pain that can result from them is important.  It is also important to know what types of injuries are most common in slip-and-fall, vehicle, and other accidents. Understanding what types of injury you may have experienced will help you make an informed decision on how long you may expect to be in recovery and what you will need to take care of yourself and your family.  Of course, a qualified physician should always be consulted in order to make a complete diagnosis of any back injury.

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A Complete Look At Back Injuries–Part 2

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Understanding the way back injuries can occur is important in determining the type of back injury affecting you and how serious and long-lasting it is likely to be.  However, understanding the type of pain you are experiencing from a back injury is also important, and it may be something that your doctor does not always discuss thoroughly with you.

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Beat The Heat By Avoiding Summertime Injuries

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Summer is a wonderful time to enjoy great activities with friends and family.  Unfortunately, summer is all too often a time when people wind up being injured in a wide range of accidents, as well.  In order to have fun over the summer but also stay safe, it is important to be aware of the most common types of injuries that occur during the warmer months.  Here is a list of summer’s most common injuries and how to avoid them, stay safe, and have a great vacation!

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The Facts About Auto Accidents and Back Injuries

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A car accident often causes both minor and serious injuries.  Many people complain of aches and pains after an accident, and fortunately, most of these go away fairly quickly.  However, back pain is one of the most common long-term injuries people suffer following a car crash, and many of these injuries do not simply resolve themselves.

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Find Out What You Can Recover After Being Injured by an Impaired Driver

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Shortly before the Christmas holidays, Anchorage law enforcement officials challenged the community to refrain from drinking and driving. To bring awareness to their campaign, police erected a Christmas tree and said they’d add a blue-ribbon ornament to the tree for each charge of impaired driving.

How’d it go?

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Study Reveals Many People Injured in Car Accidents Don’t Seek Legal Advice

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Few things in life are scarier than being involved in a car accident. The sudden flash of light and the sudden blast of sound would terrify anyone, and those who survive without suffering serious injuries naturally feel extremely fortunate. That feeling may lead many people to simply want to put that difficult experience in the … Read more

Who Is Liable For Work Vehicle Accidents?

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Many people have a fairly good understanding of how liability insurance works for their own personal vehicles.  They go to an insurance company, pick out a plan, choose their coverage and deductible amounts, and file a claim if they are ever involved in an accident.  Alaska law requires a minimum amount of liability insurance if a person drives on our roads, so this process is usually fairly straightforward.  Many drivers now carry uninsured motorist coverage to protect them against those who fail to insure their own vehicles, as well. 

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Why You Should Not Ignore Neck Pain After an Accident

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Neck pain is one of the most common complaints after an accident.  While whiplash-type injuries are common after rear-end vehicle collisions, neck pain is also a common problem after slip and fall accidents.  Because neck pain is so common, it is easy to assume that it will go away on its own or that it is not very serious, particularly if the pain is not very severe.  After all, most minor aches and pains resolve themselves without medical intervention.  However, ignoring neck pain after an accident can be a serious mistake, because even minor neck pain can be linked to much more serious long-term injuries and conditions, particularly those involving the back, arms, and legs.  It is always wise to seek immediate medical attention after an accident that may involve the neck. 

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Can A Car Rental Company Be Responsible in a Personal Injury Accident?

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When someone is injured in a vehicle accident, there is a fairly well-defined number of parties that may bear responsibility for the injuries involved.  Obviously, the at-fault driver of the car may be held liable, as well as anyone else who contributed to the accident:  a bartender who overserved a drunk driver; a mechanic who failed to maintain the car in working order; or a maintenance worker who did not repair a stop light that failed at the time of the crash. 

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Winter Activities Can Lead To Personal Injury

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Personal injury can happen at any time, but the winter months always seem to see an increase in certain types of accidents.  Everything from walking to riding in a vehicle is a bit more dangerous when there is ice and snow present, so many falls, trips and other injuries occur even when people are just going about their daily routines.  When engaging in sports and leisure activities, the number of accidents may be even higher.

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How Serious is a Concussion?

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A recent injury televised nationally to millions of fans has put the spotlight on concussions as a form of traumatic brain injury, or TBI.  When Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was injured on the field, many people began to ask:  how serious is a concussion?  Is it something to worry about?  Can it cause long-term disability or injury?  The answers to these questions may surprise you, particularly if you have been involved in a slip-and-fall or car accident that involved a mild head injury.

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How Common Are Spinal Cord Injuries?

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Spinal cord injuries, or SCIs, are far more common than most people believe.  When you include all the possible types of SCIs, spinal cord injuries become some of the more common long-term injuries sustained in vehicle crashes, falls, and other accidents.

A spinal cord injury is defined as any type of injury affecting the spinal nerves, including the grouping known as the cauda equina at the base of the spine.  SCIs typically cause permanent damage that may be managed but not cured, although some types of injuries are treatable.  Spinal cord injuries lead to physical, emotional and social problems that affect all aspects of a victim’s life.

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Spinal Cord Injuries Can Impair Heart Function

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According to a recent clinical study, people who have suffered spinal cord injuries also suffer from an associated increased risk of chronic heart function problems.  The study examined individuals who have suffered an SCI and compared their heart function at various stages to those in other groups.  They found that early interventions, particularly those that … Read more

Spinal Cord Accidents Per Year in USA

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Spinal cord injuries, or SCIs, account for tens of thousands of accidents across the United States.  More than 300,000 people are living with SCIs at any given time in this country.  Spinal cord damage remains one of the leading causes of permanent disability and death among accident victims.  Here are a few facts about SCIs and how they impact Americans every day.

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ATV Accidents On the Rise

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Nothing could be more exciting than riding a speeding snowmobile or a fast-moving ATV across the beautiful Alaskan landscape, but this recreational activity comes at a steep cost for some.  ATV accidents tend to cause serious life-changing and life-threatening injuries, particularly among young people, and the number of these types of accidents seems to be increasing.

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Can Comparative Negligence Reduce My Claim?

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If you have been injured by another party’s negligence, it is only right that you receive compensation from that person or entity to pay for your damages.  You may have medical bills, legal bills, and increased living expenses that quickly add up.  Many victims file personal injury lawsuits against the person, company or agency responsible for their injuries.  However, in some cases, the defendant tries to show that the victim was also at fault–at least partially.  Those cases are what are known as “comparative negligence” cases, and they can result in a reduction of the amount the victim can recover.  In some cases, the victim in a comparative negligence case may recover nothing at all.

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The Connection between TBI and Mental Health

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Concussions are one of the most common types of traumatic brain injury or TBI, and children and teens are at particular risk. Because children and teens are likely to be involved in high-risk activities such as sports, riding ATVs or being involved in car crashes, it is important to understand the totality of the impact of a concussion on young, developing brains.

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Car Collisions and Neck Injuries

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Neck injuries are some of the most common types of injuries to occur during car collisions.  However, the term “neck injury” is not very specific, so people have many different ideas of what these injuries constitute.  By understanding the major types of neck injuries that are common during vehicle accidents, victims can better comprehend their long-term recovery prospects and how much money it will actually take to seek the medical treatment they need, as well as other expenses they may encounter during and after recovery.

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How Spinal Cord Injuries Impact Breathing

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Spinal cord injuries or SCIs do not only damage the spinal cord; they are also responsible for harm to other body systems, such as the circulatory and respiratory systems.  While we tend to think of SCIs in the context of loss of movement, as with a quadriplegic or paraplegic, many SCI victims suffer from difficulty breathing or performing other involuntary bodily functions.  Ultimately, this type of damage may have long-term consequences as severe as loss of movement or ability to walk.

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What To Do After A Workplace Accident

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If you are injured at work, there are several steps you should take immediately to protect yourself and your family.  Unfortunately, it is all too common for employers or their insurers to attempt to deny payment of medical bills and other costs after a workplace accident.  For this reason, it is critical that you take steps to ensure that your claim is handled properly and that you collect the full amount of compensation due to you for your injury.

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What Is a Wrongful Death?

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Whenever someone dies in an accident, it can be difficult to assign blame.  After all, most people have no intention of harming someone else when they take actions that lead to a fatal accident.  However, under the law, certain types of accidents can be deemed as wrongful deaths, depending on their cause.  If your loved one has been lost to a fatal injury caused by an accident, it is important to know if you have the right to recover compensation from the person or entity that caused the death.

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What Is Negligence?

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Before a personal injury claim can be filed, there must be negligence.  While most of us understand intuitively what this word means, there is a slightly different definition used by lawyers that can be confusing to some.  Understanding what negligence is–and what it is not–is crucial to understanding whether you have a personal injury claim that can be settled or litigated to pay compensation for your damages.

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What Are The Worst Types of Personal Injury?

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Personal injury encompasses a wide variety of injuries and illnesses caused by someone else’s negligence.  Everything from food poisoning to dog bites can be considered a personal injury if someone else was responsible for the harm caused to another person.  However, there are some types of personal injury that cause much more devastating and long-lasting damage than others.  Among the worst types of personal injuries, excluding wrongful death, are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and spinal cord injuries (SCIs).

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How To Protect Yourself After a Work-Related Accident

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The time following a work-related accident can be confusing for the victim.  In some cases, victims of work accidents are given clear instructions by their employer and medical team, but in some cases, this guidance is sorely lacking.  If you have been involved in a work-related accident, it is important to take the right steps … Read more

What Do Private Property Owners Have To Do To Keep Visitors Safe?

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According to most state laws, owners of private property have a duty to keep their properties safe for visitors.  What this means can be interpreted in several different ways, but there are some basic facts that apply to most situations.  In general, keeping property safe for visitors involves removing any hazards as soon as possible … Read more

What Can I Do About a Hit-and-Run Accident?

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Hit-and-run accidents, which are crashes in which one or more drivers flee the scene, are far more common than most people realize.  What is even more surprising is that many hit-and-run crashes involve serious or even fatal injuries.  When a driver flees the scene of an accident, he or she not only breaks the law … Read more

Summer Fun Can Lead To Injury

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Summer is in full swing, and everyone is heading outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and warm temperatures. While it is great to have a fun day outdoors, you should also be aware that certain types of accidents are more likely during warm weather. It is a good idea to be prepared and take precautions to … Read more

How To Protect Yourself After a Motorcycle Crash

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Motorcycle crashes are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death in vehicle accidents. When adjusted for population, motorcycle crashes are 29 times more likely to be fatal for the rider or passenger than car crashes, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.  Additionally, one out of every hundred motorcycle riders is … Read more

Spinal Cord Injuries Cause Lifelong Changes

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Every year, there are about 17,500 spinal cord injuries in the United States.  Of these, many will suffer lifelong consequences from their SCIs.  It is important for spinal cord injury victims and their loved ones to understand that SCIs often mean changes that will affect the rest of the victim’s life, and in seeking compensation … Read more

How Do You Find the Right Personal Injury Attorney?

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If you have been injured in an accident, you are already dealing with medical bills, pain and suffering, and worry about how you will take care of your family.  On top of all that, you are faced with making a choice about the right attorney to represent you.  How do you choose the right personal … Read more

Slip and Fall Accident Facts

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Every day, nearly 2,000 people in the United States visit emergency rooms for injuries related to a slip-and-fall accident.  If you have ever been tempted to think about slip-and-fall accidents as simply minor mishaps, think again!  The facts about slip-and-fall tell a different story. Slip and Fall Accident Facts The workplace is one of the … Read more

What Do Business Owners Have to Do To Keep Visitors Safe?

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While all property owners have legal obligations to make their areas safe for visitors, businesses often have special rules that apply to them. This is because businesses see far more traffic, in most cases than an average residence or other private property.  Businesses are often required by law to take reasonable steps to keep their … Read more

Five Reasons You Should Never Talk To An Insurance Company After an Accident

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While many people understand that it can be dangerous to talk to police officers after you have been placed under arrest, many others do not realize that it can be equally dangerous to talk to an insurance company after an accident.  While you are probably not risking jail time, as you might be when waiving … Read more

Alaska Leads Nation in TBI Deaths

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Alaska currently leads the nation in death related to traumatic brain injury, according to the University of Alaska.  Mayor Mark Springer of Bethel notes that TBIs affect many Alaska residents, often due to the common use of utility vehicles and snowmobiles.  He also notes that the use of head protection such as helmets can reduce … Read more

How Spinal Cord Injuries Impact A Lifetime

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A spinal cord injury or SCI is a type of injury that may easily have long-term consequences. While most injuries, such as broken bones or damaged muscles, can have lingering effects, spinal cord injuries are frequently permanent and may cause life-long damage.  Because of this, SCIs are often evaluated, in terms of monetary damages, as if they will last for the rest of the victim’s life.  It is very important for the victim of a spinal cord injury to work with an attorney who understands how to calculate these types of damages accurately and to ensure that the victim gets all of the compensation to which he or she is entitled.

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Spring Thaws Mean Slippery Surfaces

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Spring is here once again, and many Alaskans are rejoicing over longer, warmer days and melting snow. However, there are still hazards, even during this beautiful season, that can lead to personal injury, particularly car accidents and slip-and-falls.  If you are going to be out and about in the spring sunshine, take care to note these hazards and prepare for them accordingly so that you can stay safe!

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Car Accident Statistics for 2021

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Vehicle accident statistics for each calendar year are published by various organizations, and statistics for 2021 are beginning to come in.  Unfortunately, despite the fact that most of 2021 included times when lockdowns were occurring across the country, sources report that vehicle fatalities rose at the fastest rate in nearly 50 years. According to the … Read more

How TBIs and SCIs Impact the Economy

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Certain types of personal injury accidents are not strictly “personal.”  They have an effect on the families and communities of the people who suffer them.  While the personal effects may be the most noticeable and dramatic, both traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and spinal cord injuries (SCIs) have an impact on the economy as well.

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How Do Attorneys Evaluate a Personal Injury Case?

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Have you ever wondered how a personal injury case is handled?  How do attorneys decide on a settlement amount, and how do they communicate this to the other party?  How are agreements reached, and how much does it cost to settle a case?  These are all questions you may have if you are the victim of a personal injury.  The process of settling a personal injury case is not simple, but understanding it can help you determine if your case is being handled properly and if you are recovering the full amount of compensation to which you are entitled.

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The Terrible Toll of TBI

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Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is one of the most serious of all types of injury.  It involves trauma to various areas of the brain, and the results can range from mild to devastating.  Understanding more about TBI can make it easier to know how to handle the aftermath of these injuries, particularly as it involves increased living expenses and medical costs.  For those who have suffered a TBI, it is critical to receive compensation to pay for treatment.

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How Big Truck Accidents Are Different

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Vehicle accidents may be minor or deadly, but one thing they all have in common is their ability to produce injuries among victims.  They also usually share the common factor of one or more drivers being negligent and therefore responsible for the other party’s injuries.  However, not all vehicle accidents are the same in terms … Read more

Motorcycle Accidents On The Rise In Alaska

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According to recent reports from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, Alaska experienced more motorcycle fatalities in the years 2018 to 2019 than in any two-year period combined since 2015.  In 2018 alone,  there were 12 fatal motorcycle accidents, which accounted for fifteen percent of all motor vehicle fatalities.  Although the number dropped in 2019, experts … Read more

How A Personal Injury Attorney Helps Accident Victims

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Victims of accidents have to deal with several problems all at once.  First, there is the physical pain and suffering associated with an injury.  This can be relatively minor or it can be unbearable.  Second, the victim, as well as his or her family, often has emotional trauma to deal with from the accident and … Read more

Slip And Fall Injuries Increase In Winter Months

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It is an undeniable fact that people have more accidents in winter, particularly slip-and-fall accidents.  After all, icy sidewalks and steps, slushy entryways to businesses, and slippery driveways all cause their share of slip-and-fall trauma.  How can you protect yourself during the winter months and what should you do if you experience a slip or … Read more

The Facts About Motorcycle Accidents

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Motorcycles are very popular in Alaska, and for good reason.  They allow riders to experience our beautiful outdoors in the most personal way while still traveling great distances in the shortest possible time.  When you ride a motorcycle, the scenery is unimpeded by the closed-in feeling of a car.  Many riders claim they have never … Read more

How Traumatic Brain Injuries Impact Families

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Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, affect more than 1.5 million Americans per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control.  However, what these statistics do not show is how many other people are affected–people such as family, friends, and coworkers.  This number is far greater than the actual number of victims and increases the already astronomical … Read more

Safe Driving Tips For Winter Weather

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Winter weather is here, and it is a good time to think about how to stay safe on the road in Alaska.  Fatal traffic accidents, many of which happen on icy winter roads, have been on the rise for the past decade in Alaska, despite better seat belt use and new safety features on vehicles.  Sadly, … Read more

Evaluating An Insurance Company’s Settlement Offer

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If you have been the victim of an accident, it is very likely that at some point you may receive a settlement offer from an insurance company.  Many victims assume that these companies are fair and above-board, so they accept these offers without hesitation.  It is only later that they realize that the offer was far too small to meet their medical needs, much less to pay for lost wages, damages to property, and other real expenses, not to mention intangibles such as pain and suffering.

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How Personal Injury Impacts Your Life

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For many people, the term “personal injury accident” conjures up images of a minor injury from a car accident or a slip and fall.  In most cases, these people reason, the negligent party has insurance coverage to pay for liability and compensate the victim.  However, this picture is not always so simple, and it is often not even accurate.

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Slip and Fall and TBI: How They Connect

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Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, remains one of the most costly and serious types of personal injury.  However, many people assume that deadly TBIs occur in things like vehicle accidents or from violence such as a gunshot wound or assault with a blunt object.  In reality, slip and fall accidents account for about half of … Read more

How To Protect Yourself After a Vehicle Accident

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After a vehicle collision, it is important for victims of any type of injury to protect their rights.  This is not as simple as it sounds.  In many cases, insurance companies will want to rush victims to settlement, hoping they will not realize how much their cases are actually worth.  In this rush to settle, many victims, who do not realize they have other options, accept far less than the true value of their cases.  It is critical for anyone who is injured in an accident to be sure to have complete information before trying to settle a vehicle crash case.

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Spinal Cord Injuries Remain Among Most Expensive

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Spinal cord injuries are one of the most expensive types of personal injury, according to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.  In fact, depending on the type of injury, an SCI can cost more than $4.7 million over the lifetime of a victim. Facts and Figures Spinal cord injuries can be categorized by the severity … Read more

Don’t Slip and Fall this Fall!

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Slip-and-fall accidents are often dismissed as being “not as serious” as vehicle crashes, but the truth is that many people are injured and die in falls each year.  In fact, while about 1.35 million people die in car crashes each year worldwide, about half that number, or 684,000, die in falls each year.  This makes falls one of the leading causes of accidental death worldwide.

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The Connection Between Traumatic Head and Spinal Cord Injuries

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Many people, including many doctors, view traumatic head injuries as separate events from spinal cord injuries.  This can often lead to misdiagnosis of SCIs when a traumatic brain injury is also present.  According to a study from Brazil,  spinal cord injuries involving the cervical, or neck, portion of the spine are most likely to be misdiagnosed when head trauma is also present.

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New Study Shows Residential Mobility Impacts Spinal Cord Injury Patient Health

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Researchers working on the Spinal Cord Injury Model System recently isolated data that shows residential mobility, or moving from one home to another, after a spinal cord injury has a strong impact on the health and recovery of patients.  The study, published in the Archive of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, was undertaken to investigate the … Read more

What Are the Different Possible Outcomes for Spinal Injuries?

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Spinal cord injuries or SCIs can have different outcomes depending on the location and severity of the injury.  All spinal cord injuries should be taken seriously; however, some have much more lasting and long-term impacts on daily life than others. Spinal Cord Basics The spinal cord is a long column of nerve tissue that runs … Read more

TBIs Explained

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Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is one of the most common causes of serious, long-term disability and death from all types of accidents.  TBIs are common after a vehicle crash or a fall, especially from a significant height such as a ladder.  TBIs contribute to millions of dollars annually in medical visits, hospitalizations, surgeries, and long-term loss of physical and mental ability.

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New TBI Treatments Hold Out Hope

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According to an article from the Association of American Medical Colleges, there are several new treatments on the horizon for traumatic brain injuries or TBIs.  These treatments hold out hope for the present and future victims of TBIs that recovery may be possible in cases that previously would have resulted in a lifetime of disability.

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The ABCs of Spinal Cord Injuries

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Spinal cord injuries or SCIs are some of the most devastating types of personal injury, leading frequently to life-long complications.  SCIs should always be taken seriously, as even minor ones can lead to permanent damage.  It is very important for victims of SCIs to understand their rights and seek compensation for their injuries, as many … Read more

What To Do After An Auto Accident (With and Without Injuries)

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Every year, thousands of vehicle accident victims fail to recover monetary compensation for their injuries and damages, even though they are legally entitled to do so.  This is often due to a misunderstanding of the best practices for protecting your rights and ensuring that your damages are paid.  Part of protecting your rights after an auto accident includes knowing what to do after the collision takes place.

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Why You Need An Attorney For Your Motorcycle Accident

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Motorcycles are an exciting and cost-saving method of transportation, and many people in Alaska try to enjoy the great outdoors on a bike as much as possible.  Bike clubs are springing up everywhere in which like-minded riders of all ages get together to take weekend trips and enjoy the scenery of our great state as it can only be appreciated from a motorcycle.  However, as much fun as motorcycle riding can be, there is a darker side to this enjoyable activity:  an accident can not only cause the rider and passengers greater injury than other crashes, but the rider is more likely to be blamed for the accident than drivers of other vehicles.

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Why Slip and Fall Accidents Can Be So Serious

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Many people think of a slip and fall accident as something relatively minor.  They believe that while you may get a few bumps and bruises, slipping or tripping and falling happens to most people and usually results in minor injuries.   In fact, some of the most dangerous types of accidents involve slip and fall, and many of these incidents result in serious, long-term injury.  Even worse, many victims of slip and fall accidents feel that they should not talk about their injuries for fear of not being taken seriously.

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The Grim Truth About Motorcycles and ATVs

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Here in Alaska, we love our outdoor sports and activities.  As summer rolls around, one of the favorite pastimes for many Alaskans is to take to the hills riding motorcycles and ATVs. For many people, there is no better way to experience the scenery and beauty of our state.  In many cases, however, these trips can lead to a hospital emergency room—or worse.

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Why You Shouldn’t Negotiate Your Own Large Truck Crash Settlement

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Most of us have been involved, at one time or another, in some type of vehicle collision.  Thankfully, the vast majority of these encounters are unpleasant but minor.  Tapping someone’s bumper in a parking lot may be irritating, especially if you have to deal with your own and the other driver’s insurance company, but it … Read more

Who Is Responsible For My Personal Injury?

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If you have been injured in an accident, the first thing on your mind is probably your physical condition.

At the moment of the crash, fall, or another event, you may not be thinking about who will pay your medical bills or your lost wages.  However, it is very important to determine quickly who is responsible for the accident, as this person and his or her insurance company will figure prominently in your ability to pay for these expenses in the future.  With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, it is usually possible to determine who is at fault in your accident and who is responsible for paying your expenses.

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How Much Is My Personal Injury Claim Worth?

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One of the most common questions victims have is how much their personal injury claim is worth.

This is not a simple question to answer, as many factors can affect the value of a claim. On the other hand, there are some guidelines that help personal injury attorneys determine how much they should settle the case for if the defendant is willing to pay.  These guidelines are fairly uniform and reflect the realities of many previous personal injury settlements.

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What To Do If You Are Injured At Work

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As an Alaska resident and worker, do you know what steps to take if you are injured at work?  Many people assume that their employers, and more specifically their employers’ insurance companies, will take care of them if they are injured, but this can be a dangerous assumption.  Understanding your rights can always work to … Read more

How Much Does A Brain Injury Cost?

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Traumatic brain injuries or TBIs are some of the most costly personal injuries.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are more than 2 million brain injuries per year, with about 100,000 deaths and 500,000 injuries so serious they require hospitalization.  The total lifetime cost to society of TBIs is around $76 billion.  This includes medical costs, lost time at work, and other expenses paid, in some cases, by taxpayers, such as social services.  Clearly, TBIs are an expensive problem, but how can a personal injury attorney estimate the cost to an individual in order to negotiate a fair payment of a claim?

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How To Handle a Hit-and-Run Accident

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According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a hit-and-run accident, in which at least one driver flees the scene before police arrive, occurs approximately every 43 seconds in the United States.  More than 2,000 fatalities were caused in 2015 by hit-and-run drivers.  Hit-and-run accidents do not only affect motorists; many pedestrians and bicyclists are also victims of these crashes.

There is a pervasive myth that you cannot collect any damages if you were hit by a hit-and-run driver.

This is untrue, but the persistence of this belief probably costs drivers millions of dollars every year.  The fact is that even if the driver is not caught, you can, in many cases, collect from your own insurance company or that of a third party, who will then take the responsibility of finding and seeking compensation from the hit-and-run driver.

The reason that many people believe that you cannot collect in these accidents probably stems from the idea that the driver who caused the accident would not have left the scene if he or she had insurance, a license, or both.  While this is certainly the case in some situations, it is not always true.  Furthermore, your uninsured motorist coverage should pay at least a portion of your damages even without compensation from the disappearing driver.

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How Are Wrongful Death Claims Handled?

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No one wants to imagine that a loved one could be the victim of a fatal accident.  Unfortunately, it happens every day:  a loving family loses someone due to the negligence or carelessness of another party.  While the person who died may not be able to seek justice, family members can through the process of a wrongful death lawsuit.

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What Is Chronic Pain Syndrome?

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Chronic pain syndrome is a disabling set of conditions that affect about 25 percent of those with serious injuries.  According to a recent study, chronic pain is the leading complaint among ambulatory patients after surgery or injury.  Chronic pain can impact all areas of a patient’s life and lead to depression, anxiety, and other long-term effects.

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Can I Recover Damage From a Crime?

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One question that sometimes arises for personal injury victims is, “Can I recover damages if I am the victim of a crime?”  The answer to this question is not as simple as it might seem.  While it is obvious that you have been injured and that the perpetrator is responsible, it is not always clear that the person who committed the crime will be required to pay for your injuries.

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What Should I Do To Find Out If Someone Has Insurance?

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When you are involved in an automobile accident, the first thing you usually want to know is whether the other party has liability insurance.  This is one of the most important features of a personal injury accident because insurance companies are largely responsible for paying the damages incurred in a car crash.

Most individuals simply do not have the capital to pay the high costs associated with a car accident, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other expenses.  Therefore, when someone has insurance, the victim often turns to the insurance company to pay these costs.

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What To Do If You Are Bitten By A Dog

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Dog bites may not seem like a serious problem, but they account for a large number of emergency room visits.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are more than 5 million dog bites in the United States every year, many of which children are victims.  While some breeds bite more commonly than others, all dogs are capable of biting if they are frightened, cornered, hurt, or simply left unsupervised.

It is an owner’s responsibility to ensure that his or her pet is always under control.  Therefore, a bite is never the victim’s “fault.”  It is important to know if you are bitten by a dog, what to do in order to protect your rights.

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The Reality of Motorcycle Accidents

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Motorcycle accidents are among the most dangerous and devastating of all motor vehicle accidents. Here are a few statistics about motorcycle crashes and how they impact victims. According to the Insurance Information Institute, in 2018, there were 4,985 motorcycle riders or drivers who were killed in crashes. This is a decrease of about five percent … Read more

Most Common Injuries From a Car Accident

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Almost every driver in Alaska has gotten into at least one fender bender in their lives. Luckily, many of these mishaps don’t require a car accident lawyer or a personal injury attorney. But if your accident is more serious, you may have been quite hurt.

As experienced personal injury lawyers, we’ve seen numerous injuries occur from car accidents. Below are a few of the topmost common injuries you may experience in a car crash.

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What Happens if You Get into a Truck Accident

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Yikes. You’ve gotten into an accident, but not with a regular vehicle: with a commercial truck! In addition to the increased risk of injury, there are a few differences when you’re in an accident of this nature. We’ve supported clients in the same position you’re in, so we have valuable information to share that may … Read more

Can A Helmet Save You In A Motorcycle Accident?

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The latest news about motorcycle accidents is encouraging: overall, motorcycle fatalities have been declining for the past few years. However, there is also bad news: motorcycle helmet use has declined during the same period, leading to a possible increase in preventable deaths.

Motorcycle helmets are estimated to prevent about 37 percent of fatalities in accidents, so about one in three motorcycle fatalities might have been prevented if the driver had worn a helmet. On the other hand, in two-thirds of all fatal motorcycle accidents, a helmet would not have prevented the death.

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The Truth About Brain Injuries

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Brain injuries are among the most catastrophic of personal injuries.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, brain injuries are responsible for more than 2.8 million emergency room visits per year, with over 56,000 of these injuries leading to death.  When a victim has sustained a brain injury, the lifelong outlook can be grim.  Assuming the victim survives the injury, he or she may be facing a lifetime of medical costs and reduced capabilities.

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Wrongful Death Claims

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You may have heard the term “wrongful death claim” without truly understanding what it means.  It is obvious that a “wrongful death claim” includes a victim’s death, but who brings such a claim against a defendant?  How do you know if a death is wrongful or just an accident?  What type of compensation is available for wrongful death and who collects it?

These questions are all good ones to pose to an attorney who focuses on wrongful death and personal injury, like those at Barber & Associates.  Here are some facts about wrongful death cases that will help you understand this sometimes confusing area of the law.

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Can I Collect Damages for A Staph Infection After Surgery?

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According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, infections caused by various species of Staphylococcus bacteria, as well as Streptococcus and Pseudomonas species, are responsible for most post-operative infections.  Post-op infections are one of the major causes of extended hospital stays and even permanent injury or death.  How do people get infections in a supposedly sterile environment?  If I am the victim of a post-operative infection, can I collect damages for my increased medical bills as well as my pain and suffering?

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The Truth About Slip and Fall Injuries

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Slip and fall injuries are the leading cause of emergency room visits in the United States, making them one of the most common types of personal injury accidents.  What constitutes a “slip and fall,” and how are these cases handled by personal injury attorneys seeking compensation for their clients?

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What Is Personal Injury?

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If you have been the victim of a personal injury accident, it is important to understand some basic legal terms that may apply to your case as well as how your case is likely to progress toward a conclusion. Of course, your attorney will handle the progress of your case, but many clients like to know what is happening “behind the scenes” to recover compensation for them.

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Should You Get a Dashboard Camera?

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A dashboard camera also referred to as a dashcam, is a tool that more and more drivers are choosing to install in their vehicles. This piece of equipment is placed inside the car, usually under your rearview mirror, and records the road ahead of you. New, more sleek-looking dash cams can be quite small, as not to impact your visibility. Some drivers also install dash cams on the back of their vehicles to keep an eye on those behind them.

If you’re on the fence about purchasing a dashcam, here are a few factors to consider and potentially make the decision a bit easier.

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5 Common Causes of Slip & Fall Accidents

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It happens to millions of people each year: casually going about your business until suddenly: SLAM. You’ve slipped and fallen down. Slip and fall accidents are quite common and seem to happen at the most unexpected times and places. An accident like this can cause nothing but a minor bruise, or be more serious and cause a serious injury resulting in a lawsuit.

Many times, tripping over something and falling down is our own fault. Maybe we were looking at our phone or wearing shoes that aren’t ideal for the environment we’re in. Other times, however, a slip and fall accident is due to the negligence of another party. This is especially true if you are in a public space or on the property of a business.

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5 Tips to Avoid Car Accidents

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We call them car accidents because they’re just that: accidents. Millions of people are on the roads each day, and many of them don’t drive responsibly. With so many risk factors out there when you hit the road, car accidents can feel unavoidable. While some are completely out of your control, there are ways to prevent yourself from causing them.

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What is a Personal Injury Lawyer, and Why Should You Hire One?

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Crashes, and slips, and injuries, oh my! We go through life understanding that there are risks out there, but we’re able to keep ourselves safe on a daily basis. That being said, on the off chance that you do get seriously injured, you have options. This is especially true when someone else is at fault for your significant injuries.

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4 Ways to Take Care of Your Mental Health After a Car Accident

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Physical recovery isn’t the only thing you’ll have to focus on after a serious car accident. Once the dust has settled, the bruises are fading, the car’s fixed, and the abrasions have healed…the mental and emotional impact of the accident may linger.

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How Social Media Can Damage Your Personal Injury Claim

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Billions of people around the world have at least some sort of online, social media presence. On a daily basis, we may find ourselves sharing photos with loved ones, updating our professional network, or retweeting things we agree with. Social media is one of the main ways we communicate with one another, and it can feel like second nature. So how would that be affected by a personal injury claim?

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6 Things to Keep in Your Car In Case of an Accident

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Driving in Alaska can be quite challenging. From winding roads, to unpredictable weather, to irresponsible drivers, the possibility of getting into an accident is always present. No one leaves the house expecting to get into a car accident, which is why it’s common to be unprepared. As a law firm that handles auto accidents and … Read more

Injuries That Can Result From a Fall

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Many of us have childhood memories of running around outside, climbing trees, riding bikes, and scaling playground equipment. One of the inevitable outcomes of being an active kid is that we had the scrapes and bruises to prove it!

Tripping and falling down as a kid is a regular occurrence. But while it’s completely harmless as a child, a trip and fall accident as an adult can have major repercussions.

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Do You Have PTSD From Your Accident?

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There is no doubt that a serious car accident can be extremely traumatizing. You or a loved one may have been seriously injured, and there may have been a loss of life. The entire experience can be overwhelming, resulting in a variety of strong emotions. It’s normal to be in shock and disbelief, angry at the other driver, anxious about driving again, or even guilty. In more extreme cases, some see flashbacks, have panic attacks, or experience insomnia.

For the most part, these emotions should start to fade after a while. On the other hand, some people’s lives are completely disrupted by these feelings. If your day-to-day functioning has been compromised due to the accident, you may be experiencing post-traumatic stress.

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