Category: Uncategorized

PEDESTRIAN-CAR COLLISIONS ON THE RISE IN HRM

by Mark Raftus

This article provides an update to a January 22, 2016 article I wrote for the McKiggan Hebert personal injury blog titled “Good News in the Battle Against Pedestrian-Car Collisions”.

In this article I concluded pedestrian-car
“accidents” were on a decreasing trend in Halifax in 2015. Sadly, it does not
appear the trend has continued in the three-plus years since the article was
penned.

In the article I updated the statistics from my December 23, 2014 article “Pedestrian-Car Collisions: An Epidemic in Nova Scotia” showing the number of pedestrian-car collisions in Halifax had increased from 2013 to 2014 with attributed causes ranging from poor weather to poor visibility.

Continue reading →

Posted in: Uncategorized

Understanding Whiplash in Nova Scotia Car Accidents

by John McKiggan

No matter how severe a car accident may seem in the initial follow-up moments, suffering from whiplash and whiplash associated disorders (WAD) can quickly escalate what appears at first to be a minor incident into a serious medical emergency. 

“Whiplash” is the common term for an injury resulting from an abrupt back-and-forth flexing of the neck. This type of neck pain can vary tremendously individually, but in some severe cases the symptoms of whiplash can include things like harsh back pain, neck sprains, muscle spasms, shoulder pain, concussions, neck stiffness, chronic pain and much more.

These very painful and disruptive symptoms can greatly affect a car accident or sports injury victim’s quality of life, overall ability to provide an income for one’s self and family, and can even lead to emotional injuries like depression and social isolation in some extreme cases. No one should ever have to live with this kind of pain and suffering that can result from a whiplash injury — especially when the injury is caused directly by someone else’s negligent actions.

Continue reading →

Posted in: Car Accidents, Concussions, Distracted Driving, Head Injuries, Personal Injury, Uncategorized

Largest LGBTQ Settlement Ever Proposed Secured by John McKiggan and LGBT Purge Legal Team

by John McKiggan

A landmark settlement in a case to compensate LGBTQ members of Canada’s military, RCMP and civil service who were investigated and/or discharged due to their sexual orientation was recently approved by Federal Court Justice Martine St-Louis on June 18, 2018.

The terms of settlement, first proposed in November 2017, finally puts a decades-long battle between LGBTQ-identifying members of the Canadian military and oppressive policy to rest, as well as opens the door to forgiveness and equality to all current and former service members.

The Settlement

Continue reading →

Posted in: Uncategorized

The Brain Injury Association of Nova Scotia needs our help!

by John McKiggan

This morning, a story was featured on CBC’s Information Morning by legislative reporter Jean LaRoche on the province’s lack of action on the promised Acquired Brain Injury Strategy.

Here’s a link to the story on the CBC website.

The report was informative and raises some serious issues about the lack of services for brain injury survivors in Nova Scotia.

Continue reading →

Posted in: Uncategorized

Supreme Court of Canada says psych report not required to recover damages for mental injury: Saadati v. Moorhead.

by John McKiggan

The Supreme Court of Canada released and interesting decision today ( Saadati v. Moorhead) that will be relevant to anyone who claims to have suffered psychological injuries as a result of car accident, medical malpractice, or any other type of personal injury claim.

The plaintiff Saadati was injured in a motor vehicle collision. He sued the other defendants in negligence seeking compensation for income loss and nonpecuniary damages (pain and suffering). The plaintiff claims he suffered psychological injuries in the accident that resulted in personality changes and cognitive deficits that made it difficult to concentrate.

However, at the trial the plaintiff did not call any evidence from medical experts to indicate that he had ever been diagnosed with any type of psychiatric illness. Instead, the plaintiff relied upon testimony from friends and family members who said that after the car accident Saadati’s personality had changed.

Continue reading →

Posted in: Uncategorized

Let’s help make pedestrians safer on Spring Garden Road in Halifax

by John McKiggan

We have been trying to raise awareness to make Halifax a safer city for our pedestrians. See for example Mark Raftus’ recent article: Protecting Pedestrians with Innovative Ideas

Petition to Lower Speed Limit on Spring Garden

Spring_Garden_Road_at_Queen_StreetHalifax City Council recently approved a plan to improve streetscaping and lighting along Spring Garden Road to make it more pedestrian friendly. We believe that pedestrians should be able to safely walk the streets of Halifax. However, there were 208 pedestrian accidents last year (2015) and a disproportionate number happened on Spring Garden. There are three intersections on Spring Garden that have averaged 6 pedestrian-car collisions over the last few years. As business owners on this Road, we’ve launching a petition to reduce the speed to 30km per hour, ensuring a safer street for everyone.

Continue reading →

Posted in: Distracted Driving, Pedestrian accidents, Uncategorized

How “buying Canadian” can protect your family when vacation injuries strike

by Brian Hebert

Avoid vacation litigation nightmares.

Avoid vacation litigation nightmares.

One of my pet peeves is the way many resort owners in Mexico and the Caribbean have structured their operations to shield themselves from liability for injuries they cause to their guests through their own negligence.  Canadians can, and should, take steps to avoid being left empty-handed in the event of vacation accidents.

Each winter over 3 million Canadians book vacation packages to Mexico and the Caribbean. Unfortunately, many of them will be injured while at their resort or while participating in an off-resort excursion. Their injuries will range from minor cuts and bruises to quadriplegia and everything in between. Some injuries will even prove fatal. Sadly, for these travelers and their families, when an injury is caused by the fault of another, obtaining full and fair compensation can be difficult.

Continue reading →

Posted in: Uncategorized, Vacation Injuries

Protecting Pedestrians with Innovative Ideas

by John McKiggan

(By Mark Raftus)

Pedestrians will be pleased to hear there are new and innovative ideas emerging to make foot travel safer.

In three prior blog posts I have recommended increased vigilance on the part of both pedestrians and car drivers as the number one factor in reducing collisions and injury.
Good news in the battle against pedestrian-car collisions
WEATHER WATCH – WINTER WALKING and DRIVING in NOVA SCOTIA

Continue reading →

Posted in: Pedestrian accidents, Uncategorized

Where do most car accidents happen in Halifax? The answer may surprise you.

by John McKiggan

After it was reported that Halifax was the most dangerous place to drive in Canada I thought I would do some investigation to see where most car accidents were happening in Halifax. After looking at Insurance company claim statistics and highway safety reports, what I found was that most collisions weren’t happening in one place, but in a number of similar locations.

Parking lots are dangerous

In Halifax, like most major cities in Canada, parking lots are the most common site for car accidents.

Continue reading →

Posted in: Car Accidents, Uncategorized