Category: Uncategorized

Child Safety: Passerby Rescues Toddler in Sun Baked Car – Kids and Cars Canada

by John McKiggan

Yesterday I was interviewed as Chair of Kidsandcars.org – Canada, about the dangers of leaving children in cars during the hot summer months: A Hot Weekend Reminder for Parents

I have posted before about the dangers posed to children when they are left in cars. See for example: Child Safety: Sunny Days and Kids in Cars

On a sunny 25 degree day the temperature inside a locked car can rise to more than 100 degress in less than 5 minutes.

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Posted in: Child Injuries, Child Safety, Kids and Cars Canada, Uncategorized

Nova Scotia Brain Injury Claims: New Blood Test May Help Brain Injury Victims

by John McKiggan

A recent article in Internal Medicine News reports that researchers at Orlando (Fla.) Regional Medical Center has identified a protien that they say accurately distinguishes between mild and moderate traumatic brain injury. If the research is validated it may lead to a blood test that can help health care providers accurately identify when patients have suffered a brain injury and require further treatment.

Current Testing Problematic

Most emergency medical responders use the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to assess patients with head injury. The problem is that the GCS test can be influenced by alcohol or drugs, some prescription medication, other injuries, or hypoperfusion. The test was never designed to be used as an emergency department tool.

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Posted in: Brain Injury, Uncategorized

Hot Coffee: The Truth About the MacDonald’s Coffee Case

by John McKiggan

When people I meet for the first time find out I am a personal injury lawyer almost invariably the conversation ends up with them mentioning the lady who spilled hot coffee on herself and sued McDonald’s for $3 million.

Unfortunately there is a stunning lack of public understanding about the real facts of the McDonald’s coffee case. That misunderstanding is fueled by corporate interests who want the public to belive that there is a “problem” with people being able to recover compensation for their injuires.

The insurance industry wants to increase it’s profits by limiting access to justice and the rights of innocent victims to receive full and fair compensation for their injuries.

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Posted in: Burn Injuries, Insurance Claims, Personal Injury, Product Liability, Uncategorized

New Brunswick Car Accident Claims – Did Auto Insurers Make “Enormous” Profits By Overcharging Consumers in N.B.?

by John McKiggan

I noticed this report today and I thought I would pass it along.

New Brunswick’s Insurance Board is holding hearings investigating whether Pembridge Insurance – owned by All State Insurance, has overcharged consumers.

Paula Elliot, an actuary hired by the province to review rates charged by the insurance company, suggested Pembridge made enormous profits in New Brunswick between 2004 and 2008 and would make too much again last year unless its rates are reduced by at least 3.6 per cent and a rebate offered on the difference.

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Posted in: Car Accidents, Insurance Claims, Minor Injury Cap, Uncategorized

Child Safety: Sunny Days and Kids in Cars

by John McKiggan

Yesterday was the first sunny day we have had in what seems like months. I actually had to roll the windows down in my car driving home it was so hot.

By coincidence, Kids and Cars sent me a public service announcement yesterday reminding car owners of the dangers of leaving children unattended in cars.

So that’s probably why this story Child in car on hot day: What was mom thinking? caught my attention today. Fortunately the child in this story wasn’t hurt. But things could easily have turned out differently. Tragically so.

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Posted in: Child Injuries, Child Safety, Kids and Cars Canada, Uncategorized

Nova Scotia Car Accident Claims – Insurance Review Recommends Improvements to NS System

by John McKiggan

The consultant hired to conduct a review of Nova Scotia’s auto insurance system has recommended improvements to help benefit consumers.

The Atlantic Provinces Trial Lawyers Association was asked to sit on the Board that reviewed the insurance legislation: McKiggan Appointed to Provincial Insurance Review Committee

My colleague Ray Wagner and I proposed a number of improvements to Nova Scotia’s insurance scheme that have been adopted and recommended to the government for implementation.

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Posted in: Insurance Claims, Minor Injury Cap, Personal Injury, Uncategorized

Child Safety: N.S. to reduce speed limits in school zones – Kids and Cars Canada

by John McKiggan

The Department of Transportation has announced plans to introduce legislation this fall to reduce speed limits in school zones from 50 km/h to 30 km/h.

The goal of the new limits is to protect students and make roads safer.

Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal stated:

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Posted in: Car Accidents, Child Injuries, Fatal Injury Claims, Kids and Cars Canada, Personal Injury, Uncategorized

Can Cell Phones Cause Cancer?

by John McKiggan

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified cell phone radiation as “possibly carcinogenic” placing it in the same category as gasoline exhaust, and the pesticide DDT.

An international panel of 31 scientists and health experts reviewed dozens of previously published studies and concluded that there was “limited” evidence of a link between cellphone use and glioma and acoustic neuroma, a cancer that develops in the nerves leading from the ear to the brain.

WHO recommended:

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Posted in: Cancer, Uncategorized