Category: Uncategorized

McKiggan Appointed to Provincial Insurance Review Committee

by John McKiggan

Nova Scotia’s NDP Government has acted on one of its campaign promises to ensure that the Province’s Insurance Act is updated.

Graham Steele, Minister responsible for the Insurance Act, has announced that former Deputy Minister Ron L’Esperance will chair a committee that will examine six areas relating to automobile insurance and recommend changes:

Section B Benefits

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

McKiggan Invited to Present at CBA Professional Development Conference

by John McKiggan

Cross Examination of Experts
I am privileged to have been asked to help organize and present a panel discussion involving cross examination of experts at the Canadian Bar Association’s 2011 Annual Professional Development Conference in Halifax.

I was honoured to be a part of a panel including Chief Justice Joseph Kennedy and Glen Anderson Q.C. Justice Kennedy and Mr. Anderson both provided interesting and insightful advice regarding cross examination.

A great deal has been written on the topic of cross examination in general and cross examination of experts in particular. Most authors and scholars refer to cross examination as an art. While I am far from an artist, I thought it might be helpful to post what I view to be some general principles of cross examination of experts.

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Posted in: Cross examination, Uncategorized

Christmas Tree Safety Message

by John McKiggan

We decorated our Christmas tree today and I noticed the tree was already getting a little dry. Then I came across this public service announcement this evening. Scary!

We all get busy over the holidays and sometimes in the rush we forget to do the little things, like watering the tree.

Christmas tree fires are not common, a few hundred a year in the United States where there would be millions of Christmas trees in homes across the country. But when they happen, tree fires are likely to be serious. On average, one of every 21 reported fires that began with a Christmas tree resulted in death.

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Posted in: Burn Injuries, Fatal Accidents, Fatal Injury Claims, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death Claims

Smoke Detectors May Not Provide Adequate Protection

by John McKiggan

Everyone knows you should have smoke detectors in your home right?

You may even be one of the dedicated few who check them to be sure they are working and replace the batteries on a regular basis.

But did you know that your smoke alarm may not provide you with adequate warning during a fire?

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

Military’s Former Gay Policy Could Cost Feds

by John McKiggan

Here’s a link to a story the CBC National news did about how the military’s former practice of hunting down and firing gay and lesbian members of the Armed Forces could expose Canada to a class action lawsuit.

I find it interesting (and more than a little disappointing) that there are very few comments condemning horrible way our military treated members of the Forces who simply wanted to serve their country.

What do you think?

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Posted in: Class Actions, Personal Injury, Uncategorized

Space Heaters: Safety Tips to Prevent Burns Injuries and Fires

by John McKiggan

The temperature is dropping and more and more Canadians are using space heaters to keep warm.

The first house that my wife and I bought was so poorly insulated that we had an electric space heater in the bathroom so we wouldn’t freeze to death getting ready for work in the morning.
Thinking back it probably wasn’t a great idea to have an electrical appliance like that around so much water.

Since then I have seen many people who have been injured because of faulty space heaters. Or children injured because heaters were not used properly. So I thought it might be a good idea to post these safety tips.

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Posted in: Burn Injuries, Child Injuries, Fatal Accidents, Fatal Injury Claims, Insurance Claims, Personal Injury, Uncategorized, Wrongful Death Claims

Elderly Drivers: How old is too old?

by John McKiggan

Last week I posted about how many drivers are not aware of the dangers posed by their car’s rear blind spot. Yesterday I asked under what circumstances a persons driving privileges should be restricted.

Today I want to talk about another driver safety issue that is just starting to come to the public’s attention. But it is an issue that is going to become more important in the near future. I also want to provide some information that may help improve the safety of our roads and highways.

Why Do I Care?

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Posted in: Car Accidents, Fatal Accidents, Fatal Injury Claims, Insurance Claims, Personal Injury, Uncategorized

Teenagers with ADHD at Higher Risk of Car Accidents

by John McKiggan

A research study conducted by the University of Toronto over 7 years has found that teenage boys with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) have a 35% higher risk of being hurt in car accidents, whether they are the driver or just a pedestrian.

The lead author of this study, Dr. Donald Redelmeier said that teenagers with ADHD:

“Should wear seatbelts, avoid excessive speed, restrict the use of alcohol and avoid distractions such as having a lot of passengers in the car and using a cell phone.”

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Posted in: Child Injuries, Fatal Accidents, Pedestrian accidents, Personal Injury, Uncategorized

Hockey Nova Scotia Recommends New Concussion Policy to Prevent Brain Injury

by John McKiggan

Darren Cossar, Executive Director of Hockey Nova Scotia, has announced that the organization has approved a new policy to address concussions in children playing minor hockey.

The Globe & Mail reported Cossar as saying: “We’ve finalized concussion policy for return to play…the onus is on the coach that any player who is suspected of having a concussion has to be examined by a doctor before returning to play.”
hockey_concussion.jpg
Hockey Canada recently released the results of the Hockey Concussion Education Project which revealed a frequency of concussion in minor hockey that was 7x higher then previously thought. The authors of the report called concussions an “epidemic”.

It looks like amateur sports are finally starting to get the message. Concussions are serious injuries that can have permanent and lasting consequences.

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Posted in: Brain Injury, Child Injuries, Personal Injury, Uncategorized