When it's Time to Get Help

Increased Temperatures Means Increased Dangers to Children – Kids and Cars Canada

by John McKiggan

Today is the first official day of summer, and parts of Canada are in the middle of a heat-wave. So I thought it would be appropriate to post another warning about the dangers the warm weather poses to children in cars.

Studies have shown that the temperatures inside a parked car left in direct sunlight can rise quickly to over 40 degrees Celsius (102 F) to over 70 degrees Celsius (170 F).

Heat Stroke

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

Nova Scotia needs to do more to protect children from bullies

by John McKiggan

Nova Scotia’s Cyberbullying Task Force recently released its recommendations. The Report has some valuable information and makes a number of recommendations to curb bullying and help make our kids safer.

Unfortunately, the province’s response to the Task Force recommendations has, to date, been underwhelming.

More Needs to Be Done in Nova Scotia to Protect Children Against Cyberbullying

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Posted in: Bullying, Uncategorized

APM Law Scholar Athlete winner – Mitchell Hanna

by John McKiggan

Mitchell Hanna – Riverview High School

APM Law is proud to announce that Mitchell Hanna is the latest winner of the APM Law Scholar Athlete award.

Mitchell is a straight A student at Riverview High School in Cape Breton. As captain of Riverview’s Division 1 soccer team he helped lead the team to win the NSSAF Highland Regional Championships and a silver medal at the NSSAF Provincial Championships. He is also a member of the Cape Breton High School’s soccer league’s all-star team.

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Posted in: Uncategorized

Potential Class Action for Breach of Privacy of Capital Health Records?

by John McKiggan

Capital Health in Halifax admitted this week that one of their former employees breached the privacy of more than 100 Capital Health patients by viewing their medical records without proper authorization.

Capital Health notified affected patients this week and apologized for the breach of privacy.

“We apologize to all of those people whose private information was viewed and to the community at large,” said Catherine Gaulton, a Vice President of Capital Health.

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Posted in: Class Actions, Uncategorized

Nova Scotia Announces Consumer Price Index Increase to Minor Injury Cap

by John McKiggan

This week the province of Nova Scotia announced the annual increase to Nova Scotia’s new “minor injury” cap on non-pecuniary damages in auto accidents.

In 2010 the province of Nova Scotia changed the legislation governing automobile accidents in Nova Scotia. The cap on payments for non-pecuniary damages (“pain and suffering”) for injuries that were deemed to be “minor” was increased from $2,500.00 to $7,500.00.

The new legislation required that the cap increase every year to account for the cost of living.

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Posted in: Car Accidents, Minor Injury Cap, Uncategorized

Police Need More Education – Dangers of Kids and Cars

by John McKiggan

I saw an article recently where RCMP in Ladysmith British Columbia are reminding parents to teach their children to know when it is appropriate to call 911. The proper understanding in use of 911 is something that every parent needs to know.

However, what struck me as most important about the article is that the RCMP need some better education themselves about what constitutes a potential emergency.

The article describes an incident where a sleeping child woke up after being left alone in a car by his parent. The child was upset and used a cell phone to call 911.

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Posted in: Kids and Cars Canada, Uncategorized

Great Video for Parents and Children about Brain Injuries

by John McKiggan

As a brain injury lawyer I have heard many explanations from many different experts about how brain injuries happen and the functional problems brain injury can cause.

I wanted to share this video because I think it is a great educational resource. The doctor who created the video provides one of the best explainations I have seen about how concussions happen and the kind of consequences they can cause.

The video helps parents know what kind of symptoms to look for and what to do to help your child if they have suffered a brain injury.

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Posted in: Brain Injury, Uncategorized

Halifax Regional School Board to Comply With Legislation to Make Children Safer on School Buses

by John McKiggan

Starting in January 2012 the Halifax Regional School Board will begin to comply with Provincial regulations requiring children under age nine or smaller than 4’9″ and 40 pounds to be secured in a child restraint system while riding on school buses.

According to Doug Hadley, spokesman for the Halifax Regional School Board, HRSB is going to start weighing and measuring students who may fall under the provincial regulations.

The Seat Belt and Child Restraint System Regulations have been in place in Nova Scotia since 2007 and have been implemented in most school boards around the province. However, the Halifax Regional School Board uses a private contractor, Stock Transportation to run their school buses and HRSB has been late to introduce the changes.

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Posted in: Kids and Cars Canada, Uncategorized

Do Commercial General Liability Policies Cover Injuries to Employees? Sam’s Auto Wrecking and Lombard General Insurance

by John McKiggan

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice recently released reasons in Sam’s Auto Wrecking and Lombard General Insurance The case is interesting because it involves the relationship between worker’s compensation coverage, employee disability insurance policies and commercial general liability policies.

The Facts

John Ferber was employed by Sam’s Auto Wrecking Co. Limited. While helping other employees of Sam’s Auto Wrecking load a flatbed truck Ferber was seriously injured.

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Posted in: Insurance Claims, Uncategorized