Halifax Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

February 28th, 2013

Are Painkillers Causing Car-Accidents?

Opioid painkillers are prescription drugs (in Canada) that are used to relieve pain. The drugs increase the release of dopamine to the brain, causing intense happiness and pleasure. Opioids also help alleviate pain by interfering with the transmission of pain signals to the brain.

Common Medications

Popular pharmaceuticals in the opioid family include: codeine (Tylenol 2, 3, 4), morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet). Codeine is sold over the cou8nter, while the stronger opioids, morphine, hydromorphone and oxycodone are only available by prescription and are usually prescribed for sever or chronic pain or cancer.

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February 26th, 2013

Children’s Meds Causing Dangerous Allergic Reactions

by John McKiggan

Recently I was doing research for a client whose child had suffered an adverse reaction after taking a common children’s medication. That’s why this article in Reuters caught my attention.

It tells the story of a Massachusetts family that nearly lost their daughter due to an allergic reaction to a common household medicine. Seven year-old Samantha Reckis lost approximately 90 percent of her skin, suffered mild brain damage and is legally blind after taking children’s Motrin.

Following a decade-long trial, a Massachusetts jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $63 million to Samantha and her family.

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February 25th, 2013

March Break Travel Plans? Make sure you have insurance!

by John McKiggan

Next week is March Break here in Atlantic Canada and I know many families are planning on travelling during the break.

I recently wrote an article for the Atlantic Canada Legal Examiner in which I discussed the plights of two unfortunate Canadians who were stuck with extraordinary medical bills after their travel insurance claims were denied.

So I decided it might be helpful to write a follow-up article with some advice on purchasing travel insurance.

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February 21st, 2013

N.S. Court of Appeal Upholds “Minor Injury” Cap award: Awalt v. Blanchard

by John McKiggan

Almost two years ago I wrote about the trial decision in Awalt v. Blanchard: Accident Victim’s Claim Capped by Nova Scotia’s “Minor Injury” Law

Ms. Awalt was injured in a car accident in 2004. She returned to work shortly after the accident. A few years later she underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff which she claimed was injured in the car accident.

The trial judge, Justice Coady found no causal connection between the shoulder injury and accident. He classified Ms. Awalt’s injuries as falling under the minor injury cap, which limited her general damages to $2,500.

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February 20th, 2013

Save your tears: No compensation for grief in Nova Scotia

by John McKiggan

Dog Day Afternoon

I was reading an article written by my colleague Brett Emison, a personal injury attorney in Kansas. Brett wrote about an interesting case in Texas that highlights the irony of the law in most U.S. states and in Canada.

In most states and several provinces in Canada, courts cannot award compensation for grief for the loss of a family member.

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February 8th, 2013

Is Technology Creating More Distracted Drivers?

by John McKiggan

The Fight to End Distracted Driving

I volunteer with endDD.org a group that seeks to educate students and other drivers about the dangers of distracted driving.

So far EndDD volunteers have given educational presentations to more than 40,000 teens across North America.

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February 6th, 2013

Increase in NS Traffic Deaths in 2012: What can we do?

by John McKiggan

Huge Increase in Traffic Fatalities

2012 was not a good year for Nova Scotia motor vehicle accidents with eighty-two (82) road fatalities. In fact, 2012 bucked the trend of a steady decline in motor vehicle fatalities that has been ongoing since 2007. Compare the 2012 numbers to those in 2011 when there were only sixty-five (65) people killed on the road. That’s a 21% increase!

Back in July of 2012, I voiced my concerns about the cause of the rising trend of fatal accidents on Nova Scotia roads: Increase in Nova Scotia Traffic Fatalities: Is Distracted Driving to Blame?

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January 28th, 2013

No Duty To Explain Statute Of Limitations To Someone Who Is Not A Client

by John McKiggan

Last week Antonin Pribetic who writes The Trial Warrior Blog posted the decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal in Broesky v. Lüst.

The decision is just 6 paragraphs and the Ontario Court of Appeal concisely dealt with the question of what duty a lawyer owes to someone who is not the lawyer’s client.

While it may appear obvious (to some) that a lawyer doesn’t owe a duty to someone who is not the lawyers client, the would-be client in this case went all the way to the Court of Appeal to get an answer to this question.

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January 24th, 2013

Oprah on Armstrong: She doesn’t know the meaning of Hero

by John McKiggan

The Halifax Chronicle Herald recently ran a story titled “Armstrong Can Be Hero Again, Oprah Says“. The story was reporting on Oprah Winfrey’s recent interview with Lance Armstrong where he discussed his use of performance enhancing drugs while he was racing in the Tour de France.

According to Oprah:

“…if he is willing to do the work … he can be a real hero.”

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January 24th, 2013

End Distracted Driving Presentations for Halifax Schools

by John McKiggan

Distracted Driving Presentations for Halifax Students

I have been volunteering with EndDD.org doing presentations for students at Halifax schools about the dangers of distracted driving. So far we have talked to more than 700 students at 5 different schools.

My goal is spread the message to students at every JHS and HS in Halifax. If you are a teacher or part of a Parent Teacher Group (PTG) or a member of your schools’ School Advisory Committee (SAC) and you would like to have us give the presentation to your kids’ school, please contact me through this blog.

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