Category: Distracted Driving

Are Painkillers Causing Car-Accidents?

by John McKiggan

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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Posted in: Car Accidents, Distracted Driving, Uncategorized

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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Posted in: Car Accidents, Distracted Driving, Fatal Accidents, Uncategorized

Magic, Misdirection and Distracted Driving

by John McKiggan

My hobby is performing magic, and I love reading books about famous magicians. So I was interested to read Alex Stones’ new book about Houdini called Fooling Houdini: Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks & the Hidden Powers of the Mind. It occurred to me some of what Stone says about magicians is relevant to my work as a personal injury lawyer in Nova Scotia.

Distracted Driving

In my work representing people who have been injured in car collisions I have noticed an increase in the number of accidents caused by driver inattention or some form of distracted driving.

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Posted in: Car Accidents, Distracted Driving, Uncategorized

The Deadly Consequences of Distracted Driving

by John McKiggan

More Than 3000 Distracted Drivers in HRM Every Year

Police in Halifax issue more than 3000 tickets every year to drivers distracted by the use of their cellphones. Despite the vigilence of HRPD one can only assume that these tickets represent just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the number of distracted drivers in Metro Halifax.

Constable Stephen Squires says distracted driving is one of the four main causes of fatal accidents; the other three being impairment, lack of seatbelt use and aggressive driving.

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Posted in: Distracted Driving, Uncategorized

Get Your Kids Back-to-School Safely!

by John McKiggan

It’s that time again! Tomorrow is the first day of school and lots of eager (or not so eager) kids will be heading back to school.

As an injury lawyer in Nova Scotia, I have dealt with countless tragic cases where children have been injured, many of them in and around schools. Here are a few tips for parents to make sure the first day back (and every other day during the school year) is a safe one.

Whichever method your children use to get to school there are a number of safety considerations to remember.

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Posted in: Bicycle safety, Car Accidents, Child Injuries, Child Safety, Distracted Driving, EndDD.org, Kids and Cars Canada, Pedestrian accidents, Uncategorized

Increase in Nova Scotia Traffic Fatalities: Is Distracted Driving to Blame?

by John McKiggan

It seems like a day doesn’t go by this summer when I don’t have to read about another needless traffic fatality on Nova Scotia highways. Yesterday media reported that a 17 year old boy died Sunday night after a single vehicle crash on Little Harbour Road in Pictou county. Today Cape Breton Regional Police reported the death of a young man in a car crash that happened just before 9 a.m. in River Ryan, near New Waterford.

Increase in Traffic Deaths

Traffic fatalities in Nova Scotia have seen a huge increase over the last year. As of July 10 there had been 41 car related deaths in Nova Scotia. These statistics don’t include the 6 fatalities reported over the last two weeks alone!

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Posted in: Distracted Driving, Uncategorized