Talking to Your Teen About Impaired Driving
Alcohol consumption alters the skills young drivers need the most, such as reaction time, vision, and judgment. Alcohol and drugs are a factor in more than half of teenage collisions, and although new drivers are taught and warned about the dangers of driving under the influence, the talk of impaired driving should begin much sooner. Teenagers learn through repetition and reinforced constructive conversations about impaired driving and responsible behavior on the road. Along with these conversations, the best way to educate at home is to lead by example. Set a good example by drinking responsibly at [...]
What are Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Damages
What are Pecuniary Damages These types of damages are the ones that are monetary in nature. Because of a wrongdoing, the injured person is no longer able to earn an income, or has to spend money for additional goods and services, and will be compensated accordingly. This loss can be experienced for a period both preceding and following the trial. When related to the time period before the trial, courts speak of a special damage, usually subject to fairly precise calculation; when related to the time period after the trial, the judges will speak of general damages, [...]
Pesticide Company Sued After Being Linked to Brain Damage in Children
Dow Chemical is an American chemical corporation serving many countries around the world including Canada. The company is among the three largest chemical producers worldwide and has just been struck with a lawsuit after a commonly used pesticide was linked to brain damage in children and fetuses. The chemical chlorpyrifos kills bugs and was used on more than 80 crops including oranges, berries, grapes, soybeans, almonds, and walnuts. Records show that 61 million pounds of the pesticide were sprayed between 1974-2017, and the effects still linger in agricultural communities where after decades of use, there are [...]
Why You Should Follow Your Doctor’s Advice
Doctors are the Experts Doctors are highly educated and trained to handle and treat injuries in the most beneficial way possible to put you on a successful recovery track. Licensed physicians have the experience and expertise to suggest treatment plans in relation to your unique injuries, circumstances, and medical history. For this reason, following the instructions of your personal doctor is more beneficial than the advice of a medical professional on the internet, or treatment plans suggested by family and friends. 2. Avoiding Complications When doctors give you instructions to consistently follow, it betters your chances of [...]
Should You Have a Dashcam?
Having an extra set of eyes on the road has its advantages, especially concerning unsafe driving and collisions. Dashcams are small video cameras mounted within a car to capture footage when driving. As drivers get to know the advantages of the dashcam, sales have been continuously increasing, storage and quality of the cameras have been improving, and prices have been dropping. Today, video surveillance is all around us, so why not incorporate it on the road. Here are 5 reasons to consider purchasing a dashcam. First-Hand Evidence of Your Car Accident Having footage of an accident will [...]
Myths of Traumatic Brain Injury
Myth 1: Mild Traumatic Brain Injury is Not Serious Traumatic brain injury is broken down into three categories. Severe, moderate, and mild. The word mild does the disservice of making the injury seem insignificant when the initial classification "mild" only speaks to the initial neurological severity and has no correlation with the degree of short or long-term impairment or functional disability. Myth 2: Loss of Consciousness is Necessary to Sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury It is a misconception that for a force to cause traumatic brain injury, it must be sufficient to cause loss of consciousness. Mild [...]
Why You Should Not Drive With Headphones
There is a long list of things you should not do while driving. Anything that requires you to take your hands off the wheel, your eyes off the road, or your attention from the task at hand should be avoided. Now, you may think driving with headphones is the same as listening to music through your car speakers and is not a distraction, but it is very dangerous and is illegal in Canada. There are three types of distractions while on the road: Visual: any distraction that takes your eyes off the road. Manual: any distraction that [...]
Are Sick Leave Benefits Deductible from Awards of Damages?
The 1996 amendment to the insurance Act, supra, refers expressly to "sick leave plans": s. 265.4(1)(b). Before then, sick leave credits used as a result of an injury could potentially be claimed if the evidence showed that they were cashable at the time of retirement or if there was an undertaking to reimburse the employer of the sick time used: Allen v. Farrell (1988), 86 NBR (2d) 50 para 47 (QB). Since 1996, sick leave benefits have to be deducted from awards for past loss of income, even where they may be considered a capital asset (this part [...]
Juul to Pay $40 Million in Teen Vaping Lawsuit
Juul Labs is a company that manufactures electronic cigarettes - a battery-charged cigarette that vaporizes nicotine as an alternative to traditional burning cigarettes. The original goal for the e-cigarette was to become a replacement cigarette for smokers who wish to cut down on their nicotine consumption. However, the industry has led to an epidemic of underage vaping, and nicotine consumption. Vaping is inhaling nicotine and aerosol made from countless chemicals that are toxic to your body and can cause several lung injuries and respiratory problems. Juul Labs has been accused for years that they are responsible for [...]
10 Things New Motorcycle Riders Should Know
As a new motorcycle rider, there is a lot of information to take in, and it can be easy to overlook some of the basic things. Read on for a compiled list of 10 things new motorcycle riders should know before hitting the road. Use Both Brakes It takes much practice to master the skill of intuitively knowing what break to use in different situations. As a beginner, it is important to use both brakes when coming to a stop no matter the conditions. As a rule of thumb, 70/30 pressure should be applied for a controlled, [...]
Road Trip Safety Checklist
It is always a good idea to prep your car before taking a trip, so you do not run into any problems on the road. Use this checklist to prepare yourself and your vehicle for what lies ahead. Check Your Tires To help ensure a disaster-free road trip, check your tires for any signs of damage. Firstly, the tire pressure needs to be checked, as optimal tire inflation is important for performance, fuel economy, and safety. Every vehicle manufacturer has a recommended pressure that can be found in the owner manual. Look and feel your tires [...]
Fisher-Price Recalls Baby Glider After 4 Infant Deaths
Health Canada has informed the public of Fisher-Price recalling their 4-in-1 Rock n' Glide soothers, and 2-in-1 Soothe n' Play Gliders due to the possible risk of suffocation. These products are baby carriers designed to mimic the motion of a baby being rocked in someone's arms. There have been cases of infants being placed unrestrained in the products and later found on their stomachs. As of May 26, 2021, there have been no reports of suffocation incidences in Canada, however, the United States has reported 4 infant fatalities in the 4-in-1 Rock n' Glide. The 2-in-1 [...]
