It could happen to you.
You're driving down the road, minding your own business, when all of a sudden your changes in a big way.
Forever.
You get hit by a drunk driver.
What would the appropriate sanctions be for a person who shows such little regard for the lives of others ?
BC's provincial government has recently let it be known that the current laws are not tough enough on drunk drivers.
And when BC's new drunk driving laws come into effect this fall it's all going to change.
Under the new laws drivers who blow over .08, or refuse to provide a breath sample, will face an immediate 90 day driving ban and a $500 fine. They'll also have their vehicle impounded for 30 days and will have to take a responsible driving course at a cost of $880.
Drivers who blow between .05 and .08 will face an immediate 3 day driving ban and a fine of $200.
This will increase to a 7 day ban and $300 fine if the same driver blows within the "warning zone" a 2nd time within 5 years. And a third such infraction will result in a 30 day ban and a $400 fine.
Believe it or not drinking and driving is still a big problem in BC.
Despite all the work done by police and such groups as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, every year many British Columbians are injured and killed by impaired drivers.
Finally though someone "grabbed the bull by the horns" and said "enough to enough".
Michael and Laurel Middelaer's 4 1/2 year old daughter Alexa was killed by a drunk driver 2 years ago. Alexa and her aunt Daphene were feeding a horse on the side of a rural road in Delta when the tragedy occured.
Over the past 2 years the Middelars have spent countless hours lobbying to get BC's drunk driving laws changed. These changes are a testament to their efforts.
For those of us who represent individuals who've been injured ina car accident, these changes to BC's drunk driving laws couldn't have come too soon. We've seen first hand the damage that's done to hard working people and their families by drunk drivers.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
ICBC Spending $100 million-plus a Year on Lawyers
Ian Mulgrew's February 5, 2010 column brings to light a very interesting trend.
ICBC is spending upwards of $100 million per annum on its lawyers. This figure represents a 20% increase over what it spent on lawyers three years prior.
So what ? you might ask.
Well, those of us in the legal trade know full well that ICBC scrutinizes its legal bills quite closely.
So, what this trend clearly indicates is that ICBC is becoming increasingly litigious. These numbers back up what many lawyers who represent injured motorists have been saying in the recent past.
That ICBC is working very hard to ,"put their clients through the hoops".
The real question, though, is simple. What is ICBC's master plan concerning their ever increasing legal expenditures ? Or, more to the point, do they have one.
Is ICBC trying to scare injured people away from pursuing legitimate injury claims ?
Is ICBC trying to make it increasingly difficult for lawyers who represent injured individuals to make a living ?
Is ICBC trying to push BC's legal system to the limit by litigating every case to the limit ?
These questions are all worth considering.
What do you thing ?
ICBC is spending upwards of $100 million per annum on its lawyers. This figure represents a 20% increase over what it spent on lawyers three years prior.
So what ? you might ask.
Well, those of us in the legal trade know full well that ICBC scrutinizes its legal bills quite closely.
So, what this trend clearly indicates is that ICBC is becoming increasingly litigious. These numbers back up what many lawyers who represent injured motorists have been saying in the recent past.
That ICBC is working very hard to ,"put their clients through the hoops".
The real question, though, is simple. What is ICBC's master plan concerning their ever increasing legal expenditures ? Or, more to the point, do they have one.
Is ICBC trying to scare injured people away from pursuing legitimate injury claims ?
Is ICBC trying to make it increasingly difficult for lawyers who represent injured individuals to make a living ?
Is ICBC trying to push BC's legal system to the limit by litigating every case to the limit ?
These questions are all worth considering.
What do you thing ?
Friday, February 5, 2010
The Province February 5, 2010 Cover Story
The cover of the February 5, 2010 Province newspaper features Miss Kiya Posthuma.
On January 25, 2010, Kiya was struck by a car in Abbotsford while going for her morning jog.
As a result of her car accident Kiya broke both sides of her pelvis and suffered a brain injury.
Despite suffering these significant injuries Kiya will be carrying the Olympic torch this coming Monday in Abbotsford.
In order to do so Kiya will require the use of a wheelchair.
Kiya's story is one of courage.
More to the point, Kiya's determination is reflective of the determination shown by many young men and women who've suffered severe injuries in motor vehicle accidents across British Columbia.
These young men and woman may not have the good fortune to carry the Olympic torch but will no doubt take great pleasure in watching Kiya do so on their behalf.
On January 25, 2010, Kiya was struck by a car in Abbotsford while going for her morning jog.
As a result of her car accident Kiya broke both sides of her pelvis and suffered a brain injury.
Despite suffering these significant injuries Kiya will be carrying the Olympic torch this coming Monday in Abbotsford.
In order to do so Kiya will require the use of a wheelchair.
Kiya's story is one of courage.
More to the point, Kiya's determination is reflective of the determination shown by many young men and women who've suffered severe injuries in motor vehicle accidents across British Columbia.
These young men and woman may not have the good fortune to carry the Olympic torch but will no doubt take great pleasure in watching Kiya do so on their behalf.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Concussions/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury In BC
Car accidents are one of the leading causes of mild traumatic brain injury in British Columbia.
A mild traumatic brain injury can occur in a bunch of different ways. Sometimes the injured person stikes some part of the inside of the vehicle, such as the windshield or headrest. In other cases the injured individual's brain undergoes a a sudden accelerartion/deceleration movement (the mechanics of this type of injury are similar to a whiplash)without their head actually hitting anything.
What's the simplest way to describe what happens inside a person's skull when they sustain a brain injury ?
Think of the brain tissue as being like a soft sponge. What happens is that the soft spung is violently thrust up against the the very hard bone which forms the interior of the skull. The brain tissue is squished. As a result it bruises,tears and/or swells.
What are the symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury ?
Here are a few symptoms which may be experienced individually or in combination:
1. An altered state of consciousness;
2. dizziness;
3. severe headache;
4. confusion;
5. persistent vomiting
6. Sleep disturbance;
7. difficulties concentrating;
8. difficulties retaining new information;
9. depression and irritability
Unfortunately, many family physicans in British Columbia are not well educated regarding the diagnosis and treatment of mild traumatic injury. As such, it is not unusual for a mild traumatic brain injury to go undiagnosed by a family doctor.
A valuable medical program that is not well know amongst primary medical treators in British Columbia is the GF Strong Rehab Center's Early Response Brain Injury Service. This service is available for anybody with a recent mild traumatic brain injury either by self-referral or through a family doctor. Go to the GF Strong Rehab Centre's website to get more information or to locate a referral form.
Often it is the victim of mild traumatic injury who must seek out appropriate medical attention. More to the point, the sooner they pursue proper medical treatment the more likely they are to make a good recovery.
A mild traumatic brain injury can occur in a bunch of different ways. Sometimes the injured person stikes some part of the inside of the vehicle, such as the windshield or headrest. In other cases the injured individual's brain undergoes a a sudden accelerartion/deceleration movement (the mechanics of this type of injury are similar to a whiplash)without their head actually hitting anything.
What's the simplest way to describe what happens inside a person's skull when they sustain a brain injury ?
Think of the brain tissue as being like a soft sponge. What happens is that the soft spung is violently thrust up against the the very hard bone which forms the interior of the skull. The brain tissue is squished. As a result it bruises,tears and/or swells.
What are the symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury ?
Here are a few symptoms which may be experienced individually or in combination:
1. An altered state of consciousness;
2. dizziness;
3. severe headache;
4. confusion;
5. persistent vomiting
6. Sleep disturbance;
7. difficulties concentrating;
8. difficulties retaining new information;
9. depression and irritability
Unfortunately, many family physicans in British Columbia are not well educated regarding the diagnosis and treatment of mild traumatic injury. As such, it is not unusual for a mild traumatic brain injury to go undiagnosed by a family doctor.
A valuable medical program that is not well know amongst primary medical treators in British Columbia is the GF Strong Rehab Center's Early Response Brain Injury Service. This service is available for anybody with a recent mild traumatic brain injury either by self-referral or through a family doctor. Go to the GF Strong Rehab Centre's website to get more information or to locate a referral form.
Often it is the victim of mild traumatic injury who must seek out appropriate medical attention. More to the point, the sooner they pursue proper medical treatment the more likely they are to make a good recovery.
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