How Common is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from a Car Accident?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious disorder that can result from very stressful situations, including motor vehicle accidents. A crash is often a traumatic event that marks a major change in a victim’s life. In many cases, the change includes the development of PTSD. Researchers believe that up to 39 percent of victims injured […]
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Do You Have to Pay Taxes on a Car Accident Lawsuit Settlement?
If you are pursuing a settlement from a car accident claim, you may be wondering if you must pay taxes the compensation you have secured. Perhaps you have already received a lawsuit settlement, and you are wondering why you haven’t had to pay any taxes on it. The answer is that if you receive a […]
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Can You Be Held Legally Responsible for Distracted Walking Accidents?
Distracted driving is a factor in nearly a quarter of motor vehicle related deaths, but what about distracted walking accidents? This interactive map shows where pedestrians have been hit in the Vancouver area and across British Columbia. The numbers are surprising. Cell Phone Walking Accidents in Vancouver A person who is distracted by a cell […]
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Safe Driving For Mature Drivers
No matter how much we fight it, aging is part of life. Eventually the signs of age start taking shape. Hearing and sight are common senses that we often take for granted when we’re active twenty year olds, yet many find these are the first to start deteriorating as we age. When you have been […]
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The Law Denies ICBC Compensation To Designated Driver In Car Accident
Being a designated driver is obviously a responsible thing to do and prevents countless injuries and deaths caused by car accidents. However, a recent B.C. Supreme Court judgment, Felix v. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, 2014 BCSC 166, may discourage would-be designated drivers from offering a safe ride home to others. In that case, the […]
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Correctly Adjusted Headrest Can Prohibit Severe Whiplash In A Car Accident
We know how important our pillow is to preventing neck strain, but the proper use of a well- engineered headrest can dramatically reduce the injury caused from whiplash in a car accident. Whiplash, also known as neck sprain or strain, is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck. It is caused by sudden […]
Read ArticleShould You Have A Lawyer Present When You Meet With An ICBC Car Accident Adjuster?
If you have been in a car accident in BC, your first interactions post accident may be with the ICBC claims department. The interesting thing about car accident insurance in BC is that it is run by a monopoly. Although, you would think your adjuster is on your side, they are also on the side […]
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Top 5 Driving Tips To Avoid A Car Accident While Driving In Vancouver & The Lower Mainland
The headlines have been screaming weekly about hit and run accidents in Vancouver and the lower mainland, some of them fatal. Good driving skills and manners are universal, but each region in Canada has it’s own challenges when it comes to avoiding accidents. Here are 5 driving tips to keep you safe on Vancouver and […]
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Saying Sorry At The Scene Of An Accident – Will It Affect My ICBC Claim?
Canadians are known to be polite, almost too polite. We apologize for everything. Even at the scene of a car accident, our first thoughts are to say sorry – even when it isn’t our fault. If you are in a car accident in BC that is not your fault, and you hop out of the […]
Read ArticleSlow Down & Move Over – Protecting BC Emergency Workers
Over 400 emergency workers in BC have been injured or killed on BC roads. The scene of a car accident is one of the most dangerous places for first responders such as police officers, fire and ambulance personnel, tow truck operators, special police constables, conservation officers and park rangers. It is disturbing to know that […]
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Who Has The Right-Of-Way – Pedestrians Or Cars?
In the Vancouver 24 News (April 17, 2013) last week, there was an awesome observation by Keri Potipcoe regarding the rights of pedestrians. As she states, technically a pedestrian does have the right of way, but is it common sense to just step off the curb in front of a car? Of course not. But […]
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Five Essential Things NOT To Do At The Scene Of A Car Accident
It is always good to be prepared for an accident. Having a checklist of action steps can help you know what is most important to do at a car-accident scene. But just as important, it is what you don’t do at the scene that can be most beneficial. As I posted last week, if anyone […]
Read ArticleTop Five Things To Do After Leaving A Crash Site
Once the adrenaline that comes with being in a car accident dies down, a car-accident victim is left to deal with the realities of the situation: possible injuries, car repairs, medical attention and insurance. It can be very overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help you make it through the first 48 hours after […]
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The Single-Vehicle Accident And ICBC Coverage
A single vehicle collision or single-vehicle accident is a type of road traffic collision in which only one vehicle is involved. Included in this category are run-off-road collisions, collisions with fallen rocks or debris in the road, rollover crashes within the roadway, and collisions with animals. If you are involved in an accident of this […]
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RCMP Launch Targeted Enforcement For Distracted Driving
BC RCMP traffic services will not be showing any love this month to distracted drivers. February is Distracted Driving Month in British Columbia. Preliminary motor vehicle statistics for 2012 indicate that 30% of fatalities and 37% of serious injuries involved distracted driving. Since January of 2010, police in British Columbia issued 105,972 violation tickets for […]
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More Pedestrians Get Killed In Vancouver Than All Other Road Users
The City of Vancouver launched a safety program called: People are Fragile. It is an excellent campaign to raise awareness of the all too common bad behaviours by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians that can have potentially fatal consequences. Even though there have been several safety campaigns launched by the city, police, Preventable.ca and Drop It […]
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Tire Maintenance For Your Driving Safety
Did you know that vehicle tires are a critical element to road safety? In order for tires to perform safely, they need regular maintenance. If not maintained, tires can suddenly fail and cause you to lose control of the vehicle. A number of years ago, I was driving down Highway 1 on my way to […]
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Always Use Your Parking Brake! By Shaun de Jager
Shaun de Jager is a trained race car driver, a road safety educator, and a valuable blogger on road safety issues. As a dedicated specialist, he works to make our roads safer through advanced driver training and education. With Shaun’s help, you can take classes such as: upgrading your driving skills, driver rehabilitation, shifting from […]
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What Are ICBC Driver Penalty Points?
ICBC driver penalty points is a very hot topic in British Columbia. It just keeps coming up over and over again. Why is that? I believe it is because the topic is uncomfortable. It is associated with a negative experience, shame, cops, tickets, and outgoing cash. On top of all of that, it’s a complicated […]
Read ArticleA Split Second Can Last Forever
Alex, the husband of one of my best friends has a saying, “Your life is measured in seconds and inches (ok, should be centimeters, but doesn’t have the same impact). The first time I heard him say that I didn’t really take it to heart, but after participating in many presentations by Drop It And […]
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