Maine Injury, Accident, & Disability Law Blog : Maine Personal Injury Lawyer & Attorney : Joe Bornstein Law Firm : Portland Bangor Maine

According to the Federal Trade Commission approximately 9 million people have their identities stolen each year. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information such as your contact information, Social Security number, or credit card number with the intention of committing a fraud. 

The severity of identity theft varies widely. Some cases may be resolved with as little as a phone call, while others require hundreds of dollars and numerous hours trying to clear a victim’s name. In addition, victims often miss or lose out on jobs, housing, education, cars, and in the most extreme cases, are arrested for a crime they did not commit. 

According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, identity theft is divided into four subcategories:

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With autumn upon us and temperatures beginning to drop, Mainers will soon begin to heat their homes. And with the increased cost in heating oil, residents will be looking for other ways to keep warm.

The two most common alternative sources of heat in Maine are the woodstove and fireplace. Both can be effective and cost efficient ways of heating your home, however, safety precautions must be taken in order for them to be used properly. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers the following tips on how to properly use and maintain a woodstove or fireplace:

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A new website weighs the benefits and risks of medications.

Pfizer, a leading manufacturer for pharmaceuticals, developed a website to educate people on relevant information regarding a variety of medicine. The interactive website is designed to be in “plain English” with graphics and video clips to further educate consumers, as well as healthcare providers, public health officials, and caregivers. 

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The twenty-seventh annual United Bikers of Maine Toy Run took place September 14, 2008.  Motorcyclists from around Maine gathered at the Augusta Civic Center with new toys in tow and rode in unison to the Windsor Fairgrounds, where their toys were pooled together and donated to the Salvation Army.

Despite a steady rain, thousands of bikers took part in the annual Toy Run, as participants wanted to help less fortunate families by ensuring that their children would receive gifts during the upcoming holiday season.

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Beginning October 1st, it is now illegal to let your vehicle idle for more than five minutes in the city of Portland.

The Portland City Council approved the ordinance on September 15, 2008, in an attempt to reduce greenhouse effects, car emissions, and wasted fuel. The ordinance follows a state law for commercial vehicles, however, fire trucks, ambulances, and other public safety and service vehicles are exempt.

Exceptions for the general public include:

•  If you are in a traffic jam
• If it is below 32 degrees (you may then idle for fifteen minutes)
• If you are ill

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises parents to avoid dressing their children in clothing that have drawstrings around the neck of the garment, including sweatshirts, jackets, and other such items. The drawstrings have the potential to catch on playground equipment, fences, tree branches and school bus doors, and strangle a child.

In the past two decades, the CPSC has received reports of 27 deaths and 70 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children’s clothing with drawstrings, and they recommend that parents remove or cut all drawstrings from their children’s clothing to eliminate the hazard.

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The State of Maine is advising citizens to prepare and maintain a home emergency kit. With hurricane season in full effect and winter looming on the horizon, state officials recommend that now is the time to prepare for a natural disaster.

On September 9, 2008, Governor John Baldacci signed a proclamation to make September Preparedness Month in the State of Maine. He warned of flooding, road erosion, high winds, large snowfalls and widespread power outages, cautioned Mainers to be prepared for disasters year-round, and reminded everyone that natural disasters have caused millions of dollars in damage and taken the lives of residents across the state.

Items that should be included in an emergency kit include:
 

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A new statewide law made it illegal to smoke in a vehicle with children.

Beginning September 1, 2008, it is now illegal to smoke in a vehicle in the State of Maine when children under the age of 16 are present. The law was passed in an attempt to cut down on the amount of secondhand smoke youths are exposed to, as Governor John Baldacci declared that it costs too many lives and too much money.

Violators will be warned during the first year and will then be subject to a $50 fine thereafter.

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Summer is officially over and that mean it’s time for school. The Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offer the following advice for all parents to help assimilate their kids back to school:

 First Day Jitters:

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