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

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States. Two weeks prior, Maine celebrated cancer survivors.

The 11th annual Cancer Survivors Day was held at the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care in Augusta on September 12th. The event celebrated Mainers who have beat cancer, with music, food and fun. Inspirational stories from survivors resonated throughout the attendees and standup comedy by Maine humorist Gary Crocker added entertainment to the free event. This year’s theme was “Inspiration for Life.”

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The Maine State Bar Association (MSBA) has prepared a booklet to help “prepare young people for some of the legal complexities of adulthood." The free booklet, On Your Own, is the MSBA's guide to law for young adults and is available for high school seniors statewide.

On Your Own is available in booklet form and can be downloaded on the MSBA website or ordered through high schools. The 84-page guide covers the rights and responsibilities of adulthood: 

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On September 12th, the State of Maine made smoking in public more difficult. Two new anti-smoking laws were established, making Maine one of the most smoke-free states in the U.S.

New Smoking Law #1: Outdoor Dining Areas Must Now Be Completely Smoke-Free

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Despite more distractions than ever for drivers on the road, car accident fatalities are declining. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), the rate of driver fatalities is at the lowest it’s been since the government began tracking such data in the 1970’s.

The current recession is a contributing factor to the decrease in driver fatalities, as fewer miles are driven during a downward economic trend. Though despite the smaller number, adjusted figures show that the decrease in fatalities isn’t only because fewer people are on the road.

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Prior to September 12, 2009, game wardens in Maine could stop an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) regardless if a violation had occurred. Now, a warden must have reasonable suspicion that an operator has violated the law before stopping an ATV.

The new law reverses that of the Maine Supreme Court which allowed game wardens to stop ATV operators regardless of whether a violation had happened. Though the new law is more lenient than that of the past, respecting the privacy of the rider, concern for public safety is on the rise. For the eighth consecutive year serious injuries from ATV accidents increased.

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October 4th-10th was National Fire Prevention Week, a time when fire education spreads through the U.S. like wildfire. This year, however, the celebration hit close to home on a more somber note.

On November 17, 2008, firefighter Michael Snowman of Hartland died while responding to a house fire in Detroit, Maine. Snowman was the lone fatality of the fire, and one of 103 firefighters who passed away in 2008 while on call in the U.S. On October 4, 2009, each was honored at the 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

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Motorcyclists and passengers under the age of 18 must now wear a helmet.

Previously, bikers and passengers on motorcycles under the age of 15 were required to wear helmets, however, a recently passed law is making motorcycle safety mandatory.

Motorcyclists must now wear a helmet when:

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorists in rural areas are more likely to die in motor vehicle accidents than those in urban areas.

Despite more motor vehicle accidents occurring in congested areas, and only 20 percent of the population living in rural areas, 60 percent of traffic fatalities happen on rural roads. One major factor for the high percentage of traffic fatalities is the amount of miles driven. Because homes, schools, businesses, and neighboring towns are spread out, more time is spent behind the wheel. With greater distances to travel, more often than not speed limits are higher, leading to more serious accidents. Typically, there is no public transportation in rural areas.

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Used to treat bacterial infections of the skin, sinuses, kidneys, bladder, or prostate, the prescription drug Levaquin has been linked to an increased risk of tendinitis and tendon ruptures. First approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996, the drug is also used to treat bacterial infections that cause bronchitis or pneumonia, as well as those exposed to anthrax.

Levaquin is concentration-dependent, meaning it kills bacteria most effectively when the proper amount of medicine has been absorbed into your body. The prescription drug can be taken orally or injected, and costs upward of $100 for treatment. Unfortunately, the drug has been linked to serious tendon injuries.

Tendons are the structures that connect your muscles to your joints. The most common cases of tendinitis and tendon ruptures due to Levaquin involve the Achilles tendon, but cases of the rotator cuff, hand, biceps, and thumb have also been reported. Serious cases of tendon rupture may require surgical repair. 

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On Saturday September 26th, downtown Biddeford filled with artists, musicians, and locals looking for a day of fun at the 5th annual Chalk on the Walk Festival.

Organized by the Heart of Biddeford, the festival celebrated community as artists covered Main Street with their favorite chalk art renditions with local musicians providing the soundtrack. In addition to the sights and sounds, visitors were treated to the tastes of street vendors and the many delicious ethnic restaurants on and around Main Street.

As a proud supporter of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce and a tenant at 193 Main Street, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein was once again in attendance. Our resident artist depicted in chalk the car accident that ultimately closed our Biddeford office for nearly two months early this year. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the accident, and hopefully both the driver, who was intoxicated at the time, and many other locals learned the lesson to Arrive Alive and not drink and drive.

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