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

Be it on back road byways or the open lanes of I-95, motorcycles are back. And what better time to remind riders of safety than the beginning of season, which is why May is national Motorcycle Safety Month.

Unseasonable temperatures gave motorcyclists a head start to riding this year, but while riders are rejoicing, officials are concerned about the early start. Motorcycle accident fatalities have been increasing every year since 1997, while motorcycle injuries have been increasing since 1999. Typically, May is one of the deadliest months for bikers, as many begin riding again after taking the winter months off.

With over 5,000 fatalities and 100,000 injured bikers annually nationwide, motorcycle safety has become a national health concern. In 2007, motorcycles accounted for 13 percent of total traffic fatalities, while totaling fewer than 3 percent of the registered vehicles on the road. From 2005 to 2009, a total of 99 people died on Maine roads in motorcycle-related crashes, of which only four were women drivers. Maine had its first motorcycle death of the year on April 12.

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Most everyone loves their pets, often treating them as an additional family member. However, not all people take the proper safety precautions for them when driving.

Pet safety group, Bark Buckle UP, recently studied vehicles to see which are the most pet-safe. According to the study, the Ford Edge is the safest car on the road for pets.

Following the Ford Edge are the Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Journey, Ford Flex, Ford Transit Connect, Kia Soul, Honda Element - which has a "dog friendly model" complete with ramp, rear car kennel, pet bed and fan, Smart Car, Subaru Outback, and Volvo XC60.

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Spring is a joyful time in Maine. Mainers emerge from the depths of winter to make the most of the warmer weather. But with the warmer weather comes the end of hibernation for Maine’s wildlife as well. And the end of hibernation means animals are on the hunt for food.

In Maine, the sides of the road are among the first areas to green up in the spring, offering animals a source of food after a long winter of a bland diet. The salt found along roadsides left from winter is also appealing to moose, who are likely to be spotted feeding this time of the year.

With an estimated 30,000 moose in the state, second only to Alaska, and no real system of keeping them off the road, it comes as no surprise that there are approximately 700 moose related accidents annually in Maine.

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Auto insurance is mandatory in all U.S. states but two, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. But despite being a requirement for most Americans, rates vary state-to-state and person-to-person. A recent report by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ranked Maine as one of the lowest cost per auto insurance compared to all other states.

In 2009, the average auto insurance premium in Maine was $902.85. Louisiana, in comparison, was the highest in the U.S. with an average premium $2,510.87.

There are several reasons why auto insurance rates vary person-to-person and state-to-state. Determining factors include:

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The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is pleased to announce the continuation of its high school scholarship program with our sixth annual Arrive Alive Creative Contest. The contest is open to graduating seniors who wish to send a message to their peers about the dangers of drinking and driving and the dangers of distracted driving.

First place winners receive a new laptop computer, while second and third place winners receive an iPod, and all entrants receive fun prizes from our law firm. Past winners have submitted essays, poems, paintings, videos, original songs, public service announcements, t-shirt designs, board games, drawings and more. Some incredibly moving, all equally real.

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The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is pleased to announce the addition of new attorney, Talia D. Timmins. Timmins specializes in Social Security Disability and rounds out a staff of nine attorneys and over 50 legal professionals.

Attorney Timmins graduated from The George Washington University, Temple University Beasley School of Law, and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 2004. Before joining the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, she practiced for 5 years at Genex Services, Inc. where she specialized in Social Security Disability cases.

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The 2nd annual Maine African Film Festival (MAFF) was held in Portland April 6th-10th. The festival is a celebration of the people and culture of Africa and helps bridge the gaps between the people of Africa and those of Maine.

In its second year, the non-profit festival screened 15 films at the Nickelodeon Cinemas, including full length features, documentaries, and shorts. All MAFF movies and associated events are open to the general public, and most of the films shown were selected through the New York African Film Festival’s Traveling Series.

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For the 14th consecutive year, over 100 eighth grade girls spent the day at the Maine State House. Organized by the Maine Women’s Policy Center, Girls' Day at the State House is designed to inspire leadership and help shape the future women leaders of Maine.

Girls from across the state had the opportunity to meet with political leaders, explore the State House, engage in a mock public hearing, participate in a mock press conference, and meet other politically active and involved students.

Over 60 volunteers, including lawyers, journalists, lobbyists, professors, students and social justice activists met with the girls, who each wore a T-shirt stating, "Girls Rock the House...and the Senate." The students also had the opportunity to meet Governor John Baldacci and the Speaker of the House, Hannah Pingree.

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On March 20-25, the Maine Jewish Film Festival took center stage for their 13th consecutive year. The theme to this year’s festival was “Coming of Age” – a play on the Jewish age when a child has his or her Bar or Bat Mitzvah.

Hosted at the Nickelodeon Cinemas in Portland, 22 films were screened out of a submitted 150. Though Jewish in nature, the festival includes films for everyone featuring comedies, love stories, thrillers and documentaries. In 2009, over 2,400 people attended the highly acclaimed festival.

Over the 13 years, the film festival has grown in stature and style. In 1998, the festival started in the South Portland Congregation Bet Ha'am with six videos shown on a television set.

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