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

It's that time of year again. Temperatures are dropping, snow is falling and we are officially in the midst of another Maine winter. While blankets of snow draping our towns and cities are nice to look at, they do not make for a winter wonderland on the roads. Cold weather conditions create many hazards and pose serious threats to safe driving.

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we see firsthand the effects of dangerous winter driving. Many hazardous driving conditions cannot be avoided, but being aware of important winter driving tips will help to lessen your chances of having an accident. The following guidelines will help Mainers navigate the frosty season:

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At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we believe ‘tis always the season for giving. As we welcome a new year, we feel privileged that we are able to continue giving back to the communities in which we live and serve.

We see the efforts of numerous charities and organizations that are dedicated to improving the quality of life in Maine. It is with great pleasure that we commend these efforts with our respect, gratitude and financial support.

Through a variety of resources, we are able to address important issues such as education, healthcare, civil rights and access to public transportation. It is an honor to have represented more than 18,000 Mainers in our 36 years. It is an honor to be able to give back to the state we love so much.

Some of the charities and events that we have supported over the past few years include:

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In November 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that painkillers Darvon and Darvocet have been voluntarily recalled after studies showed potential harmful side effects. Two of the most commonly prescribed pain medications, the drugs have been associated with serious health problems such as suicide, physical addiction and overdosing.

First introduced in 1957, Darvon and Darvocet contain the active ingredient, propoxyphene, an opioid that is used to treat mild to moderate post-surgical pain. However, a report prepared by the FDA found more than 3,000 cases where the drugs were linked to serious health problems. The agency also indicated that Darvon and Darvocet are no more effective than safer, over-the-counter painkillers. An estimated 22 million people have been prescribed Darvon or Darvocet.

Serious side effects that have been linked to the prescription pain medication Darvon and Darvocet include:

• Severe heart rhythm abnormalities
• Heart attack
• Sudden death
• Accidental overdosing

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In a cooperative effort, local nonprofit organization Pine Tree Legal Assistance and the Arkansas Legal Services Partnership have launched Stateside Legal, a website for veterans, current military members and their families and advocates.

The objective of this comprehensive, interactive website is to help veterans:

• Access their benefits
• Find free legal help
• Better understand their legal issues

In addition to providing easy-to-understand relevant and helpful information, Stateside Legal also includes interactive forms, videos, legal analysis and links to other military-related organizations.

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According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 195,000 Mainers- nearly 15 percent of households in the state- are battling food insecurity and have struggled to provide enough meals for their families at some point during the year. Maine is currently tied for ninth in the country for food insecurity rates and is second in the country for ‘very low’ food security.

Hunger rates in Maine first started to surge in 2008 at the start of the economic downturn and have continued to increase steadily as a result of people losing their jobs, homes and financial resources. While unemployment is the main cause of food insecurity, even those who are working and bringing in steady incomes are still feeling the burden.

Though the holidays provide some relief in the form of food drives and donation baskets, food banks throughout the state are working tirelessly to try and feed everyone in need.

Good Shepherd Food-Bank, the state’s largest distributor of emergency food, delivers food to 600 food banks and pantries statewide, and provided 12 million pounds of food during the 2009-10 year. In addition, the Salvation Army delivered 197 food baskets this past Thanksgiving, almost triple the amount of baskets that were handed out last year.

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Portland School Department officials have joined eye care providers and local organizations in an effort to provide eyeglasses for students with poor vision.

Thus far, $11,500 in donations has been collected for Glasses for Students, a fund created in September with the goal of assisting children whose families are covered by MaineCare or don’t have health insurance.

Many local eye care clinics have stopped dispensing glasses despite a recent increase in dispensing fee from the state. On September 1, 2010, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services raised the amount optical stores are reimbursed from $8.00 to $14.40, yet many stores are still operating at a loss.

As a short-term solution, Casco Bay Eye Care is offering free eye exams to students with MaineCare and Eyes on Rosemont in Portland is providing lower-cost eye care services to children in need. School nurses are currently administering vision screenings to Portland students and are referring those who need glasses to eye doctors for full, comprehensive exams.

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The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein – one of Maine’s leading personal injury and disability law firms – is pleased to announce the hiring of its 11th attorney, C.J. Newman. Attorney Newman joins a staff of nearly 60 legal professionals and is responsible for much of the firm's legal research and writing.

A graduate of the University of Southern Maine and the University of Maine School of Law, Newman served as an editor for the Maine Law Review, a biannually published law journal.

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As you deck the halls and get into the holiday spirit this season, remember to always make safety your number one priority. Christmas trees can pose serious dangers if not properly cared for.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, each year fire departments respond to approximately 260 fires caused by Christmas trees. One-third of these fires are caused by electrical problems, while one in every five of these fires is caused from a heat source being to close to the tree.

Here are some important tips on choosing, maintaining and decorating your Christmas tree:

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