Maine Injury & Accident Lawyer & Attorney : Joe Bornstein Law Firm : Auto Accidents, Medical Malpractice, Construction Injuries : Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Biddeford, Maine

In an attempt to increase ridership, public transit buses in Maine will be free on Fridays through the end of 2008. 

Free Fare Fridays is a month-long campaign designed to educate Mainers about low-cost transit options available throughout the state. This is the third promotion of free rides, following previous campaigns where ridership was up as much as 38%, as hundreds of new riders got to travel for free in their local communities.

The Free Fare Fridays campaign is a partnership between the Maine Department of Transportation, the GO MAINE commuter assistance program, and the Greater Portland Metro Services. In addition to the increase in transit riders, more and more commuters are visiting the GO MAINE commuter website in search of carpooling and vanpooling options. Since 2008, the GO MAINE database has increased by more than 100% and has had over one million hits to its website.

For more information about Free Fare Fridays, the GO MAINE commuter assistance program, and a complete list of participating transit services, please call 1-800-280-RIDE or visit: www.gomaine.org.

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This Thursday, November 20, 2008, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein will be extending our business hours once again for Mainers who do not have access to a phone during the daytime. Our office will remain open until 10pm to give Mainers throughout the state the opportunity to call us with their legal questions and speak directly with one of our experienced legal professionals.

Our staff will stand ready to answer your questions about:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Personal Injuries
• Social Security Disability
• Medical Malpractice
• Worker’s Compensation
• Maritime Injuries
• Injuries Related to Certain Prescription Drugs

We are the only law firm in the state of Maine to extend our business hours into the evening in an attempt to give Mainers an even greater access to justice. “Law Night” is a free service provided by The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein and a regular fee schedule is applied to all accepted cases.

Of course our office is open every day, Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5pm. With a statewide practice and five convenient offices in Biddeford, Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, and Bangor, you can be sure there’s a Law Offices of Joe Bornstein near you. And in the chance that you can’t come to us, we’ll come to you.

So give us a call this Thursday Night and be part of Maine’s only “Law Night,” brought to you by The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein – Maine Lawyers Working For Maine People

Now After Dark On Law Night!

Law Night:
When: Thursday, November 20, 2008
Time: 5pm - 10pm
Phone: 1-800-CALL-JOE (1-800-2255-563)
 

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a website for consumers to compare hospitals and the medical procedures they provide.

Visitors to the website: www.hhs.gov, can view data, graphs, and tables comparing and contrasting different hospitals and the surgical and medical procedures they offer throughout the U.S. The data is derived from surveys to both hospital staff and patients, and is available free to the general public.

Medical conditions that can be researched on the website include:

• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Chronic Lung Disease
• Pneumonia
• Diabetes
• Chest Pain

Surgical procedures that can be researched on the website, each containing one or more procedure, include:

• Heart and Blood Vessels
• Abdominal
• Neck, Back, and Extremities (Arms and Legs)
• Bladder, Kidney, and Prostrate
• Female Reproductive

When researching medical conditions and surgical procedures, consumers can learn which hospitals in their area offer the proper care they require, the number of patients treated for similar conditions, and the average cost to the patient. Consumers can also find out about the overall wellbeing of a hospital thanks in part to former patient and employee surveys. Information learned from these surveys includes, whether the nurses and doctors were accessible and helped properly educated the patient, whether patient questions and concerns were answered and addressed in a timely manner, whether the rooms were clean, quiet and comfortable, and whether former patients would recommend the hospital to others.

The information provided on the website is meant to help assist consumers in finding the hospital and medical procedure that is right for them. All prospective patients are advised to consult with their physician before making any medical decisions.

For more information and a complete set of medical conditions, surgical procedures, and list of hospitals that can be reviewed online, please visit: www.hhs.gov.
 

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As the number of senior citizens in Maine continues to grow, fewer and fewer elders can afford to pay for assisted living, congregate housing, or nursing home care. And when compared to staying at home in one’s local community with natural supports in place, the costs of the alternative living situations are astonishingly high to both seniors and the taxpaying public. 

Founded in 2003, Keeping Seniors Home is a statewide program designed to assist Maine’s low-income elders who would like to stay in their homes throughout the aging process. The program focuses on making homes safe, energy efficient, accessible and affordable, and partners with other community support services to ensure the health and well being of senior citizens.

The organization provides inspections of homes, a repair plan to bring them up to standards, and loan and grant packaging to make repairs. Services provided include:

• Home repairs and modifications for accessibility
• Energy conservation
• Falls risk assessments and prevention education
• Fire safety and fire risk assessments 

In addition to their hands on assistance, Keeping Seniors Home also gathers information about the elderly across a wide range of issues using what is known as the “Fallon Survey.” The study learns about seniors’ housing situation, socialization, medication costs, activity levels, and anticipated future needs. 

Since 2003, Keeping Seniors Home has renovated over 800 homes, completed over 700 Fallon Surveys, and leveraged over $5 million in elder housing investments throughout the state. To be eligible, Maine residents must be at least 65 years old and qualify for the fuel assistance program: LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assitance Program).

For more information on Keeping Seniors Home, and all of its eligibility requirements, please call the Western Maine Community Action toll free at 1-800-645-9636, or visit them online at: http://www.wmca.org/keeping_seniors_home.htm.

And help keep seniors where they truly want to be: Home Sweet Home.

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In celebration of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Southern Maine Medical Center and Leavitt’s Mill Health Center will be hosting free healthcare screening days for women ages 40 to 64 who have limited or no insurance. The screenings will include mammograms, pap tests, and clinical examinations. 

Two free clinics will be offered to the general public:

• The first on Thursday October 16th from 9am to 3pm, starting with exams at the Leavitt’s Mill facility in Buxton, followed by the breast exam at the SMMC Diagnostic and Therapy Center in Saco.
• The second on Saturday November 1^st from 8am to 12pm at the SMMC Women’s Center in Biddeford. 

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 184,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year, with approximately 1000 in Maine alone. The Southern Maine Medical Center is encouraging all women to be screened, and is generously donating their time and resources to help educate women of all ages.

For more information on the free healthcare screening, please visit www.smmcvisitingnurses.org, or to schedule an appointment call 985-1028.

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Each year local artists and businesses join together in Biddeford for a day of art, music, and fun in the annual Chalk On The Walk festival. Organized by the Heart of Biddeford, this year’s fourth annual festival took place on Saturday October 4^th, as artists of all ages converged on the downtown sidewalks to showcase their favorite chalk renditions.

Attendees of the festival were privileged to the sights of local artists, the sounds of local musicians, the tastes of local restaurants, the generosity of local businesses, and the excitement of Zabby’s Traveling Farm Animals, a petting zoo and Pony ride that is always a favorite among kids.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein took part of the festivities once again, as our resident artist showed festival goers that we mean business when it comes to chalk art, by portraying the Lady Justice on the sidewalk in front of our office located at 193 Main Street. As a proud member of the Biddeford Saco Chamber of Commerce, we are pleased to help support the arts and community of historic downtown Biddeford.

For more information on the Chalk On The Walk festival and all other activities happening in and around the town of Biddeford please visit: www.heartofbiddeford.org.

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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.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein was also on hand to join in the festivities.  We donated two large trash bags full of toys, and gave away custom bandanas to those who braved the rain and went for a ride.

Each year thousands of toys are collected by the good deed of the United Bikers of Maine, and because of this, each year many less fortunate families have a happy holiday season.

So for all you bikers out there, join the fun and join the cause, and take part in next year’s twenty-eighth annual United Bikers of Maine Toy Run. 

And for those who ride, be sure to keep Joe Bornstein by your side.

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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:

• Remind your child that he or she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.
• Point out the positive aspects of starting school: Your child will see old friends and meet new ones. Refresh his or her memory about previous years, when he or she may have returned home after the first day with high spirits after having fun.
• Find another child in the neighborhood with whom your child can walk to school or ride with on the bus.

Back Pack Safety:

• Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
• Pack light. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments and pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the student's body weight.
• Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.

School Bus Safety:

• Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb.
• Check to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing.
• Do not move around the bus and always make sure to remain in clear view of the bus driver.

Eating During The School Day:

• Most schools regularly send schedules of cafeteria menus home. With this advance information, you can plan on packing lunch on the days when the main course is one your child prefers not to eat.
• Try to get your child's school to stock healthy choices such as fresh fruit, low-fat dairy products, water and 100 percent fruit juice in the vending machines.
• Each 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child's risk of obesity by 60 percent. Restrict your child's soft drink consumption.

Developing Good Homework and Study Habits:

• Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Children need a permanent work space in their bedroom or another part of the home that offers privacy and inspiration.
• Set aside ample time for homework and establish a household rule that the TV stays off during homework time.
• If your child is struggling in a subject, speak with his or her teacher and seek out additional help. Teachers will be happy to assist those who take the initiative. 

School should be an enjoyable learning experience for children of all ages, and with proper precautions and preparation, the future of tomorrow will learn today. So teach your kids to enjoy school, because by excelling in school they will be setting themselves up to excel in life.

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With the oldest of the baby boomers reaching the age of 62, more and more Mainers are now collecting Social Security.

To find out how much Social Security you will receive in retirement, go to:
www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator and calculate your estimated earnings.
 

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Maine residents of Androscoggin and Oxford counties can now apply for home heating assistance.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program was created to help low-income homeowners and renters pay for heating costs in the upcoming 2008-2009 winter.

To apply, Mainers must fill out an application and set up an appointment with Community Concepts by the end of August. 

When calling, be sure to have ready:

• The names and social security numbers for all who live in the household
• Proof of gross household income for the last 12 months.
• Copy of recent electric bill
• Oil company and account number
• And if renting, the phone number of landlord.  

To set up an appointment, residents of Oxford County should call 743-7716, and Androscoggin County, 795-4065.  More information is available online at: www.community-concepts.org.

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With five convenient office locations and a statewide practice, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein provides Mainers from across the state with access to justice.  But helping Mainers get the justice they deserve is just the tip of the iceberg for our law firm in trying to make the great state of Maine even better.

In addition to providing thoughtful and quality representation to over 15,000 clients in 34 years of practice, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is proud to give back to its fellow Mainers through philanthropic and charitable donations.  We see firsthand the hardships and disabilities some of our clients have, and it's both a blessing and pleasure for us to be able to give back to our community.

In 2007, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein donated to 48 separate organizations, including:

• The American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org)
• American Heart Association (www.americanheart.org)
• American Lung Association (www.lungusa.org)
• The Boys and Girls Club of Portland (www.bgca.org)
• Brewer Youth Sports (www.brewermaine.org)
• Campaign For Justice (www.campaignforjustice.org)
• Cedars Nursing Care Center (www.cedarshealthcare.com)
• The Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness (www.cromwellcenter.org)
• Good Shepherd Food Bank (www.gfsb.org)
• Jewish Family Services (www.mainejewish.org)
• Literacy Volunteers (www.lvmaine.org)
• Maine Bar Association (www.mainebar.org)
• Maine Bar Foundation (www.mbf.org)
• Maine Civil Liberties Union (www.mclu.org)
• Maine Trial Lawyers Association (www.mtla.org)
• March of Dimes (www.marchofdimes.com)
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nationalmssociety.org)
• The United Way (www.liveunited.org)
• WMPG (www.wmpg.org)

We see each day that not everyone is as fortunate as we are, and that's why we make it a point to give back to our community.  In addition to charitable donations, our employees have also volunteered their time serving warm meals at the Preble Street Resource Center and reading to students at the Reiche School in Portland. 

The charitable giving of one law firm can make a small impact in a community, but together we can make a substantial one. We hope everyone takes the time to help those less fortunate, and to help make Maine the state we know and love.

Charitable giving feels good, but more importantly it does good! 

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The 4th annual Arrive Alive Creative Contest sponsored by The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has come to a consummate close. 

The contest asks graduating seniors from local Maine high schools to think creatively and come up with a message that warns their peers about the dangers of drinking and driving.  Students may enter the contest by submitting an essay or creative project of their choice that urges teenagers to stay safe and Arrive Alive. 

The 2008 First Place Winners are:

Harrison Kenning - Thornton Academy - Video
Lacy McMoarn - Thornton Academy - Board Game
Rachel Roberts - Bangor High - Video
Kassim Sembatya - Deering High School - Poem

First place winners receive a brand new laptop computer, second place winners receive a new iPod, and all students who participate receive a gift bag from The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein. 

In four years, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has given away nearly $20,000 in scholarships and prizes to graduating high school seniors, including nine laptops and thirteen iPods.

For more information on the Arrive Alive Creative Contest, including a complete set of rules and to view all current and past winning submissions, please visit our website: www.arrivealivewithme.com

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Perhaps you've seen us on the Maine Turnpike or the local roads of your hometown.  With two custom shrink wrapped vehicles, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein can be found traveling the great state of Maine, helping Mainers get the justice they deserve.

With five convenient offices in Biddeford, Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, and Bangor, The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein maintains a statewide practice and provides Mainers from all geographic locations with access to justice.

So the next time you're traveling on the Maine Turnpike, Route 1, or even the backroads heading south, be on the lookout for one of our custom shrink wrapped vehicles, and know that the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is on its way to help another Mainer get the justice they deserve.

The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein - Maine Lawyers Helping Maine People

On every highway and byway in the state of Maine.

(photo taken at Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine)

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iVillage.com  has compiled a list of the top ten safest states to raise children.  Our beloved State of Maine scored a favorable ranking of sixth, and was heralded for passing laws with the safety of teenage drivers in mind. 

The report went on to say, "Maine law limits the number of passengers a new driver can have in the car, restricts cell phone use, and can point to a graduated system in which drivers are not able to obtain a full license until their 17th birthday. Maine law is one of only nine states that stipulates all three.”

However, even with the precautionary laws in place, people ages 16-24 make up only 13 percent of all Maine drivers, but are responsible for more than 33 percent of all the fatalities on Maine roads since 2003 (www.onlinesentinel.com).
 

At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we see firsthand the dangers young drivers face everyday.  We urge parents to prepare their teens for life on the road, and have created a school sanctioned creative contest to warn teens about the dangers of drinking and driving.  To learn more about this special contest and to view all past winning entries, please visit our website: www.arrivealivewithme.com. 

Top Ten Safest States to Raise Children:

1. Connecticut
2. Rhode Island
3. New Jersey
4. New York
5. California
6. Maine
7. Pennsylvania
8. Massachusetts
9. Maryland
10. Oregon

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