Hazardous Driving on Maine Route 1.

Route 1 in Maine has just received the dubious distinction of being named one of the 7 most dangerous roads in America according to www.defensivedriving.com.  If you are a frequent or even infrequent traveler of that roadway you probably will agree.

Most people will tell you that it is not a fun road to drive with poor road signs, sharp curves, and often times harsh weather.  To make matters worse there is a large population of moose in the area who use the highway as a crossing.  All of this combines to create the higher mortality rate along rural lanes in Maine than in any other state.  That last sentence is sobering.  Imagine, more people per capita die in car accidents on rural roads in Maine than any other state in the Union!

If you or someone you know has been involved in a Maine car crash please call the Law Office of Mark Randall in Portland at (866) 775-0082 right away.  There is never a charge for an initial consultation.  Mark has handled car accident cases throughout the state of Maine for over 27 years and will aggressively represent your interests to obtain the compensation and justice you deserve.

How Long Do I Have to File a Slip and Fall Claim in the State of Maine?

If you are thinking about a slip and fall lawsuit you need to understand the state’s statute of limitations and how it applies to your particular situation.  There are different deadlines depending on the kind of case you wish to file.

In the context of a slip and fall accident, if you think the property owner is responsible for dangerous property conditions -- and by extension, for your injuries -- you must get any lawsuit filed against that person (or business) within six years, and the “clock” starts running on the date the slip and fall occurred.

That same six-year deadline applies if your personal property was damaged -- let’s say you broke an expensive watch when you fell, for example -- and you want to file a lawsuit asking for the repair or replacement of that property.

You may be wondering what happens if you try to file your lawsuit after the deadline set by Maine’s statute of limitations has already passed. In that situation, the property owner is sure to make a motion to dismiss your lawsuit, and the court will almost certainly grant the motion.

Do not take chances with a potentially life-changing situation.  Contact your Maine slip and fall attorney Mark Randall at (866) 775-0082 immediately!  Or visit them on the web at their beautiful new home, www.randalllaw.com.

Our logo "Working to Make Our Communities Safer" expresses our firm commitment to working to enforce the safety rules in our communities.

What are the safety rules?  Safety rules are the rules we live by every single day.  For example, the "Rules of the Road" we all abide by when we operate a car or truck - these are community safety rules.  The rules we follow in winter to remove snow and ice from walkways so people won't fall - these are community safety rules.  The rules doctors follow to provide care and treatment to the sick and injured whether in surgical procedures, delivering of babies, or providing every day medical treatment, these are community safety rules.  The rules in place to protect individuals from corporate greed and carelessness - these are community safety rules.  If it keeps members of our community safe physically and financially, then it's a safety rule that must be followed and enforced to prevent harm to anyone of us in the community.  The victim sitting in the plaintiffs chair in court is just an example of what can happen if we allow violations of safety rules.  The next victim could be us, our loved ones, our relatives, our neighbors, our friends, our community members.

By helping juries understand that they have the power to enforce community safety rules which if violated endanger all of us, young or old, male or female, professionals, skilled or unskilled workers, students, athletes, mothers, fathers, grandparents, union members, teachers, fire fighters....  No one is exempt from danger if we allow individuals or corporations to violate community safety rules.

Juries are the conscience of the community and that enables them to speak with one strong, loud voice - "Do not violate our community safety rules and put us, our loved ones, our relatives, our friends, our neighbors, our community members in danger.  If you do, you will pay the price to send the message to everyone the we will enforce our safety rules and protect the members of our communities".  It is a forceful message.

This is the way to keep our communities safe and it has worked for hundreds of years.  In England hundreds of years ago juries were impaneled to enforce the safety rules of the community. And so it should continue today.

You, too, can help keep our communities safe by enforcing our community safety rules whenever possible including when you are sitting on a civil jury.





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Anchor And Stabilize Your Televisions and Furniture

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has released a statement urging parents and caregivers to anchor and stabilize their furniture, appliances, and televisions in order to put a stop to tip-over related accidents.

In a report released by the CPSC this past December, 349 people were killed in tip over related accidents between 2000 and 2011. Eighty-four percent of the people that were killed were younger than 9 years old. 2011 had the greatest increase in fatalities at 41 for the year. The CPSC estimates that over 43,000 people are injured each year in these types of accidents. Falling televisions accounted for 62 percent of the reported fatalities.

Most fatalities occur in the bedroom. Some reports believe that as a family transitions to a flat screen TV, their older, heavier TV is moved into the bedroom without the proper stand or anchoring device. A dresser is no place for an unanchored television and is involved in many tip-over related accidents. A TV should be placed on a stand suitable for its size and weight, in addition to being securely anchored.

In an effort to prevent tip-over related tragedies, the CPSC recommends the following safety measures in homes where children live or visit:

• Anchor furniture to the wall or the floor.
• Place TVs on sturdy, low bases, or anchor the furniture and the TV on top of the base, and push the TV as far back on the furniture as possible.
• Keep remote controls, toys, and other items that might attract children off of TV stands or furniture.
• Keep TV and/or cable cords out of reach of children.
• Make sure freestanding kitchen ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets.
• Supervise children in rooms where these safety tips have not been followed.

Remember to secure and stabilize your furniture, a child is no match for a 50 to 100 pound item. Safety first, in the home and in our communities. For more safety tips and information visit my blog and the Randall Law Office Facebook page.

Drive Safe This Winter

People all over the country are being affected by winter weather. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that motorists take extra precautions to ensure safety while on the road. Below are some tips to prevent a breakdown and tips on what to do if your vehicle does suffer mechanical issues while out and about.

• Visit your mechanic for a periodic safety inspection and to address routine vehicle maintenance. Have your vehicle checked thoroughly for fluid leaks and any other needed parts, repairs, or replacements.
• Have your starting system battery checked for sufficient voltage. When the temperature drops, so does battery power. Be aware that it takes more cranking power to start your vehicle in cold weather. Also, be sure the connections are properly tightened and free of corrosion. If necessary, clean them with a solution of baking soda and water.
• Make sure you have enough coolant in your vehicle and that it's designed to withstand the winter temperatures you might experience in your area. A 50/50 mix of coolant to water is sufficient for most regions of the country. See your vehicle owner's manual for specific recommendations.
• If your engine cooling system hasn't been flushed (draining the system and replacing the coolant) for several years, have it done now. Over time, the rust inhibitors in antifreeze break down and become ineffective. Coolant also needs to be refreshed periodically to remove dirt and rust particles that can clog the cooling system and cause it to fail.
• Make sure your windshield wipers and defrosters are working properly. Refill the windshield washer reservoir as needed with high-quality, "no-freeze" washer fluid.
• Before you drive, remove snow and ice from all of your vehicle's windows and mirrors and keep them clean to maintain the best visibility. Also, be sure to clear snow and ice from your vehicle's roof and hood to ensure good visibility for both you and following motorists.
• Check tire pressure and make sure each tire is filled to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended inflation pressure, which is listed in your owner's manual and on a placard located on the driver's side doorjamb (called the "B-pillar"). If a vehicle does not have a B-pillar, then the placard is placed on the rear edge of the driver's door. Tire pressure drops as the temperature drops. Properly inflated tires ensure optimum tire performance and optimum vehicle driving range.
• Keep a tire pressure gauge in your vehicle at all times and check pressure when tires are "cold" - meaning they haven't been driven on for at least three hours.
• Check your tire tread depth and make sure you are using a tire appropriate for the winter driving conditions you may encounter. If the winter season means sleet, slush and snow-covered roads in your area or where you're traveling to, consider replacing tires when they reach approximately 5/32" of remaining tread depth. If you regularly encounter severe winter driving conditions, you may consider a dedicated winter/snow tire for optimum traction.
• Stock your vehicle with essentials in the event of an emergency including a snow shovel, broom, ice scraper, jumper cables, flashlight, warning devices (flares, reflective markers, etc.) and blankets for protection from the cold. A mobile phone, water, food, and any necessary medicines may prove useful if you become stranded.
• If road conditions are hazardous, wait until road and weather conditions improve before venturing out in your vehicle.
• If you do become stranded, don't run your car for long periods with the windows up or in an enclosed space to avoid asphyxiation from carbon monoxide poisoning. If you must run your vehicle, clear the exhaust pipe of any snow and run it only sporadically - just long enough to stay warm.

For more driving safety tips, visit www.nhtsa.gov.

The Dangers Of Magnets

With the holidays upon us it is important to be aware of the dangers of toys that possess tiny, powerful magnets. These items may seem harmless at first, however they can be potentially dangerous if two or more magnets are ingested. Because they become attracted to each other internally, they can cause perforations, obstructions, sepsis, and death. Often times surgery is required to not only remove the magnets, but repair its path of destruction.

In an interview, Kim Dulic, spokesperson for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, told ABCNews.com that incidents of kids and teens accidentally consuming high powered magnets have been on the rise. From 2009 to 2011, there were 22 reported cases with ages ranging from 18 months to 15 years, 11 required surgery to remove the magnets.

One 3 year old girl from Oregon consumed 37 magnets. The magnets, clamping together, punctured her stomach and intestines. Most people, including the Oregon girl, experience symptoms similar to the flu after several days of having magnets in their body.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises in the instance you suspect magnets have been swallowed:

• Seek immediate medical attention
• Medical symptoms to watch for are: abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
• In X-rays, multiple magnetic pieces may appear as a single object.

Small children learn and explore by putting objects in their mouths, which is why all parents need to have an increased awareness of toys that incorporate magnets. Parents must all be aware of any manufacturer recalls. The following link to the CPSC website includes up to date information on recalls: http://search.cpsc.gov/query.html?qt=magnets&charset=iso-8859-1

If your child has been injured as a result of a magnet in a defective toy, contact Maine Personal Injury Attorney Mark Randall.

Do You Have A Wrongful Death Claim?

When filing a wrongful death claim there are many factors involved. Among those, a list of requirements to substantiate your claim.

It is important when filing a wrongful death claim that one must be ready to suggest, and ultimately either prove or convince, a jury of the defendant's negligence.

• Was there negligence, recklessness, complacency, or malfeasance on the part of the another party?
• Did the deceased leave behind survivors? Without them, there can be no wrongful death suit.
• Did the surviving dependents suffer in some way? Be it financially, emotionally, or mentally?

Does your claim meet these requirements? Then you very well may be entitled to compensation. Grief and disparage can be so consuming that a wrongful death law suit is too much to bare. But, in the the case of wrongful deaths and tragedies as a result of negligence, it is important to seek damages to assist with expensive funeral costs and to ultimately preventing from it happening to anyone else.

It is a matter of justice when seeking a wrongful death claim. If you feel that your loved one's death was a result of a negligent act, contact Maine Wrongful Death Attorney Mark Randall. Life is too precious to let negligence win.