Crumley Roberts, Attorneys at Law - Standing up for injured people

Enter to win a Fuji Mountain Bike from Crumley Roberts

GREENSBORO, N.C. - April 23, 2012 - Spring is in full swing and Crumley Roberts is giving away a Fuji Mountain bike to a lucky local North Carolina resident. You can learn more about the contest and enter by visiting our Facebook Business Page or on Twitter. We're also very excited about the upcoming Bike! Charlotte Events taking place April 27 - May 13, 2012. Over that 13-day period, there will be lots of bike related events in the city for everyone to enjoy. Our Crumley Roberts Safety Zone has lots of local bicycle safety rodeos coming up this Spring. Follow us on our social media pages to learn more.

Founded in 1989, Crumley Roberts, LLP, represents individuals with personal injury, workers' compensation and Social Security disability claims. The firm operates from 14 offices in North Carolina and South Carolina. To learn more about the firm, or its community relations activities, visit www.crumleyroberts.comor stay connected on Twitter, Facebookor LinkedIn.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month: Be Aware

April is Distracted Driving Awareness month and “Talk, Text, Crash” is a slogan used to get people’s attention about the dangers of operating a vehicle while using an electronic device. There are many forms of distraction in a vehicle including: eating, smoking, talking to a passenger, changing the radio station, or reaching for an item in the vehicle. Most people associate distracted driving with operating a cell phone and rightly so. Statistics support the fact that the use of cell phones while driving is injuring and killing people. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended a total cell phone ban in all US states in December of last year.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA):

Drivers who use handheld devices are 4 times more likely to be in a crash with injuries

Drivers who TEXT and drive are 23 times more likely to get involved in a crash

Using a cell phone and driving delays your reaction time as much as having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 (BAC)

Even using a hands free device while driving can use up to 39% of your brain power that should be used for safe driving

Who is most at risk when it comes to cell phones and driving? Ages 16-34 are at the greatest risk, but all of us are prone to the convenience of the cell phone or smart phone while in a vehicle. It is the goal of your local law enforcement agencies to educate the public of the dangers of talking or texting while driving. In Currently, 34 states in the US ban texting and 10 states ban handheld cell phone devices all together.

Take the time to put your cell phone down while operating a motor vehicle, educate others, and set the example. Causing the injury or death to a person or yourself is not worth a status update, a text or an email on your phone…Talk, Text, Crash.

Crumley Roberts Shares Springtime Driving Tips

At last, the days are getting longer and the weather is warming up. Springtime is here and with it comes many changes that affect our driving. Road repair projects will begin. We can expect to see road crews working along the roadways mowing grass and repairing potholes. Adjust your following distance so that you have time to react if you see a pothole. Remember, speeding fines are doubled in construction zones and it is extremely dangerous for both you and the workers if you speed.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association offers these driving tips for the spring season. Share this with your friends and family as well.

Stopping on a wet road can take up to four times the normal distance on a dry road. During wet weather conditions, drive slowly and keep in mind that stopping distances will be longer.
Check the pressure of your tires once a month, and before every long trip, to ensure that when you do need to stop, your tires can do everything they're supposed to do. The correct inflation pressure for your tires is specified by the vehicle manufacturer and is shown on the vehicle door edge, door post, glove box door or fuel door. It is also listed in the owner's manual. The maximum inflation pressure listed on the tire is NOT the recommended pressure.
Rain water that mixes with oil or grime on the streets can cause slippery that may result in unexpected skidding.
Make sure you have the alignment and balance of your tires checked regularly so that if you do skid, your vehicle is properly equipped to help you stop safely.
Rotating your tires can sometimes help correct irregular tire wear. Before rotating your tires, always refer to your car's owner's manual for rotation recommendations. If no rotation period is specified, tires should be rotated approximately every 5,000 miles.
In a sudden downpour, driving fast or driving on worn tires can cause your tires to hydroplane. This means that your tires "surf" along on a film of water just like a water skier. Slow down in sudden downpours and make sure you check the tread on your tires once per month and before every long trip. Your tires should have at least 2/32 inch of tread depth.

Remember to Share the Road

Bike Safety (CHARLOTTE, N.C.) - March 15, 2012 - We've been enjoying some great weather in North Carolina this past week. One of the things we noticed was an increase in the number of bikes and bicycles on the road. Now that we're headed into nice outdoor temperatures, it is very important to be vigilant on the roads. Take special care to observe bike lanes and pay attention to hand signals. Remember, cars - especially SUVs - are capable of grave injury to bikers; so drive safely and keep distractions to a minimum.

Founded in 1989, Crumley Roberts, LLP, represents individuals with personal injury, workers' compensation and Social Security disability claims. The firm operates from 14 offices in North Carolina and South Carolina. To learn more about the firm, or its community relations activities, visit www.crumleyroberts.com or stay connected on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Distracted Pedestrian Deaths on the Rise

(CHARLOTTE, NC) - March 12, 2012 - You've probably heard a lot of buzz in the news lately about distracted driving and smartphone use; however another serious issue on the rise is distracted walking or jogging. It's a common occurrence to see power walkers or joggers in the city with their headphones in while jogging - sometimes seemingly oblivious to the traffic patterns. This type of activity, while common, is a dangerous one and should be avoided.

The original study was conducted under Dr. Richard Lichenstein and was published in Injury Prevention. It is entitled, Headphone use and pedestrian injury and death in the United States: 2004-2011. According to the results:

There were 116 reports of death or injury of pedestrians wearing headphones. The majority of victims were male (68%) and under the age of 30 (67%). The majority of vehicles involved in the crashes were trains (55%), and 89% of cases occurred in urban counties.

The number of fatalities from 2004-2005 almost tripled in 2010-2011. Seventy four percent of case reports stated that the victim was wearing headphones at the time of the crash. Many cases (29%) mentioned that a warning was sounded before the crash.

If you're a power walker, jogger or plan to spend time outdoors this Spring getting exercise, take extra care to be attentive to the roads. Share this with your teens and younger children too.