Decades of growth and expansion have made Chicago one of the most difficult cities to drive in. Traffic congestion and ineffective road designs make it far more likely that you will get into an accident in Chicago. In fact, Chicago made Forbes’ list of cities most likely to experience car accidents [1].
If you drive in Chicago, you need to be alert at all times. You need to be a more defensive driver to avoid an accident. Read on to see how the team at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you avoid an accident in one of America’s most accident-prone cities.
Context: Chicago’s Ranking in Forbes Study
Forbes is well known for listing the top performers in different categories. Unfortunately, Chicago ranked on Forbes’ list of cities where you are likely to get into a vehicle accident.
Chicago ranked 36th out of the top 50 cities where you are likely to get into an accident [1]. According to the data, there is a 28 percent chance that you will get into an accident when you drive in the city.
Analyzing the Risks: Why Is Chicago Prone to Accidents?
The high rate of car accidents in Chicago can be due to several factors. Chicago has changed significantly in the past 50 years, leading to higher levels of traffic congestion.
The city’s infrastructure was never built to handle the amount of traffic Chicago experiences daily. Combined with daily life, which makes people more dependent on their cars for transportation, the number of people on the road at any given time can lead to congestion.
Another possible factor making traffic dangerous in Chicago is the attempts to fix the traffic situation. Chicago is trying to expand the roadways to provide more capacity and easier access across the city.
Unfortunately, that means more construction projects are needed, leading to lane closures and traffic backups. Once those projects are complete, they should relieve some of the congestion.
Essential Safety Strategies for Chicago Drivers
There are things you can do to improve your chances of avoiding an accident, and anyone driving in Chicago should put these skills to use. Defensive driving techniques can help you in this case.
Defensive driving is actively working to prepare for potential hazards. For example, allowing for a three-second gap between you and the driver ahead of you can keep you from being too close to the car in front of you. Most people allow this gap to close, leaving them too close to the car ahead to stop in an emergency.
Another defensive driving technique is to control your speed. A large number of vehicle accidents are caused by excessive speeding. By controlling your speed, you can significantly reduce your chances of getting into an accident.
An important part is adjusting your speed for the conditions around you. You may need to reduce your speed significantly based on road conditions or traffic density. Be proactive about these changes to improve your chances of avoiding an accident.
Legal Considerations in the Event of an Accident
While you can take steps to reduce your chances of being in an accident, there is still a high chance of it happening. If you are involved in a car accident, there are legal considerations you need to be aware of. If you are responsible for the accident, your insurance will need to pay for the other parties’ damages.
Chicago has specific traffic laws and regulations in effect. You need to know what they are so you can take appropriate next steps to handle the situation.
For example, if there are no injuries and the damages are less than $1,500, you are not legally required to report the accident to police (even though in most cases, it is still a good idea to do so). If you are not knowledgeable about how Chicago’s traffic laws work, you can quickly find yourself in a difficult legal position.
After an accident, you may need the help of a car accident lawyer. The lawyer you choose to represent you can significantly impact the outcome of your case. Choose a lawyer who has the experience and resources to work your case.
Community and Government Initiatives to Improve Road Safety
Road construction is contributing to the slowdowns and traffic congestion across the city. However, it should provide some relief as each project is finished. Chicago gained access to federal resources to help fund many of the city’s projects, which is why there are so many projects running at the same time.
Many of these projects are short-term improvements, such as repaving or resurfacing problem roads. Other projects are more extensive and will expand the roadways to increase capacity.
These projects cause the greatest increase in delays but will provide the most relief when finished. These projects can take over a year to complete, leaving the city to find other alternatives to improve traffic flow.
Chicago is working to resolve its traffic issues and is making progress. Unfortunately, more restructuring and improvements are needed.
When you get the chance to offer input to the system, like voting on traffic initiatives or supporting community development plans, make sure you participate. That is the only way the right improvements will be made and things will improve.
The Bottom Line
The current traffic conditions in Chicago may not last forever, but you have to take action now to make yourself safer. You can do this by being proactive about your safety.
Adopt defensive driving skills to ensure you consistently do what you can to avoid accidents. Make safety your top priority at every turn, and you may not need the services of a car accident lawyer.
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we work with clients every day who are dealing with the fallout after an accident. For most, the recovery is difficult and expensive, which is why they turn to us for help. We file personal injury claims for them to recover compensation that can help with their finances.
Take the steps necessary to avoid needing our help. However, we are here to help you if you are in an accident. Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for a free consultation by filling out our contact form or calling toll-free at (888) 424-5757.
Resources: [1] Forbes