Chicago’s Most Dangerous (and Safest) Neighborhoods to Drive Through

Chicago is a noteworthy city in the United States for many things, including Italian beef sandwiches and delicious deep-dish pizza. However, it also has a reputation for dangerous streets and traffic intersections.

While it is true that some traffic intersections and roads throughout the city are more dangerous than others, not all drivers in the city are reckless or careless.

When driving around Chicago, you should avoid certain neighborhoods, roads, and intersections – not simply because of high crime rates in those areas but also because of dangerous roadways and traffic intersections.

The majority of traffic accidents happen when other people drive in a reckless, negligent, or careless manner under the circumstances.

If you recently suffered injuries in a Chicago traffic accident, you need to speak with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer in your area as quickly as possible. Your lawyer can promptly begin an investigation into your accident and determine your eligibility to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit seeking various monetary damages.

If you are eligible to move forward with a case, your attorney can handle all of the necessary legal steps for you. Specifically, they may file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, aggressively negotiate with adjusters during settlement negotiations, or file a lawsuit and litigate a case to a prompt resolution in the state court system.

Throughout the entire process, your Hammond car accident attorney can answer all of your pending questions, enabling you to make favorable decisions when it comes to settling or litigating your car accident case.

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There are also numerous dangerous roadways and traffic intersections in the Greater Chicago area.

Some of the most common include:

• Milwaukee Avenue
• Lincoln and Clark
• Western Avenue at Peterson Avenue
• La Grange Road at the I-80 westbound ramp
• Ogden Avenue at Illinois State Route 59
• Cicero Avenue and 127th Street
• Western Avenue at Peterson Avenue
• Kedzie Avenue at Belmont Avenue
• Stony Island Avenue at South Chicago Avenue

What Makes a Neighborhood or Traffic Intersection Dangerous in Chicago?

Several factors can make a neighborhood, roadway, or traffic intersection in Chicago dangerous.

Those factors may include:

• The prevailing crime rate in the area
• The number of vehicles that traverse the roadway or intersection on a daily basis
• The number of drivers who routinely speed, fail to yield the right-of-way, or violate other traffic laws and regulations in these areas
• The number of motor vehicle crashes that occur on an annual basis at various traffic intersections
• The number of traffic fatalities that have occurred in these areas
• The amount of traffic congestion that routinely occurs in these areas every day

If you suffered injuries in a Chicago traffic accident in one of these locations, you have legal rights and options. In addition to seeking the medical treatment that you need as quickly as possible after your car accident, consult an experienced car accident attorney who can handle the legal elements of your case for you.

Common Types of Chicago Traffic Accidents

When other people drive recklessly and carelessly, the chances are good that they will bring about a severe traffic accident. The accident that materializes will depend on the accident location, the number of vehicles involved, and other accident-specific factors.

Common examples of Chicago traffic accidents include:

• Rear-end or tailgate accidents that occur at traffic intersections, where a driver fails to leave enough stopping distance or exceeds the speed limit
• Intersection accidents, where a driver negligently fails to yield the right-of-way, such as by running a red traffic light or stop sign
• Sideswipe accidents, where a driver negligently causes their vehicle to drift over into another travel lane, striking the side of another vehicle
• Head-on collisions, where a driver negligently causes their vehicle to move across a center double line or concrete median barrier, striking another vehicle directly and likely resulting in permanent or fatal injuries for the driver and passengers who are in the other vehicle

If a negligent driver caused one of these types of accidents and you suffered physical injuries, you can bring a personal injury claim or lawsuit against their insurance company.

A car accident lawyer can handle all of the necessary legal steps in your case so that you may focus all your attention on getting better and fully recovering from your injuries.

Common Injuries in Chicago Car Crashes

The physical injuries and damages that a driver or passenger suffers in a Chicago car accident will depend upon the case and the specific accident circumstances.

Other factors that may influence the injuries that an accident victim suffers include how their body moves inside their vehicle during the crash, the number of vehicles involved, the force of the collision, and whether a part of their body strikes some part of the vehicle, like the dashboard, headrest, or steering wheel.

Some of the most common injuries that Chicago car accident victims suffer include:

• Soft tissue neck and back injuries
• Rib fractures
• Broken bones
• Traumatic head and brain injuries
• Cognitive impairments
• Spinal cord damage
• Complete and incomplete paralysis injuries
• Internal bleeding
• Internal organ damage
• Open lacerations, bruises
• Death

Upon suffering one or more of these injuries in a Chicago car crash, you should follow up at a hospital emergency room and focus on getting the medical attention that you need.

Complete any prescribed medical treatment regimen in your case, and follow up with your primary care doctor or a medical specialist, such as an orthopedic doctor or neurologist, if your symptoms get worse.

You might also need surgery or another medical procedure if you suffered a bone fracture in your car accident. Following the procedure, you might need to attend ongoing physical therapy sessions for several weeks or months.

During this time, your car accident attorney can gather the documents necessary to satisfy the burden of proof in your case. These documents may include copies of police investigation reports, medical bills, and medical records.

After your medical treatment, your lawyer can submit a formal settlement demand package on your behalf and begin the settlement negotiation process with the handling insurance company adjuster.

Common Causes of Chicago Car Accidents

Car accidents in the Chicago area typically happen when other drivers disobey road rules, engage in distracted driving, or drive while under the influence of alcohol.

One common cause of traffic accidents, especially on the roads and intersections mentioned above, is traffic law violations. When drivers disobey traffic laws, they significantly increase their chances of causing a severe traffic accident.

Some of the most common traffic law violations that other drivers commit include speed violations, failing to yield the right-of-way to others at traffic intersections, and failing to use turn signals when switching lanes in busy, multi-lane highway traffic.

Highway drivers may also cause car accidents when they exhibit road rage.

Common forms of road rage, or reckless driving, frequently include:

• Tailgating other vehicles.
• Cutting other vehicles off in traffic.
• Aggressively honking one’s horn in traffic.
• Failing to use a turn signal when weaving in and out of heavy traffic.

In addition, a car accident in Chicago may happen when another driver operates their vehicle in a distracted or careless manner.

For example, instead of paying attention to the road and watching their mirrors, they might be combing their hair, applying make-up, eating or drinking, listening to loud music in their vehicle, roughhousing with vehicle passengers, programming a GPS navigation system, or texting and driving.

Unfortunately, these activities may take a driver’s eyes and attention off the road, preventing them from seeing other vehicles and pedestrians and increasing their chances of causing a traffic accident.

Finally, some Chicago car accidents occur when other drivers are legally intoxicated. Passenger vehicle operators are typically intoxicated if their blood alcohol concentration reaches a level of at least 0.08 percent.

Intoxicated drivers usually cause accidents because they experience ongoing physical and mental impairments that prevent them from operating their vehicles safely and carefully. For example, a drunk driver may experience blurry vision, delayed reaction time, lack of coordination, poor judgment, and delayed reflexes. As a result, the driver may be unable to see other vehicles or pedestrians, judge distances between vehicles, or stop their vehicle in time to avoid a crash.

If you suffered injuries in a traffic accident that a negligent driver brought about, a skilled car accident lawyer can explore all of your legal options with you and take the necessary steps on your behalf. For example, your lawyer may promptly file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or pursue litigation in court.

Chicago Car Accident Monetary Damages

Many victims of Chicago car accidents may recover monetary damages for their accident-related injuries and other losses. Since every car accident case is different, and the injuries that accident victims suffer are different, not all accident victims will receive the same monetary compensation.

The total monetary damages that an accident victim recovers will depend upon certain accident-specific factors, including the injuries they suffered, the medical procedures and treatment they underwent, the cost of their treatment, and the amount of their lost income, if any.

First, accident victims can pursue monetary recovery for their related medical expenses, along with lost income, if they have to miss time from work to seek medical treatment for their injuries.

Additionally, accident victims can pursue compensation for their intangible losses, such as for inconvenience, loss of use of a body part, lost quality of life, pain and suffering, mental distress, permanent disability or disfigurement, humiliation from visible scarring, and long-term or lifetime care costs.

If you lost a loved one in a Chicago car accident, you can file a wrongful death claim or a lawsuit with the at-fault driver’s insurer.

As part of a wrongful death claim, you can pursue monetary compensation for related funeral and burial expenses, lost income (if surviving family members depended on the decedent’s income for their well-being), and loss of the decedent’s counsel, guidance, care, comfort, and companionship.

Your car accident lawyer will do everything they can to maximize the total compensation you receive for your Chicago car accident, including aggressively negotiating your case with insurance company representatives or litigating your case to a prompt resolution in court.

Call a Knowledgeable Car Accident Attorney Near You Today for More Information

Upon suffering entries in a Chicago car accident, you need to involve a knowledgeable personal injury attorney in your case as quickly as possible.

Car accident victims must file a lawsuit within two years of their accident date. Otherwise, the court will prevent them from receiving monetary damages for their accident-related losses. In fact, if an accident victim files a lawsuit after the deadline has passed, the court will promptly dismiss their case.

A car accident attorney can begin working on your case right away by investigating your car crash circumstances, negotiating with insurance company adjusters, or pursuing the favorable litigation result you need in the state court system.

Once you have legal representation, you can focus on your medical appointments, physical therapy, or simply resting to facilitate your physical recovery. Put your injury claim in the hands of a capable attorney to relieve your stress and protect your future. Seek a free consultation today.