There are only a handful of options when it comes to transportation in the city: public transit, carpooling, walking, or driving. For those that must drive in Chicago, Illinois, it probably does not come as a surprise to hear that the roads they are navigating happen to be the eighth-worst for drivers; the reasons why might be.
Chicago's Driver Ranking: The Good, Bad, and Surprising
Out of all the cities in the United States, Chicago ranked as one of the worst ten cities for commute time, overall cost, traffic conditions, maintenance costs, and parking rates. Considerations included commonly dealt with driver issues, such as car repairs, gas prices, insurance rates, and personal vehicle maintenance repairs that exceeded the national average of $515.
When it came to issues like driver safety, however, Chicago fared rather well when compared to other cities—the thirty-second safest, to be exact. Some of the factors used to determine this ranking included strictness of DUI punishments, enforcement of seatbelt and helmet laws, and traffic fatalities per 100,000 people. In fact, Chicago had the twelfth-lowest motor vehicle fatality rate. Considering the excessive amount of time Chicagoans spend on the road, that ranking was a bit surprising.
Why the Rankings Matter
Factors that hindered Chicago's overall ranking are time and money wasters for Chicagoans. In fact, the average household annually wastes about $1,700 on driving, according to WalletHub. Add in factors such as pollution and stress and the real cost can become immeasurable.
Another big concern is that, while Chicago did rank relatively low as far as accidents and fatalities were concerned, there are still accidents. Some of them are fatal. Others can cause permanent injury that may lead to loss of income or vitality in life.
When Accidents Do Happen
Vehicle accidents can alter lives forever—the lives of loved ones when an accident is fatal, or the life of the injured if they can no longer work or do the things they used to enjoy because of their injuries. Medical bills, car repair bills, and loss of income are just the beginning of the crippling aftermath, and because motor vehicle accidents are complex, there can be severe delays in negotiations and settlements if the case is not handled with care and expertise.
At [[title]], we understand the complicated facts and situations surrounding a vehicular lawsuit, and we are experienced in representing victims in car, truck, and public transit accidents. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a vehicle accident, contact our skilled Chicago car accident attorneys for a free consultation at [[phone]] today.”
