Where Do Most Car Accidents Happen?

where do most car accidents happen

During your drive to work, in the parking lot of a grocery store, or in your own neighborhood. Car accidents happen everywhere. However, some locations in Chicago see more crashes than others. Keeping a sharp eye out while driving in accident hotspots can help you prevent a collision in locations where do most car accidents happen. Find out how a Chicago car accident lawyer with Curcio & Casciato helps you after you are involved in a car wreck. To schedule a free and confidential consultation with us, call 312-321-1111 today. You can also fill out our online intake form.

Where Do Most Car Accidents Happen?

Automobile accidents can occur anywhere, however, there are a few hotspots where do most car accidents happen and it’s important to stay alert while driving.

Rural Areas

Fatal car wrecks are common in rural areas. In fact, they are so common that in 2017, crashes in rural settings accounted for 46% of car accident fatalities. In metropolitan locations, there are more pedestrian and bike collisions, but rural areas have a higher percentage of fatal passenger vehicle and truck collisions due to high-speed routes.

Stoplights

Stoplights are a common location for rear-end collisions. Sometimes it’s because a distracted driver failed to notice a red light and braked too late. Other times, it’s a vehicle malfunction, such as defective brakes. While these types of collisions aren’t usually fatal, they can cause physical injuries and damage to vehicles.

Intersections Are Confusing

Confusion about which car has the right-of-way makes intersections a prime spot for where do most car accidents happen. This leads to drivers making unsafe maneuvers that cause T-bone crashes or head-on collisions that are frequently catastrophic.

Chicago intersections are also hazardous for bicyclists and pedestrians. Intersection collisions involving bicycles, motorcycles, or pedestrians, result in life-altering injuries like traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord trauma.

Parking lots and garages

Parking lots and garages are also the scenes of where do most car accidents happen, even though low-speed limits are posted in them. Collisions occur due to continuous traffic from pedestrians and cars.

Unfortunately, many drivers are either inattentive or negligent in parking areas. They may drive too fast, cut off pedestrians, back up without looking, break parking lot restrictions, or even drive in the wrong direction. If a pedestrian is injured in a parking lot collision, the consequences could be severe.

Highways

Fender benders and catastrophic vehicle accidents are both common on highways. Typical causes include tailgating, improper lane changes, speeding, or distracted driving. With the high speeds traveled on highways, a rear-end collision often results in whiplash and head trauma. Fatal car wrecks also occur in the form of wrong-way crashes and pileups and when semi-trucks are involved. That’s why you need an interstate accident attorney on your side.

Why Do Accidents Frequently Happen Close to Home?

According to numerous studies, your own neighborhood is the biggest accident threat. That’s because close to home is where do most car accidents happen. According to one scientific study, 88% of injured collision victims were involved in wrecks within 10 miles of home. 

There are several reasons why this happens. The first is that pedestrians and cyclists are more likely to walk or bike closer to their homes. Also, how many times have you arrived home and cannot remember how you got there? Because driving in your own area is so familiar and repetitious, it’s simple for your brain to go on auto-pilot the entire way home. When driving in your neighborhood, you may find yourself relying on muscle memory rather than active driving abilities.

You have to make sure you’re going in the right direction when you drive to a new place. You turn down your music and you stay hyper-alert, so you don’t miss a turn or get lost. Remaining alert and wearing your seatbelt is critical. If they’re simply going around the corner, drivers frequently do not buckle up. Alternatively, if they’re coming close to home, they unbuckle their seatbelts sooner.

Common Reasons Accidents Happen Closer to Home

Overconfident Drivers: When driving on familiar roads it’s common for drivers to be less vigilant. Because they have driven the road numerous times, they may believe it is OK to text or talk on the phone. There is never a good moment or place to drive distracted. Texting while driving accidents are extremely dangerous to all parties on the road.

Parking on the Side of the Road: In many communities, parking on the side of the road is normal. Accidents can happen at any time, and liability can be a problem.

Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol: Driving under the influence of a mind-impairing substance is not restricted to highways and interstates. Chicago accidents involving drunk or drugged drivers can occur anywhere, including on residential streets near home.

Speeding: Many drivers exceed the posted speed limit in neighborhoods, which is typically 25 mph. People running late for work or in a hurry to get home after work may also speed.

Teenage Drivers: Becoming a safe and responsible driver takes practice and time. Teenagers frequently utilize residential streets to get around, which increases the risk of an accident.

Contact a car accident attorney for guidance if you are involved in a collision close to home. 

Driving Tips to Reduce Car Accidents Close to Home

The following are some driving safety suggestions:

  • Allowing yourself to become too comfortable can lead to carelessness. Even if you are familiar with the roads, there is no justification for distracted driving.
  • Short trips should be avoided. Most accidents occur within the first few minutes of a car ride. Avoid this by walking or riding your bike.
  • Enlist the help of your neighbors. If speeding or accidents are a frequent problem, get others to help make the streets safer. Yard signs, confronting speeders in a calm manner, and request radar monitoring by law enforcement.
  • Don’t park on the side of the road. To avoid your vehicle being hit, park in a driveway, garage, or other designated spot off the road.
  • Follow all of the traffic laws. Even when you’re close to home, seat belts, turn signals, lights, and cautious driving are still necessary.

When Do Most Car Accidents Happen?

Afternoons

There are more cars on the roads in the afternoon, and this means increased risk to drivers. Most commuters are heading home at this time of day. Between noon and 6 p.m. on Fridays is when most accidents happen. 

Summers

Road trips are synonymous with summer. More people hit the road to travel and explore during the warmer months. However, driving during the summer and early fall is actually the most dangerous time of the year. The most number of miles accrued by American drivers is during the summer months.

Holidays

Many people are off work and traveling to get-togethers with friends and relatives on holidays. Very specifically, the highest number of wrecks on any single date happens on Independence Day and New Year’s Day. 

How To Avoid Car Accidents?

While it may not be possible to avoid ever getting into a car accident, there are ways you can change your own behavior to reduce your odds. And as always, being aware of where do most car accidents happen is critical as well.

  • It’s important to always keep a safe distance between yourself and other vehicles. Even in slow moving traffic, tailgating puts you and others at risk. 
  • Refrain from driving recklessly. This includes, but is not limited to, using your phone while driving, speeding, excessive lane changes, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.  
  • Avoid driving at high speeds and be particularly aware of how fast you are going in bad weather conditions such as snow, ice, and rain.
  • Follow traffic laws and use extra caution when traveling through intersections. Also pay attention for signs that another driver is distracted or not paying attention. 
  • Always look around you and check blinds spots when merging or changing lanes. 
  • Be on the lookout for pedestrians when driving in neighborhoods and other common areas where people walk, such as parking lots. You should never speed in these areas.
  • Maintain your vehicle and take it in for routine checks. Your brakes, tires, and windshield wipers should always be road ready. 
  • Take a defensive driving course. Your insurance may even give you a discount on your premium once you complete the class. 

How a Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

A trip to the hospital is a must whether you have serious injuries or you don’t feel hurt at all. If you need assistance getting compensation for medical costs, lost earnings, or other accident-related losses, you should consult a Chicago personal injury attorney.

Contact a car accident lawyer for help whether you were hurt in a car accident on the highway, in a parking lot, or anywhere else where most car accidents happen in Chicago. Curcio & Casciato can assist you with the claims procedure by negotiating with the insurance company for you. We can also help you file a claim, determine who is at fault, and fight for the amount of compensation you are entitled to receive. 

Contact the Curcio & Casciato today at 312-321-1111 for a free consultation about your rights regardless of where your Chicago vehicle accident happened.

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