Chicago's Riskiest Streets for Pedestrians: How to Stay Safe
Chicago is a busy city, and despite efforts to prevent injuries, pedestrian accidents are still a big problem. Every day, people are hurt crossing the street on foot or walking down the sidewalk. Some parts of the city are more dangerous than others, but there are steps you can take to avoid the danger.
Here are a few places in Chicago that are at high risk to pedestrians and what steps you can take to prevent injuries.
Why Are Some Places So Risky for Pedestrians?
Chicago is a busy place that has exceeded its intended population several times over. The infrastructure is slowly expanding to support more people, but road traffic is still dense in many places.
On top of that, many of these high-traffic areas overlap pedestrian traffic with vehicle traffic. This creates areas in the city where the chances of being hit by a car increase significantly during high travel times.
Another potential problem is that the design of walkways and roadways doesn’t always make it easy to see or avoid pedestrians. Some areas are obstructed, making it harder to see crossing pedestrians, and other areas make it difficult for pedestrians to cross the street in a timely manner.
Whatever the reason, you can reduce your risk by paying attention to your surroundings and being aware of the potential hazards you can see across the city.
Places With High Risk for Pedestrians
Knowing the risks and where you are likely to experience a problem can make it much easier to avoid getting hit by a car. There are several places in Chicago where there is a high chance of a pedestrian being hit by a car, which you should avoid if possible.
S. Cottage Grove Ave and E. 79th St
The intersection of S. Cottage Grove Ave and E. 79th Street is a busy intersection, even during lower traffic times. Two six-lane roads meet, making it a wide intersection to cross. More than that, being so wide and busy can keep drivers from seeing pedestrians easily.
If you want to cross the intersection safely, ensure you are easily visible. Face oncoming traffic as you enter the crosswalk to ensure that any car in your direction can see you, and you have to react if they don’t.
Recommended by LinkedIn
Also, if you are not crossing the street, stay back from it. Walk as far away from the street on the sidewalk as you can. The shade the buildings cast at different times of day can make it difficult to see pedestrians or the edges of the sidewalk.
N. Elston Ave/N. Western Ave/W. Diversey Ave
Chicago’s infrastructure has undergone several major upgrades over the years to handle more traffic by adding more roads. These developments led to intersections like the one at N. Elston Ave, N. Western Ave, and W. Diversey Ave.
It is a six-way intersection with odd angles between the streets, making some corners small and some corners considerably wider. For pedestrians, this can be a difficult intersection to cross.
The best way to ensure you can cross safely is to take each street one at a time. Don’t try to cross multiple streets in one effort. That way, you get as much time as possible to cross each street without running or worrying about running out of time. With traffic stopped, this is the safest time to make your crossing.
N. Ashland Ave and W. Cortland St
The development of roads in some areas of Chicago created strange hazards for pedestrians and vehicles. For example, the intersection of N. Ashland Ave and W. Cortland Street is under several highway overpasses. Not only does this cast a long shadow over the area during the day, but the pillars make it hard to see pedestrians before they enter the crosswalk.
If you need to cross through the area safely, watch for cars and plan your crossing accordingly. Wait until there is a long stretch between cars to attempt to make a crossing, then do so quickly. Make sure you check for cars in every direction before you start. Anything you can do to make yourself more visible is also a good idea.
If You Are Injured, Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Despite efforts to make roadways and pedestrians safer, it is still possible to be injured in a pedestrian accident. If that happens to you, contact a personal injury lawyer for help. Lawyers can help with a wide range of things after an accident, like negotiating with the insurance company to get the compensation you are owed.
We can also help you take legal action against the driver if your insurance compensation is insufficient. Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers for a free consultation by filling out our contact form or calling toll-free at (888) 424-5757. We can assess your case and show you the next steps to getting the compensation you deserve.
225 W Wacker Dr #1660, Chicago, IL 60606