Safest Ways to Get Around Chicago: A Transportation Showdown
There is an inherent risk in traveling, and it is enough to stop people from wanting to leave their houses. However, we all have to go out every day to get to work, shop, and generally do things around town. You can make traveling in Chicago safer if you know where to go and how to get there.
Every method of transportation has its own risks, and they are not equal in terms of safety. Read on to find out which methods of traveling in Chicago are safe and which ones you might want to avoid.
Private Transportation
Your options for traveling in Chicago come down to three options: public, private, and commercial transportation. In most cases, you will look for methods of public or private transportation. Commercial transportation includes options like flying or traveling by boat, which are usually limited to leaving or coming into the city.
Private transportation is any form of transportation you own. This includes cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, scooters, and other type of personal transportation. This gives you the most versatility and control over your travel. You can leave when you want, go where you want, and travel with as much stuff as you want.
Private transportation is also more dangerous overall. There are more traffic fatalities resulting from car accidents than from any other method of transportation. This includes injuries and fatalities for pedestrians as well.
Public Transportation
Public transportation includes buses and trains managed by the city. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) provides bus and train routes that are a viable alternative to personal transportation. CTA buses and trains can take you to most places in and out of the city.
The tradeoff with public transportation is that you have to make trips on its schedule. However, CTA provides many bus routes and train trips that make it relatively easy to get where you need to go when you need to get there. Public transportation is also much safer than private transportation.
When In Doubt, Take the Bus
If you are struggling to find a way to get around the city, take the bus. CTA buses offer the best features when looking for a safer way to travel in Chicago.
Buses have a predictable schedule with plenty of stops and trips to get you around town. They are much safer than driving and significantly safer than taking the train.
Buses are faster and easier than walking or taking a taxi. You can also take a bus around or out of town if you need to take a longer trip. It is the best mix of options, and it makes it much safer to travel.
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If You Drive, Protect Yourself
If you choose to drive, there are things that you can do to protect yourself. Statistics on car crashes show that the majority of accidents happen because of irresponsible driving. The most impactful thing you can do to protect yourself is to drive responsibly.
Another way to improve your safety while driving is to avoid areas in Chicago with a high number of accidents. Because of factors like heavy traffic times and structural designs, some places in the city regularly have a high number of vehicle accidents. Avoid these areas as much as possible while driving.
Places You Should Avoid Driving in Chicago
The design of intersections is often the cause of accidents. They can be confusing to navigate, have obstructions making it hard to see, or many other potential issues. Some of the places that you should avoid include:
Other areas of the city, like around Wrigley Field, can be difficult to navigate safely. Anything you can do to avoid places where an accident is likely to happen makes your trip significantly safer.
If You Are In an Accident, Do This!
No matter how safe you try to travel, there is always a chance you will be injured in a crash. When that happens, there are three things you should do right away.
The first thing you should always do right after an accident is obtain medical attention for you and anyone else involved. That way, everyone has the best chance of surviving and making a full recovery. The medical report will also be helpful if you decide to file a lawsuit later.
Make sure you go to the doctor or to the hospital to be looked at. Many types of injuries, such as whiplash, take time to develop after an accident. You may feel fine but have a serious injury that only appears a few days later. Seeking medical attention right away can prevent a more serious injury or complication from occurring.
The next thing to do is document the accident alongside the police. Start by taking pictures of the accident with your phone if you can. Make sure you get the officer's case number so that you can request the incident report later.
When all that is done, contact a personal injury lawyer to review your case as soon as possible. A personal injury lawyer can help you settle things with the insurance company and even take legal action against the other driver. Have your case reviewed as soon as possible so that you can find out what your options are.
Call Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers at (888) 424-5757 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation and see if you have a viable personal injury case.
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1moInteresting, Jonathan. Appreciate the update! 👌
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