Examining the Troubling Statistics Behind Fatal Chicago Pedestrian Accidents
Two recent fatal pedestrian accidents in Chicago illustrate just how dangerous the city's streets remain. The two pedestrian fatalities occurred last month in two Chicago neighborhoods, according to Chicago Streets Blog.
One pedestrian fatality was a hit-and-run and occurred in the 5600 block of South Racine Avenue in the West Englewood community. The 59-year-old man who died in the pedestrian accident was walking near his home when he was struck on Monday night shortly after 6 p.m.
The other pedestrian fatality occurred on a Tuesday night in the 8800 block of South May Street in Chicago's Gresham neighborhood, according to Chicago Streets Blog. The driver who caused the collision remained at the scene of the crash and was cited by police for failure to exercise due care for a pedestrian in the roadway and operating an uninsured vehicle.
Chicago Continues to Struggle with Pedestrian Fatalities
Since the start of the year, there have already been at least eight pedestrian deaths in Chicago, according to police reports cited by Chicago Streets Blog. Along with the two recent fatal pedestrian accidents, the other six deadly pedestrian crashes have occurred in a wide range of neighborhoods throughout the city.
In January alone, there were six pedestrian fatalities in Chicago, including two separate pedestrian accidents on Jan. 2. Both involved drivers who fled the scene of the separate pedestrian accidents on foot, Chicago Streets Blog reported.
Pedestrian Deaths in Chicago and Cook County Reach Alarming Heights
If January's six pedestrian accident deaths in Chicago are any indication, this year could turn out to be a record year for the city. Last year, 30 people died in pedestrian accidents in Chicago, according to preliminary police reports and news stories compiled by Chicago Streets Blog.
As for Cook County, which includes Chicago, pedestrian fatalities have been on the rise for years. In 2020, the most recent year with crash data available for Cook County, 94 pedestrians died in collisions caused by drivers. Between 2016 and 2020, pedestrian accident fatalities in Cook County increased by 28.7 percent, according to accident data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Taking A Closer Look at the Sobering Statistics
Chicago isn't the only place where pedestrian fatalities remain a serious problem. Nationwide, the number of pedestrian deaths has continued to climb to record highs in recent years, including last year.
In 2022, the number of pedestrian fatalities nationwide increased by 2 percent compared to the year before, according to accident data collected by the NHTSA. This is bad news since 2021 had the most pedestrian deaths in a single year in more than four decades. An estimated 7,485 pedestrians died in accidents nationwide in 2021, an increase of 11.5 percent compared to 2020 and the most pedestrian deaths in a single year since 1981, according to accident data compiled by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
A Chicago Pedestrian Accident Attorney Can Protect Your Rights
When a driver is responsible for a pedestrian accident, the victim may believe that legal representation is unnecessary to recover the financial compensation they deserve. However, pedestrian injury claims frequently develop into complex legal cases, and if you're not careful, you could end up with a lifetime of out-of-pocket expenses. At Keating Law Offices, our experienced Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers understand the gravity of these situations. That's because we're committed to advocating for the rights of injured pedestrians throughout Chicago and Illinois.
Discover what our law firm can do for you. Schedule a free consultation online or call us at 833-CALL-KLO to speak with our dedicated office staff and live operators, available 24/7. Our legal team is ready to provide you with the help you need.
