Taxi Accidents in Chicago

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Taxi Accidents

The Chicago metro area and its roads is often a recipe for disaster. Commuters coming in and out of the city, event traffic, and general rush hour disorder contribute to a commotion of congestion, frustration, and, often, exasperation for drivers. One way to avoid such worries is to simply take a cab. It may be easy, but any Chicagoan also knows that the sheer number of taxis on the road significantly contribute to traffic, and that oftentimes, cab drivers are not the most cautious motorists, and many people learn that lesson the hard way. Taxi cabs are not immune from accidents, and some unlucky riders may find themselves involved in a crash while in a cab in Chicago.

Taxi Crash Data Not Readily Available

Despite anecdotal evidence showing that taxi crashes do occur with some frequency, data showing actual accident rates is surprisingly hard to find. A Chicago Police officer and spokesman interviewed by the Redeye indicated that traffic crash reports do not include any check boxes to designate whether any vehicles involved were rideshare vehicles or taxicabs. The narrative portion of the traffic report is more likely to indicate that a vehicle was a taxi, but whether this information is actually included depends on the reporting officer’s level of detail in the report. The license plate portion may also indicate taxis because they have specially issued Illinois license plates, however, without a human eye reviewing every report, there is no way to easily generate metrics showing the percentage of accidents involving taxis.

What We Do Know

Although the Chicago Police Department does not specifically report taxi accidents, every crash report issued by the police is sent to the Illinois Department of Transportation, which does investigate the number of taxis involved in crashes. In 2014, 4,129 crashes involved taxis and 830 of those caused injuries to passengers. Three accidents were fatal. The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) compiled a report in 2011 indicating that 28 percent of pedestrian crashes in the Central Business District (comprising the Near North Side and Loop areas) involved taxis and 33 percent of crashes in the Central Business District high crash corridors involved taxis. Taxis are also involved in one out of every 12 bicycle accidents that occur in the city of Chicago.

Have You Been Injured in an Accident?

If you have been involved in an accident with a taxi, whether you were a passenger or the driver of another vehicle, it is important to get legal help to know your rights. You may be entitled to compensation from the driver or the taxi company for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering for your injuries if the other party was at fault. Contact the experienced Lake County personal injury attorneys at Salvi & Maher, LLP for help. We have represented injured Illinois motorists for decades, and we can provide the representation you need. Contact us to schedule your free case consultation today.

Sources:

http://abc7chicago.com/news/3-injured-in-northwest-side-crash-involving-taxi/1530125/

http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/redeye-rideshare-taxi-accidents-chicago-stats-transit-diaries-20160902-column.html

https://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/cdot/pedestrian/2011PedestrianCrashAnalysisSummaryReport.pdf