Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer at Coplan & Crane, LLC. Comments on Pedestrian Safety in Chicago Metro Area
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) June 21, 2014 -- Commenting on a recent news article revealing Chicago to be one of the safest cities for pedestrians, Chicago personal injury attorney Gregory Coplan of Coplan & Crane, LLC. said today both drivers and pedestrians need to remain vigilant to further reduce the city’s fatal pedestrian accident rate.
Coplan based his comments on a Chicago Sun-Times article published May 20. The article, “Chicago among safest U.S. cities for pedestrians: study,” cites the National Complete Streets Coalition’s “Dangerous by Design” study finding Chicago to have the 6th lowest pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 residents in the country.
“Coplan & Crane is proud to see Chicago rank favorably for pedestrian safety,” Coplan said. “However, it’s important for drivers and pedestrians alike not to be lulled into a false sense of security. As the Sun-Times reports, over 1,100 pedestrians have lost their lives in accidents in the Chicago area within the past decade. This number is still far too high, especially because these tragedies are so easily avoided.”
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago ranked 45th out of the nation’s 51 largest metro areas for pedestrians killed per 100,000 residents from 2008-2012. The study, titled “Dangerous by Design 2014,” revealed a national trend of increasing pedestrian accident fatalities since 2007.
The Chicago Sun-Times report indicated 2012’s “Chicago Forward” plan played a critical role in preventing pedestrian accident fatalities in Chicago in 2012 and 2013. “Chicago Forward” called for 20 mph zones in residential areas, mid-block crossings, more pedestrian countdown clocks at intersections, and speed cameras around parks or schools, according to the article.
“There is no doubt Chicago has made vast improvements in terms of pedestrian safety in recent years,” Coplan said. “Unfortunately, drivers have been slow to catch up. It’s important for all drivers to remember that it isn’t just an option to share the road with pedestrians. It’s the law. Drivers must be held accountable if they are at fault in causing an accident with a pedestrian. That’s why it’s so important for Chicago motorists to drive responsibly, especially in pedestrian zones.”
Coplan & Crane, LLC.
Serving clients in Oak Park, Chicago and all of Illinois, Coplan & Crane handles a wide range of cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, bus accidents, railroad accidents, workplace injuries, dangerous products, medical malpractice and birth injuries. The law firm has a strong track record for obtaining large verdicts and settlements, including several, high-profile, multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts. We offer free consultations to all interested clients. The law firm works on a contingency fee basis. That means clients only pay if they win.
For more information about what to do if you or a loved one was injured in a pedestrian accident in Illinois and the legal options available to families, call (800) 394-6002 or complete the online contact form.
Coplan & Crane, LLC.
1111 Westgate St
Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 358-8080
http://www.coplancrane.com
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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