Chicago Accident Lawyer Blog
Written and reviewed by Peter Zneimer
Anyone who commutes down Western Ave. in Chicago has noticed all the construction being done along the sidewalks to add curb bump-outs and other pedestrian friendly additions. Curb bump-outs are curbs that are extended into the street, creating more space on the sidewalk at the corner. The philosophy behind curb bump-outs according to the Chicago Department of Transportation website is that the bump-outs make the streets safer and reduce pedestrian injuries that result from pedestrians being hit by a car:
- Slowing down traffic by narrowing the street
- Making turning drivers slow down to complete turns
- Making pedestrians more visible
Another addition being made to some intersections to reduce pedestrian injuries are pedestrian refuge islands. These refuge islands are helpful to pedestrians in that they:
- They help make pedestrians more visible
- make a safe place to wait when attempting to cross multiple lanes of traffic
- Making it easier to cross by allowing the pedestrian to concentrate on one direction of traffic at a time
Also helpful additions are raised crosswalks and yellow pedestrian crossing signs. The personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. have noted in previous blogs that drivers in Chicago rarely stop at crosswalks. These additions might help encourage people to stop at crosswalks and helps make pedestrians more visible.
Perhaps the most effective crosswalk improvement is the flashing crosswalk signs that are activated by pushing a button. From personal experience its clear that these flashing signs will cause drivers to stop for pedestrians. These seem to be placed at strategic locations, such as near schools and retirement communities.
Another important improvement is a hardened center line with raised curbs. The philosophy behind these additions is that it requires drivers to slow down when making a left turn.
The personal injury lawyers of Zneimer & Zneimer P.C. applaud these improvements. From our extensive experience with personal injury cases, some of the most devastating injuries suffered by our clients is where a car has directly crashed into their bodies. The human body is not constructed to endure such a trauma. The vast majority of these accidents take place at intersections. Any improvements that can make intersections safer for pedestrians is a wise investment.