DC and Baltimore top dangerous to driving list

The Allstate Insurance Company annually compiles claims and ranks 200 metro areas across the country. With number 1 being the safest, the Washington, DC ranked 198 and Baltimore ranked 200, which is to say that we live in the most dangerous areas in the country to drive. These numbers should actually be no surprise to anyone who drives here on a regular basis, nor were they a surprise to Allstate, which ranked Washington, DC was 197 and Baltimore was 199 in 2017. The statistics are based on the number of collisions that involve property damage claims of any kind.

Inside these dubious numbers

These numbers translate into Baltimore drivers getting in a crash on an average of once every 3.8 years, which is 163 percent higher than the national average of once every 10 years. Suburban Baltimore drivers crash an average of once every 6.7 years. Washington, DC drivers average a crash every 3.9 years, which is 156.1 percent higher than the national average. Suburban DC drivers average once every 6.7 years as well. The study also reports that 94 percent of the accidents were caused by driver error.

Recovering money for damages

The above numbers reflect the challenges of driving in our region and a reminder of why it is even more necessary to avoid unsafe driving practices. Unfortunately, drivers cannot control the behavior of other drivers, so it is important for those who are victims in an accident with damage and injury to speak with an attorney with experience handling motor vehicle accidents. Whether the driver admits to making a mistake or not, attorneys can build cases to help victims get the compensation they deserve.