Chicago Intersection Crashes Cause 41% of Car Accident Injuries

New analysis by Briskman Briskman & Greenberg law firm examines driving behaviors behind Chicago's car crash data

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:18am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A dynamic, abstract image of a busy Chicago intersection, with blurred motion and vibrant streaks of color conveying the chaos and speed of urban traffic.Independent research exposes the hidden dangers of everyday driving behaviors that contribute to Chicago's alarming intersection crash statistics.Chicago Today

A new independent analysis of 440,326 City of Chicago crash records from 2022 to 2025 by the law firm Briskman Briskman & Greenberg has found that intersection crashes account for 41% of the city's 96,213 car accident injuries and 518 fatalities during that period. The study identified angle crashes, turning maneuvers, and rear-end collisions as the top three crash types responsible for the majority of injuries, with disregarding traffic signals and failing to reduce speed as the most harmful driver behaviors.

Why it matters

This data-driven research provides valuable insights into the specific driving behaviors and crash types that are causing the most harm on Chicago's roads, moving beyond the typical focus on drunk driving and distracted driving. By making this independent analysis publicly available, the law firm hopes to encourage more caution and awareness among drivers about the everyday decisions they make behind the wheel that can have serious consequences.

The details

The study, titled 'What Driving Maneuvers Cause the Most Car Accident Injuries in Chicago?', found that angle crashes, turning maneuvers, and rear-end collisions together account for approximately 60% of all auto accident injuries in Chicago, with the vast majority occurring at intersections. Among identifiable driver behaviors, disregarding traffic signals produced injuries at 3.4 times the citywide average and was linked to 42 fatalities, while failing to reduce speed was connected to 6,587 injuries and 47 deaths.

  • The analysis covers car accident data in Chicago from 2022 through 2025.

The players

Briskman Briskman & Greenberg

A law firm that specializes in personal injury and car accident cases and has published an independent analysis of Chicago car crash data.

Paul Greenberg

An auto accident attorney at Briskman Briskman & Greenberg who believes this research can help change the way people think about everyday driving decisions.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“When people hear about traffic safety, the conversation usually centers on drunk driving or distracted driving, and those are serious problems. But what this data tell us is that some of the most harmful behaviors on Chicago roads are ones that many drivers don't think twice about: not yielding at an intersection, rolling through a red light, or carrying too much speed into a turn.”

— Paul Greenberg, Auto accident attorney, Briskman Briskman & Greenberg

“Publishing these studies is an extension of that work. We want to make this data accessible and understandable to the general public in hopes of encouraging more caution when behind the wheel on city streets.”

— Paul Greenberg, Auto accident attorney, Briskman Briskman & Greenberg

What’s next

The law firm plans to continue publishing independent research and analysis to raise awareness about traffic safety issues in Chicago.

The takeaway

This study highlights the need for drivers to be more vigilant about common driving behaviors like intersection right-of-way, speed control, and obeying traffic signals, which can have serious consequences for public safety on Chicago's roads.