Marylanders living in or traveling through the Baltimore area on a regular basis may want to take some extra precautions against auto accidents. This suggestion comes on the heels of a new study ranking Baltimore as the second worst place for drivers in the country.
The study, conducted by Allstate Insurance Company, showed that Baltimore drivers are among the worst in the country in terms of the likelihood that they will be involved in an accident and the frequency with which accidents occur in the area.
According to the study, a Baltimore resident will, on average, be involved in an accident every 5.3 years. Similarly, Baltimore drivers are 87.9% more likely to be involved in a car crash than the national average.
For some, this news might be another reminder of something already well known. Maryland has received negative feedback about its drivers from insurance companies in the past. For instance, Maryland drivers placed 49th out of 51 in grade averages for a written test about road rules, according to a 2011 GMAC report.
While this information does not paint a flattering picture of Baltimore drivers, it is important to remember that these are averages that do not reflect the actions of every driver. While the reasons for the poor ranking may be outside of each individual driver's hands, the consequences of poor driving are not limited to only those who are negligent. Unfortunately, for many of the drivers involved in these incidents, they will suffer injuries or property damage, even if an accident was caused by another driver.
It's important to remember that behind the statistics, there are the people who were actually harmed as a result of another's negligence, happenstance or poor planning. While some of these accidents may be harmless, others may cause serious medical injury or put a person in financial trouble due to unexpected medical expenses. In these cases, the accident may lead to legal proceedings where the victim can receive compensation for the costs of treating injuries, loss of wages, and a variety of other reasons.
