Chicago is one of the most walkable major cities in the United States, with crowds of residents and tourists alike navigating the city on foot to reach their destinations. While the city has invested in pedestrian infrastructure and drivers may be more accustomed to sharing the road with others, crashes involving these vulnerable road users still occur.
To promote a safe road environment for everyone, Mark L. Karno & Associates, LLC partnered with data visualization firm 1Point21 Interactive to determine the most crash-prone areas in Chicago involving pedestrians.
Using heat map analysis, we compiled a list of clusters throughout the city that see the highest concentration of incidents. These areas may differ in size, including one or several intersections, depending on the density and spatial distribution of pedestrian crashes in each location. As a result, clusters are not comparable in terms of danger or risk.
The goal of this study is to serve as a valuable guide to show road users exactly where they need to exercise extra caution.
Key Takeaways
- •Pedestrian crashes increased by 35% between 2021 and 2025.
- •Among the highlighted clusters, the historic Loop recorded the highest total volume with 129 crashes (injuring 134 pedestrians), with a high concentration occurring along the intersections on State Street.
- •The leading cause of pedestrian crashes in Chicago was failing to yield right-of-way, with 4,237 crashes, which was more than six times higher than the next leading cause: failing to reduce speed.
- •Pedestrian-involved crashes coincide with commuter rush hours, peaking at 5 pm.
- •40% of all pedestrian crashes were hit-and-run incidents, making them 25% more likely to occur than in crashes that don’t involve pedestrians.
Table Of Contents
- Pedestrian Crashes Over the Years
- Where do Pedestrian Crashes Occur?
- Pedestrian Crashes by the Hour
- Leading Causes of Pedestrian Crashes
- Additional Pedestrian Crash Patterns in Chicago
- Methodology
Pedestrian Crashes Over the Years
The number of pedestrian crashes in Chicago has increased year-over-year between 2021 and 2025, with an overall increase of approximately 35%.
The city recorded 183 pedestrian-involved crashes in 2025, and 70 in the first four months of 2026. More data is needed to determine if the upward trend will continue in 2026.
If you or a loved one was injured by a vehicle while walking across a street, speak with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer in Chicago to help you understand your legal rights and options for pursuing compensation.
Where do Pedestrian Crashes Occur?
The table below lists the Chicago clusters with the highest pedestrian-involved crash concentrations, sorted by total pedestrian crashes. Because cluster boundaries vary in size and may encompass one or several intersections, these results should not be interpreted as a ranking of the city’s most dangerous areas.
Each cluster has an identifiable name that can be used to match areas on the interactive map below.
The Loop
Pedestrian crashes cluster heavily in the central downtown area. The Loop, named after the elevated rail loop surrounding this historic hub of commercial, financial, and government activity, had a high concentration of pedestrian-involved crashes.
It recorded 129 crashes, involving 134 pedestrians and 86 injuries, of which 16 (19%) resulted in catastrophic injury. Thirty-three crashes were concentrated along the intersections with State Street.
South Loop
Another visited area of downtown Chicago is the South Loop, which hosts a significant amount of tourism due to its museums, lakefront views, and other attractions. A cluster was identified near Dearborn Park and shows a high concentration of pedestrian-involved crashes along Roosevelt Road.
It recorded 76 crashes, 46 injuries, six of which were incapacitating, and one fatality.
West Loop
In the affluent Chicago neighborhood, the West Loop, there is a cluster that recorded 70 pedestrian-involved crashes. These incidents resulted in 40 injuries, of which six were disabling. This cluster also recorded one pedestrian fatality.
These crashes were primarily concentrated in the Randolph Street and Green Street corridor, as well as near the intersection of Halsted Street and Madison Street. The neighborhood sees both office workers and residents and experiences relatively higher pedestrian flow due to its many cafes, restaurants, and shops.
Magnificent Mile
The Magnificent Mile cluster, a popular shopping district with heavy pedestrian traffic in downtown Chicago, recorded 63 pedestrian-involved crashes, resulting in 41 injuries. Eight individuals sustained incapacitating injuries at the severe end of the spectrum. Thirty-one crashes, or about half of the cluster’s total, occurred along intersections with Michigan Avenue.
River North
In River North, a cluster was identified that includes the Ontario Street and LaSalle Drive intersection, the main hotspot, accounting for 28 of the cluster’s 30 crashes. This cluster also had the highest share of injuries, at 67%.
In the interactive map below, use the toggle menu to switch between Downtown Chicago and the South Side. Color intensity reflects areas with higher concentrations of pedestrian-involved crashes.
Hover over an area to see more information.
Pedestrian Crashes by the Hour
The number of pedestrian-involved crashes sees its first peak in the day at 8 a.m., which coincides with the morning rush of people commuting to offices and schools. The evening period exhibits a staggered rise beginning at 3 p.m., reaching its highest total at 5 p.m., before beginning a steady decline into the late night hours.
Leading Causes of Pedestrian Crashes
Among all pedestrian-involved crashes with known details, the leading cause was failing to yield right-of-way (4,237), which was over six times more than the next leading cause: failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash, with a total of 635 crashes.
Obscured views (394), erratic driving (390), limited driving skills (380), and disregarding traffic signals (380) followed with similar totals between them.
Additional Pedestrian Crash Patterns in Chicago
- Pedestrian-involved crashes are more likely to be hit-and-runs
Forty percent of all pedestrian incidents were hit-and-run incidents. This is a share 25% higher than crashes that did not involve pedestrians, where 32% of incidents were classified as hit-and-run.
- Pedestrian fatalities are more likely to occur in dark conditions
Among the fatal pedestrian crashes occurring in the study’s cluster areas, 62% occured in dark conditions, compared to 35% of crashes of all severities.
The Magificent Mile cluster had the highest share of crashes occurring in the dark, with 44%.
Methodology
Using over five years of data (January 1, 2021–April 30, 2026) from the City of Chicago Traffic Crashes dataset, we analyzed patterns in pedestrian-involved crashes across Chicago. Using heat map analysis, we identified the areas around the city with the highest concentration of pedestrian-involved crashes. Since these areas were derived from crash density rather than fixed geographic boundaries, their sizes may vary and should not be interpreted as a ranking of danger.
Fair Use Statement
If you’d like to share this information with other Chicago residents, you may do so. We simply request that any publication of our findings include a link back to this page so readers can reference the full study.