If car accidents seem common in Omaha, it’s not your imagination. Omaha was recently ranked the worst driving city in the country in an annual nationwide study titled “The Best and Worst Drivers By City.” Conducted by QuoteWizard, the study analyzed crash statistics and several other criteria for cities nationwide, then compiled a list of the 35 worst and best drivers by city for 2021.
This is not the first time Omaha has been at the top of the list for the worst drivers. In 2018, Omaha drivers were rated the worst drivers by city in the entire country. Previously, QuoteWizard ranked Omaha the 15th worst driving city in 2019 and the 8th worst driving city in 2017.
In years past, QuoteWizard also ranked the best and worst drivers by state. In 2020, Nebraska drivers were ranked the 16th worst nationwide in that year’s survey.
Why is Omaha ranked as the worst driving city?
QuoteWizard’s researchers used four different criteria to determine which cities have the worst drivers in the country. The company analyzed car insurance quotes for 2 million drivers in the 70 largest cities in the United States. The four factors used to determine the worst drivers in each city were:
- Car accidents per capita in each city
- Speeding tickets issued per capita in each city
- The number of accidents involving drivers under the influence (DUI)
- The number of traffic citations issued in each city. Citations included running a red light, using a cellphone while driving, etc.
Omaha ranked 12th nationwide wide for car accidents, 14th for speeding tickets, 1st for DUI cases, and 7th for traffic citations in the 2021 study.
Such figures are reflected in the number of traffic fatalities in Douglas County, Nebraska as well, which includes Omaha. According to statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 18.2 fatalities each year between 2015 to 2019 due to drunk driving in Douglas County. Speeding was a factor in 9.6 traffic fatalities each year in Douglas County during the same time period.
What are the common causes of accidents in Omaha?
Car accidents happen for many different reasons. As the statistics for Douglas County illustrate above, drunk driving and speeding remain two of the most common causes of motor vehicle crashes in Omaha. Other common causes include:
- Distracted driving, including texting while driving
- Aggressive or reckless driving, including tailgating or running a red light or stop sign
- Tired driving, including falling asleep at the wheel
- Driving too fast for hazardous weather conditions, including snow and ice-covered roads
These are just some of the reasons why accidents happen so frequently in Omaha. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash caused by another driver, make sure you contact the Omaha Police Department or Nebraska State Patrol right away, depending on the location of your crash, and ask them to respond to your accident. Then, you should talk to a car accident attorney as soon as possible to learn your available legal options.
Ausman Law Firm fights for injured drivers in Omaha
You might think you don’t need an attorney if another driver clearly caused your accident, but a lot of crashes turn out to be complicated legal cases. The driver who caused your collision might deny doing anything wrong. They might even try to claim you caused the accident. Worst of all, an insurance company may try to downplay, delay, or deny your injury claim—just so they can protect their own bottom line.
This is why it’s critical that you have an experienced lawyer on your side to look out for your best interests. Our job is to find the evidence you need to support your injury claim. We also know how to negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurance company for the compensation you need and deserve, or, if necessary, we can file a lawsuit on your behalf and take the fight to court.
To learn more about how a car accident lawyer can help you, contact us at our office in Omaha to schedule a free case evaluation. Our highly skilled attorneys have years of experience and would be honored to speak with you about your potential case.