A new report from the insurance company Allstate reveals that Washington, D.C. area drivers are more than twice as likely to crash compared to the national average, making it one of the worst places to drive in the U.S. Washington, D.C.’s collision rate can be attributed to high levels of traffic congestion. Crowded streets and roadways can contribute to an increased number of crashes and impact the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

The study analyzed insurance claims data from 200 of the largest cities in the nation. The results ranked Alexandria at 189, Washington, D.C. at number 197 and Baltimore at 198. The two cities that ranked as the worst in the nation were Worcester, Mass., and Boston, Mass. The study found that District drivers experience a collision every 4.9 years, more than double the national average. Alexandria drivers are involved in a crash every 6.7 years at a rate of more than 50 percent of the national average. And Baltimore drivers crash every 4.7 years, which is 113.7 percent higher than the nationwide average. The national average is one accident every 10 years. An Allstate spokeswoman noted that there is much room for the area to improve. There are a large number of distractions for drivers in addition to heavily clogged roads that are detrimental to safe driving.

Distracted driving is a leading cause of collisions and entails anything that removes a driver’s attention from the road. Distractions can arise from texting and driving, eating while behind the wheel, talking to other passengers, grooming, using a navigation system or adjusting the radio. Car collisions can have far reaching effects that involve loss of income, medical bills, injuries, loss of life, property damage and emotional pain. Our experienced DC auto accident attorneys can help you seek fair compensation if your injuries were caused by another driver’s negligence.