Interstate Highway Accidents in Chicago | Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C.
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Interstate Highway Accidents in Chicago

Written by Jared Staver

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Jared Staver is a Personal Injury Lawyer based in Chicago, Illinois and has been practicing law for over 20 years.

Jared Staver

CATEGORY: Auto Accidents, Personal Injury


Chicago is a precise, yet often confusing, network of interstates. From the Eisenhower Expressway on I-290 to the Stevenson and I-90, which goes by four different names depending on location, commuters learn a maze of 10 different interstates that take them from the city to the suburbs and vice versa. You would think the ample amount of highway available to Chicagoans would enable them to avoid dense traffic and delays. However, the truth is that five of the 20 most congested roadways in the country are in the Chicagoland area, according to the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s Urban Mobility Scorecard. This traffic congestion is not only a time-killer, it also leads to interstate highway accidents.

Car accidents that occur on the highway often lead to serious injuries and fatalities due to high speeds, the presence of concrete barriers and walls, and the higher likelihood of involving additional vehicles. Individuals who are injured in a highway collision should immediately contact an attorney at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. to learn more about recovering compensation through a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Call today at (312) 236-2900.

Chicago Interstates are Some of the Most Crowded in the U.S.

The Texas A&M study found parts of the Kennedy and Dan Ryan Expressways (I-90/94) were the biggest issues for commuters in Chicago, claiming three spots in the top 20 most congested roadways in America. Two parts of the Eisenhower Expressway, part of I-290, were also ranked among the top 20. More specifically, the fourth worst roadway in the U.S. was the 13 miles of I-90/94 westbound from 35th Street to the Edens Junction. The seventh-worst stretch of highway was the 1-90/94 eastbound lanes from Montrose Avenue to just south of Roosevelt Road. Part of the Jane Addams eastbound between the Tri-State Tollway and the Kennedy where the Edens merge ranked 14th.

Common Dangers on Chicago Interstates

Certain issues motorists deal with on a daily basis when commuting in Chicago increase the risk of car accidents. These common dangers include:

  • Construction zones, including large equipment, workers on the road, uneven lanes, and reduced speeds
  • Poor roadway conditions, including difficult merges, narrow lanes, lack of shoulders, and rough pavement
  • Distracted drivers
  • Intoxicated or drugged drivers
  • Traffic violations, including speeding and improper lane changes
  • Poor weather conditions such as rain, snow, sleet, ice, and fog

These factors and others combined with heavy traffic greatly increase the number of Chicago interstate highway crashes. The most recently published crash data for Chicago shows that there were 17,156 accidents on controlled urban roadways, state numbered urban roadways, urban toll roads, and unmarked rural highways in 2014. Twenty-nine of these accidents were fatal and 2,828 of the crashes led to injuries.

Complications With Highway Collisions

It can be difficult for a person to handle an interstate highway accident right when it happens and when trying to recover compensation from the at-fault driver. Crashes on highways can happen due to extremely high speeds and involve three or more vehicles. The first thing individuals should do is get to safety, which means out of the way of other vehicles. However, the results of a serious collision often make it difficult to do this. People are less likely to be able to move a vehicle to a shoulder and more likely to be trapped in their vehicles. These factors mean individuals rely on other drivers on the highway to go around the incident slowly and not cause another accident when they go to the side of the road or remain in their cars for emergency medical personnel.

People injured in highway collisions can also run into trouble in the weeks or months following the crash when they are trying to recover compensation from an insurer. Due to the nuances of driving on a highway, it may be hard to prove which driver was at fault. Individuals may also face insurers that argue they are more than half responsible for the crash, which would bar them from recovering damages.

Get Help From a Car Accident Attorney

Individuals who are injured in an interstate highway accident and suffered severe property damage and personal injuries should work with an experienced lawyer from Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. as soon as possible. The sooner injured people begin to work with an attorney, the sooner they can benefit from in-depth investigations into the accidents and objective analyses of their legal rights.

At Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., we have decades of collective experience in handling the aftermath of highway accidents, including seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, disability, and disfigurement. We can handle the third-party insurance claim process, and, if necessary, represent individuals during personal injury claims in court. Whatever the journey to recovery, our priority is obtaining the maximum compensation possible for our clients.

Our car accident attorneys serve clients throughout the Chicago area, including Aurora, Elgin, Hinsdale, Joliet, Naperville, and Waukegan. To schedule a free consultation, call Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. at (312) 236-2900.

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(312) 236-2900
(312) 236-2900
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