Any Chicago driver knows the expressways in and around the city are constantly busy. Traffic peaks in the morning and after work, but at any time of day, you’re going to share the road with many other people – some of whom are responsible drivers, and some who aren’t.
The Dan Ryan Expressway is one of those roads you expect to see full of cars. From the Circle Interchange to the Chicago Skyway, there are always people headed into and out of the city. The Circle Interchange is also known as a severe bottleneck, where cars and commercial trucks slow to a crawl. On the more open sections of I-94 and I-90, people try and speed their way to their destination. During construction, the congestion is even worse. People attempting to swerve in and around traffic don’t help matters either.
The Dan Ryan is a combination of I-94 and I-90, running from downtown to the South Side. The nearly 12-mile stretch of highway can easily see half a million cars every day. It’s one of the busiest roads in Illinois. But with this amount of traffic comes accidents. While crashes might not be a daily experience, they happen on a relatively frequent basis, often leading to injuries and sometimes deaths.
Speeding is a major factor in accidents on the freeway. Many highways have speed limits of 65 or 70 mph, but some drivers don’t feel this is fast enough. Police often ticket drivers for going 80 or 90 mph on the highway, hoping to pass other cars and get to their destination faster. Unfortunately, speeding on any road can lead to accidents. When a driver is going upwards of 90 mph, a collision is very likely to hurt someone or even kill them.
Speeding in a construction zone is a common problem. Work zone crashes lead to thousands of accidents every year, many of which result in injuries and fatalities. The speed limit can be as long as 45 mph on a highway when in a construction zone. This is for driver’s and passenger’s protection as much as it is for construction workers. Many work zones have uneven roads, odd curves, and little to no shoulder to move to in the case of an accident. Drivers need to slow down and be careful in these areas.
Improper passing and weaving between cars is another cause of accidents on the Dan Ryan. When traffic is busy, trying to pass other cars and going back and forth between lanes increases the likelihood of clipping another vehicle or rear-ending someone.
Accidents have also been caused by people driving the wrong way on the expressway. This can be related to drunk driving or illegal U-turns. In any situation, driving on the wrong side of the road can cause accidents.
If you were hurt in an accident on the Dan Ryan, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Instead of taking on the financial ramifications yourself, a lawyer can help you file a third-party claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance.
Our car accident attorneys serve clients throughout the Chicago area, including Aurora, Elgin, Hinsdale, Joliet, Naperville, and Waukegan. If you’re unable to settle with the insurer, your attorney can help you decide if going to court is the right thing for you. Call Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. at (312) 236-2900 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.
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