Some intersections in Illinois carry a history that never quite fades. The crossing of Irving Park Road and Mitchell Boulevard in Schaumburg is one of them. In the spring of 2014, a fatal crash at that intersection killed a 78-year-old passenger when a driver attempted a left-hand turn and was struck on the passenger side by an oncoming vehicle. Both drivers were also injured and transported to a local hospital.
It was not the first time that corner had seen tragedy. In the summer of 2011, a semi-truck turned directly into the path of a motorcyclist at the same location, killing the rider. Two fatal incidents at the same intersection within three years raise a question families in these situations often ask: when a location has a documented history of serious crashes, does that history matter in a legal claim?
In Illinois, the answer can be yes.
When a Dangerous Intersection Contributes to a Crash
Illinois law recognizes that liability for a car or motorcycle accident is not always limited to the driver who caused the collision. When a roadway, intersection, or traffic control configuration is unreasonably dangerous, and a government entity responsible for maintaining it knew or should have known about the hazard, a separate premises liability or negligent road design claim may be available alongside or in addition to a claim against the at-fault driver.
Documenting prior accidents at the same location, requesting maintenance records, and preserving evidence of the intersection's condition are all steps an experienced attorney pursues early in these cases. Evidence of prior crashes is legally relevant when it goes to the question of whether the dangerous condition was known.
What Causes Serious Accidents at Illinois Intersections
Left-turn crashes, like the one at Irving Park Road and Mitchell Boulevard, are among the most deadly intersection accident types. The turning driver often misjudges the speed or distance of oncoming traffic, and the resulting impact hits the passenger side of the turning vehicle at full force. Passengers in that seat have no protection between them and the point of impact.
For motorcyclists, intersection dangers are compounded. Drivers frequently fail to see motorcycles approaching, particularly when making left turns across traffic. A motorcycle accident at intersection speeds can result in catastrophic injury even when the rider is wearing full protective gear, because the bike offers no structural protection in a collision.
Other common causes of serious intersection crashes in the Schaumburg area include distracted driving, failure to yield, disregarded traffic signals, and impaired driving.
Your Rights After a Serious Accident in Schaumburg
If you or a family member was seriously injured or killed in a car accident or motorcycle crash in Schaumburg or the surrounding Cook County communities, Illinois law gives you the right to pursue compensation from any party whose negligence contributed to the crash. That can include the at-fault driver, their employer if they were driving for work, a vehicle manufacturer if a defect played a role, or a government entity if road design or maintenance was a contributing factor.
Damages available in a serious injury case include past and future medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and in wrongful death cases, compensation for the losses the surviving family has suffered. Illinois does not cap compensatory damages in personal injury cases.
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Illinois is two years from the date of the accident under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. For wrongful death claims, the same two-year period applies from the date of death. Missing these deadlines bars the claim permanently.
