Driving on Illinois roads is a privilege that should not be taken for granted. Motorists may want to pay more attention to traffic signs, and thereby have a better chance of reaching their destination safely. The frequency of car accidents caused by drivers heading the wrong way emphasizes the need for road users to be more observant. A car accident demonstrating this failure happened on a recent Thursday morning and resulted in injuries that could have been fatal.
In the early morning hours of that Thursday, a female driver, who apparently failed to obey the road signs, travelled in a northern direction in the southbound lanes of the Chicago Skyway. A southbound tractor-trailer could not avoid the wrong way driver and a collision occurred. Due to a diesel spill from the semi-trailer, the southbound lanes of the highway had to be closed temporarily.
Both drivers were taken to a hospital after receiving injuries that were not life-threatening and the conditions of both were reported to be stable. The report did not mention if any passengers were in the two vehicles. No information was made available about whether alcohol or drugs may have been contributory factors in the accident, but a news affairs officer for the police stated that the wrong way driver may be cited.
When Illinois residents are injured in car accidents caused by the negligent actions of another party, they retain the right to pursue personal injury claims in a civil court. To prepare themselves for the legalities of such a claim, they may want to gain some knowledge related to their available options under state laws. If the claim is successfully litigated, the victim could receive monetary restitution to assist in covering medical costs and other expenses incurred due to the car accident.
Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com, Wrong-Way Driver Collides With Semi on Skyway, Broadcast Interactive, March 13, 2014