Aggressive Driving Can Cause Car Accidents on I-294

 Posted on October 13, 2023 in Blog Post

If you live in or near Cook County, Illinois, you are well aware of the problems with I-294. Just this past August, a semi-truck driver was killed on I-294, causing two northbound lanes to be shut down.

Accidents like this are all too common on I-294. Our Park Ridge car accident attorney, Patrick Quinn, is here to discuss how aggressive driving contributes to car accidents on I-294 and what measures you can take to keep yourself safe.

 What is Considered Aggressive Driving?

Aggressive driving is more commonly referred to as road rage. Drivers who display road rage put themselves, bicyclists, pedestrians, and other motorists’ lives in danger.

Examples of common road rage behavior may include:

•  Speeding
• Tailgating
• Running red lights, stop signs, or ignoring other traffic signals
• Failure to yield to emergency personnel and construction zone speed limits
• Cutting off another vehicle
• Weaving in and out of traffic
• Repeatedly honking the horn
• Repeatedly flashing the headlights
• Driving or passing on the shoulder or median

Road rage often results in a vehicle operator not taking precautions while behind the wheel. A person who is demonstrating road rage is significantly more likely to cause an accident that will result in property damage and life-threatening injuries.

If you have suffered injuries or vehicle damage due to another driver’s road rage, you will want the guidance of a car accident attorney serving Park Ridge, Des Plaines, and Glenview to help you recover what you deserve in damages. Damages may include lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

Dangers of Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving puts you at risk of losing control of your vehicle. In 2020, a driver traveling at an excessive speed caused a major collision on I-294. On September 12, 2020, a driver of a Chevrolet Impala traveling southbound lost control of his vehicle, sideswiping someone driving a Volkswagen Jetta. Upon impact, the Impala veered left, hitting the concrete median barrier. 

The Impala went “airborne” over the median and hit a Ford F150 traveling northbound. The Impala hit other vehicles, causing a 64-year-old woman to suffer fatal injuries. 

As the situation demonstrates, road rage can have disastrous results. The damage from such an accident is catastrophic, resulting in severe injuries and lost lives.

Steps to Keep Yourself Safe

I-294 suffers from traffic congestion. The Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) Project attempts to remedy the problem by reconstructing and widening the lanes from Balmoral Avenue to 95th Street. This project is slated to end in 2026. 

In the meantime, you will want to take these steps to keep yourself safe on I-294 and any highway you travel:

• If someone is tailgating you in the left lane, move over and let them pass
• If another driver is angry, avoid eye contact
• If a driver cuts off your car, give them space to merge instead of speeding up
• Never chase down an aggressive driver, but try to remember the vehicle’s description
• If an aggressive driver is following and threatening you, drive straight to the nearest police station or call 911

A Park Ridge, IL, Car Accident Lawyer Ready to Help

Road rage has taken the lives of many motorists. Those who survive may have months of physical therapy and countless surgeries ahead of them. Our Glenview, IL, car accident attorney will not stop fighting until he can recover the compensation you deserve. Contact Quinn Law Group, LLC today online or by calling 847-232-7180 to schedule your free consultation.