The Most Dangerous Kinds of Car Accidents on I-55

 Posted on September 08, 2025 in Car Accidents

Interstate 55 is one of the most densely packed highways in Illinois, seeing tens of thousands of cars pass each day. I-55 is also the site of many dangerous accidents due to the speed of the collisions, sometimes leaving victims with life-threatening complications. If you or somebody you love has been hurt in a crash on I-55, do not hesitate to contact a Cook County, IL car accident attorney.

At the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we provide individualized counsel and representation for victims of car accidents on I-55. As a solo practitioner, Attorney Jaime Barker is ready to devote all of his resources and attention to helping you recover compensation from a highway crash.

What Are the Most Life-Threatening Types of Car Accidents?

Rollover Accidents

A rollover accident refers to a car crash where a vehicle’s center of gravity shifts on impact, causing it to flip over. At higher speeds, a vehicle may roll over multiple times before coming to a stop, jeopardizing the health and safety of the victims inside the vehicle. On a busy highway like I-55, a rollover accident carries a major risk of a pile-up. Rollover accidents can often be attributed to acts of negligence, such as a driver not checking his or her blind spots before merging into another lane and swiping another vehicle at high speeds.

Rear-End Accidents

Rear-end accidents occur when one car slams into the back of another vehicle. In some cases, there may have been no way for the driver behind to react in time, but in other cases, the driver at the back may have been tailgating or clearly failed to reduce his or her speed. These kinds of accidents are often associated with head and spinal cord injuries due to the sudden force.

If you have been injured in a rear-end accident on I-55, be sure to seek out medical care as soon as possible. Symptoms of whiplash do not always present immediately, but a doctor may be able to identify and treat them early.

Head-On Collisions

A head-on collision involves two vehicles driving in opposite directions and crashing into each other. If there is a significant difference in the size of the vehicles, one driver may be put at more risk than the other. These kinds of accidents are known to cause fatalities. If you lost a family member to a head-on collision caused by someone else, you may be able to get compensation for funeral expenses, your pain and suffering, and long-term economic losses in a wrongful death claim (740 ILCS 180/2).

On highways like I-55, head-on collisions typically occur when a driver goes into the wrong lane of traffic, like driving north in a southbound lane. Often, these incidents can be traced back to driving under the influence.

Contact a Cook County, IL Car Accident Lawyer

On interstate roadways like I-55, you always run the risk of encountering a negligent driver. If you have been hurt in a rear-end, head-on, or rollover accident, reach out to the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C. today. Our Orland Park, IL personal injury attorney is open for free consultations. Call us at 708-321-1223.