Interstate Truck Accidents on I-88

Interstate 88 or I-88 is a vital east-west highway that starts at an Interstate 80 interchange near Moline and Silvis to an interchange with Interstates 294 and 290 near Chicago. Many truck drivers use this corridor as an alternate route to I-80 to cross northern Illinois. As a result, truck accidents on this highway are prevalent.

If you were injured in a truck accident on I-88, you could be entitled to compensation for your losses. The dedicated attorneys of Salvi Schostok & Pritchard can help you seek the money you are owed and hold negligent parties in the trucking industry accountable.

Where Is Interstate 88?

Before it was designated an interstate highway in 1987, Interstate 88 was known as Illinois Route 5 (IL 5), and before that, it was known as IL 190. Today, I-88, also known as the Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, is an alternative route to I-80 between the Quad Cities region and Chicago.

I-88 is more than 140 miles long, beginning at an interchange with I-80 near Silvis in the west and running east to Chicago. Along the way, I-88 also cuts through Aurora, DeKalb, Dixon, Naperville, Rochelle, Rock Falls, and Sterling.

Major Roads That Intersect with I-88

Some of the major highways that intersect with I-88 in Illinois include:

Interstate 39 – This major north-south highway runs from Normal in central Illinois to the town of Rib Mountain in central Wisconsin.
Interstate 80 – This east-west interstate crosses nearly the entire continental United States, stretching all the way from San Francisco, CA to Teaneck, NJ. Here in Illinois, the I-80 enters western Illinois just southwest of Rapids City, then cuts eastward through East Moline and the south side of Chicago.
Interstate 81 – This relatively short highway stretches across just over 25 miles of northwest Illinois, running from just west of Andover all the way east to Kewanee.
Interstate 90 – This interstate stretches southeast from the northwest of Illinois to the southeast of Chicago before crossing into Indiana.

I-88 Accident Reports

Here are the reports from some devastating local accidents that have occurred recently along I-88 in Illinois:

Aurora cargo spill truck accident – In late 2021, a semi-trailer transporting salt was involved in an Interstate 88 accident near Aurora, leaving one person with severe injuries. Reports say the truck’s trailer became detached from the vehicle, burst open, and spilled salt across the interstate. As a result, the truck rolled over and ended up in a roadside ditch.
Fatal accident in Naperville – A two-vehicle crash on I-88 near Naperville in March of 2021 resulted in multiple injuries and left one person dead. According to local police, one vehicle rear-ended the other, and both vehicles caught fire as a result. The drivers of both vehicles were taken to nearby hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Unfortunately, an unnamed passenger in the second vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.
Aurora two-car accident –In November 2021, a two-vehicle I-88 accident in Aurora resulted in one person being ejected from their vehicle. The person who was ejected was reportedly unresponsive at the crash scene and later taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Local police were forced to shut down the roadway for several hours.
Fatal accident in Rochelle – In February 2022, a two-vehicle accident on I-88 left a Tinley Park man dead. According to reports, the man was traveling west on I-88 when he stopped for no apparent reason. Soon after, a tractor-trailer collided with the rear end of the man’s vehicle. The truck driver remained uninjured, but the local man was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Common Causes of Accidents on I-88

Here are some common causes of Interstate 88 road collisions:

Distracted driving – Drivers focused on text messages, phone calls, or other distractions are far more likely to overlook other road users and crash.
Driving under the influence – Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol, illicit drugs, or even some legal medications can experience dangerous side effects that make it unsafe to drive. These impairments can include loss of visual focus, depth perception, reaction time, and fine motor control.
Drowsy driving – According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the cognitive effects of just 24 hours of sleep deprivation are equivalent to the effects of a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the legal limit.
Speeding and reckless driving – When drivers exceed the speed limit or engage in reckless behaviors such as lane weaving, they leave themselves with less room for error and increase the risk of high-speed collisions.
Driver errors – Drivers who are inexperienced, elderly, or simply confused can commit dangerous errors such as failure to yield, which can easily result in devastating I-88 accidents.
Poor road conditions – Poor I-88 road conditions such as inadequate draining, excessive potholes, or missing signage can lead to loss of control and contribute to crashes.
Vehicle defects – When critical components such as tires, brakes, or airbags are defective, they can fail in transit and contribute to loss-of-control wrecks.

How You Can Stay Safe on I-88

You can do your part to keep I-88 safe and avoid preventable accidents by following these essential safety tips:

Prevent distractions before they happen by putting your phone away
Never drive when you are drunk, high, or otherwise impaired
Avoid driving when you are drowsy and take frequent breaks as needed
Avoid highway driving in adverse weather conditions such as snow or ice
Take care on I-88 entrance ramps, and be sure to signal before merging
Drive at a safe speed based on the flow of traffic and ambient road conditions
If you need to pass another vehicle, pass on the left, never the right
Leave plenty of space between your vehicle and the vehicles ahead of you
Be aware of other drivers’ blind spots and do your best to stay out of them

Contact Salvi Schostok & Pritchard Today

Have you or a loved one been injured in a truck accident on I-88 in Illinois? The truck accident lawyers of Salvi Schostok & Pritchard have the resources and experience needed to help you seek compensation to help you get back on your feet. Contact us today to discuss the details of your accident during a free initial case review.