Stearns School Road & Route 41 Intersection

According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 40 percent of all traffic wrecks in the U.S. happen at an intersection. The NHTSA found that almost all intersection crashes – about 96 percent – had a driver error-related cause or critical contributing factor. Difficult-to-navigate intersections increase the chances of drivers making mistakes that lead to a collision. 

If you are involved in a crash at Stearns School Road & Route 41 in Lake County, or anywhere else in the Chicago area, a Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard car accident lawyer is available to advocate for your rights. We have recovered over $2.5 billion for our deserving clients. Our firm can help you pursue the compensation you need from the at-fault driver or their insurance company. Contact us for a free initial case evaluation where you can speak with a car crash lawyer about your legal options.

Why Is the Stearns School Road & Route 41 Intersection So Dangerous? 

The intersection of Stearns School Road and Route 41 lies along a popular route to the nearby Gurnee Mills shopping center. Northbound traffic on Route 41 turning left onto Stearns School Road often includes traffic headed to Gurnee Mills. The northbound side of Route 41 has a left-turn loading bay that stretches back for several hundred feet, although left-turning traffic frequently extends past the loading bay. 

Unfortunately, the left turn lane does not have a dedicated turn signal, requiring drivers to wait for a safe opportunity to turn. Left-turning traffic often backs up due to heavy or high-speed traffic traveling southbound on Route 41, giving drivers few opportunities to turn left safely. Drivers turning left may become impatient after waiting long enough to turn and choose to make their turn in less-than-safe circumstances. 

How Dangerous Are the Crashes that Have Occurred at the Stearns School Road & Route 41 Intersection?

The dangers created by the traffic pattern at the intersection of Stearns School Road and Route 41 have led to multiple fatal or serious injury crashes. A few of the worst intersection crashes to have occurred in the past few years include:

  • Critical injuries – Three vehicles collided. The driver of one of the vehicles suffered critical injuries, and two crash victims needed first responders to extricate them from their vehicles, according to news reports. The critically injured driver got T-boned while attempting to turn left from the northbound left-turn lane onto Stearns School Road. 
  • Two deaths – The drivers of two vehicles reportedly died in a head-on collision on Route 41 about a half-mile north of Stearns Street Road. The southbound driver was driving south in the northbound lanes of Route 41. 
  • Fatal injuries – The driver of a vehicle traveling straight southbound on Route 41 suffered paralyzing injuries that ultimately proved fatal after colliding with a vehicle turning left onto Stearns School Road from the Route 41 northbound left turn lane, according to news reports.

Why Are Intersections So Dangerous?

Intersections can increase the risk of a collision between motor vehicles. Some of the most critical factors that create dangerous intersections include:

  • Poor visibility
  • Confusion of right of way
  • Distracted drivers
  • Irregular traffic patterns
  • Lack of traffic control devices giving left-turning traffic exclusive right of way
  • Drivers trying to beat the light
  • Lack of signage indicating turn-only lanes

What Are the Most Common Types of Intersection Crashes?

Since traffic intersects and creates the potential for conflicts between vehicles, these parts of the road see a wide range of crash types, including:

  • Side-impact/T-bone collisions – T-bone wrecks frequently occur at intersections, often due to a driver running a red light or stop sign or attempting a left turn in front of approaching traffic in the opposite lanes.
  • Rear-end collisions – Rear-end collisions can occur at an intersection when a driver stops for a red light or stop sign, and the driver behind them fails to brake in time, often due to distracted, intoxicated, or drowsy driving. 
  • Head-on collisions – Drivers may have head-on collisions near intersections when a driver mistakenly enters the opposing side of the road after traveling through an intersection.
  • Sideswipe collisions – A driver may hit the side of their vehicle against the side of another car when attempting an unsafe maneuver, such as changing lanes while traveling through an intersection or getting into or out of a turn-only lane quickly. 

What Are Some Common Injuries that Occur from Intersection Collisions?

An intersection crash can lead to severe injuries, especially when a vehicle gets hit on its side or a collision occurs at high speed. Some of the most common injuries that intersection crash victims suffer include: 

  • Dislocated joints
  • Sprains and strains
  • Broken bones
  • Whiplash
  • Herniated discs
  • Nerve damage
  • Internal injuries and bleeding
  • Facial injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
  • Amputation 

How Can Collisions at Intersections Be Avoided?

Tips that drivers should keep in mind to help reduce their chances of a crash at an intersection include:

  • Drive defensively by watching for traffic trying to beat the light, and never assume that vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians will obey traffic control devices.
  • Pay attention to signs and traffic control devices when approaching an intersection to ensure you understand the traffic flow.
  • Slow down when approaching an intersection, even if you don’t have a stop sign, so you have time to scan the area.
  • Watch out for pedestrians entering the intersection even if you don’t see a marked crosswalk. 
  • Check twice for oncoming traffic before entering an intersection, even if you have the right of way. 
  • Always use your turn signals and check your mirrors for oncoming pedestrians or cyclists before turning.
  • Never enter an intersection unless the rear of your vehicle can clear the intersection (i.e., don’t “block the box”).
  • Always come to a complete stop at stop signs.
  • Don’t try to beat a yellow light.

Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard Today for a Free Consultation

After getting injured in a car crash at Stearns School Road and Route 41, you deserve legal representation that will help secure compensation for your losses. Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Chicago car accident attorney. Let’s discuss how our firm can assist you in pursuing the money and justice you deserve.