A multi-vehicle crash on North Broadway Street in Joliet left two drivers with life-threatening injuries in late January. Head-on collisions like this one are among the most dangerous crashes on Illinois roads, and traumatic brain injuries are a frequent result.
What Happened on Broadway Street
According to reporting from Joliet Patch, a 31-year-old Lockport driver traveling northbound on North Broadway Street lost control near Ingalls Avenue and crossed the center line into oncoming traffic. The vehicle struck a southbound Honda HR-V head-on, then hit two more vehicles before leaving the roadway.
Four drivers were involved. The Lockport driver was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. A 17-year-old Addison driver had to be extricated from a Ford Focus and was airlifted to Good Samaritan Hospital with life-threatening injuries. A 23-year-old Plainfield driver was treated for injuries described as non-life-threatening, and a 66-year-old Naperville resident declined medical treatment at the scene. Police are still investigating why the vehicle crossed the center line.
Why Head-On Collisions So Often Cause Brain Injuries
In a head-on crash, the closing speed of the two vehicles combines. Two cars each traveling 40 miles per hour collide with far more force than either would experience striking a fixed object. The occupants’ bodies stop abruptly. The brain does not.
Even when the skull never touches anything, the brain can slam against the inside of the skull, stretch, twist, and bleed. That movement can produce injuries ranging from a concussion to permanent cognitive impairment. The CDC lists motor vehicle crashes among the most common causes of traumatic brain injury in the United States.
Common brain injuries after high-speed collisions include:
- Concussions, which can produce lingering symptoms for weeks or months
- Contusions, or bruising of brain tissue at the point of impact
- Diffuse axonal injuries, caused by violent rotation or deceleration
- Brain bleeds and hematomas, which can become life-threatening without prompt treatment
Symptoms Do Not Always Appear Right Away
One detail from this crash deserves attention. One of the drivers declined medical treatment at the scene. That is a common choice after a collision, and sometimes it turns out fine. But brain injuries do not always announce themselves immediately.
Adrenaline masks pain. Swelling and bleeding inside the skull can develop over hours or days. A person who felt shaken but functional on the roadside may notice headaches, confusion, memory problems, mood changes, or sleep disturbances later in the week. Anyone involved in a significant collision should be evaluated by a physician, even without obvious symptoms. Prompt evaluation protects your health first. It also creates the medical record that a later injury claim will depend on.
Families dealing with a serious head injury after a crash like this often have questions about fault, insurance, and long-term care costs. A Naperville, IL traumatic brain injury lawyer can review the facts and explain what a claim may involve.
Who May Be Liable After a Center-Line Crash
When a driver crosses the center line and strikes oncoming traffic, liability often rests with that driver. But the analysis rarely stops there. Investigators and attorneys look at distraction, impairment, speed, vehicle defects, road conditions, and medical events behind the wheel. Each possibility can change who pays and how much insurance coverage is available. In crashes involving multiple vehicles and catastrophic injuries, the available policy limits frequently fall short of the true cost of care, which makes identifying every responsible party important.
Speak With a Naperville Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
A brain injury can change a person’s ability to work, think, and care for their family. The medical costs alone can be staggering, and they often continue for years. At Disparti Law Group, we represent crash victims throughout Illinois, and our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients. If you or someone you love suffered a head injury in a collision, a Naperville traumatic brain injury lawyer at our firm can evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
