The Most Dangerous Intersections in Cicero
Suffering an injury at a busy junction like Cermak and Cicero is overwhelming. At Dixon Law Office, founder G. Grant Dixon III brings a personal perspective to your case. Having been struck and injured by a negligent driver while cycling, he knows the specific physical and legal challenges you face. He is ready to fight to make it right for you.
Cicero, Illinois, is a bustling community located just west of Chicago, with major thoroughfares that connect countless commuters, families, and commercial vehicles every day. Unfortunately, with heavy traffic comes an increased risk of car accidents, particularly at some of the town’s most congested and dangerous intersections. Understanding where these high-risk areas are located and knowing what to do if you’re involved in an accident can protect both your safety and your legal rights.
If you or a family member suffered a serious injury in a car accident at a Cicero intersection, hiring an experienced Cicero car accident lawyer can make a crucial difference in your recovery and compensation. Contact Dixon Law Office today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.
Why Certain Cicero Intersections Are More Dangerous
Before examining specific locations, it’s important to understand what makes certain intersections particularly hazardous. Several factors contribute to elevated accident rates at busy crossroads, including:
- High traffic volume, especially during rush hours when drivers are hurried and stressed.
- Complex intersection designs with multiple turn lanes, merge points, and traffic signals.
- Poor visibility due to inadequate lighting, obstructed sightlines from buildings or weather conditions.
- Aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding, running red lights, and failing to yield are more common at busy intersections where impatient drivers take dangerous risks.
- Distracted driving remains a leading cause of intersection accidents, as drivers checking phones or adjusting controls fail to notice traffic signals or other vehicles.
In Cicero, these factors combine at several key intersections to create particularly dangerous conditions for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists alike.
Cermak Road and Cicero Avenue
Cermak Road and Cicero Avenue remains the highest-crash intersection in town according to the most recent Cicero Safety Action Plan. In 2024 alone, Cicero Avenue saw over 2,500 accidents resulting in hundreds of injuries. This junction is particularly dangerous because it funnels heavy truck traffic toward industrial hubs and Midway Airport. This intersection sees extraordinarily high traffic volume as two major arterial roads converge, serving as a critical junction for both local and through traffic.
Cermak Road, also known as 22nd Street, is a major east-west corridor that connects numerous Chicago suburbs and carries heavy commercial and commuter traffic throughout the day. Cicero Avenue runs north-south and serves as a vital route for residents and businesses accessing destinations throughout the western suburbs and Chicago proper. When these two busy roads intersect, the result is a complex traffic situation that challenges even experienced drivers.
Several factors make this intersection particularly hazardous. The sheer volume of vehicles passing through creates constant pressure and congestion, leading to aggressive driving behaviors. Drivers frequently run red lights attempting to beat the signal or make it through before cross-traffic begins moving.
Left-turn accidents are common as drivers misjudge gaps in oncoming traffic or fail to yield the right of way. Large commercial trucks and buses regularly navigate this intersection, creating blind spots and requiring wider turning radii that can catch passenger vehicle drivers off guard.
31st Street and Cicero Avenue
Another dangerous intersection in Cicero is the junction of 31st Street and Cicero Avenue. While perhaps not as congested as Cermak and Cicero, this intersection presents its own unique hazards that result in frequent accidents.
This location serves both residential and commercial areas, creating a mix of local traffic and through traffic that can lead to unpredictable driving patterns. Drivers familiar with the area may drive more aggressively, assuming they know the signal timing, while unfamiliar drivers may hesitate or make sudden decisions that cause collisions.
Common accident types at this intersection include rear-end collisions when drivers fail to stop in time for red lights or for vehicles ahead of them making turns. Side-impact or T-bone accidents occur when drivers run red lights or fail to yield when making left turns across traffic. Sideswipe accidents happen when drivers change lanes without checking blind spots or misjudge the space available during turns.
Intersections at 31st Street, Roosevelt Road, and Ogden Avenue pose a disproportionate risk to pedestrians. Recent data shows that while pedestrians and cyclists are involved in only 3% of total crashes in Cicero, they account for 37% of fatal and serious injuries. School-aged youth are particularly overrepresented in these statistics, often getting hit in busy commercial and school zones.
Other High-Risk Intersections in Cicero
While Cermak and Cicero Avenue and 31st Street and Cicero Avenue are among the most dangerous, several other intersections throughout Cicero warrant caution:
Roosevelt Road intersections, particularly where Roosevelt crosses major north-south routes, see heavy traffic and frequent accidents.
Ogden Avenue intersections present challenges due to the diagonal orientation of Ogden, which creates unusual traffic patterns and blind spots. 16th Street intersections near commercial districts experience high accident rates due to congestion and drivers entering and exiting parking lots.
Laramie Avenue intersections can be hazardous where this busy north-south route crosses major east-west streets.
Each of these locations shares common characteristics including high traffic volume, complex traffic patterns, and a history of accidents resulting from driver negligence.
Common Causes of Intersection Accidents in Cicero
Understanding the typical causes of intersection accidents can help drivers stay safe and can
also establish liability when accidents occur. Common causes of intersection accidents include:
- Running red lights or stop signs
- Failure to yield the right of way when making left turns or when entering an intersection
- Distracted driving, including texting, eating, or adjusting vehicle controls
- Speeding through intersections
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
When accidents occur due to these negligent behaviors, injured victims have the right to seek compensation for their damages.
Why You Should Hire a Cicero Car Accident Lawyer
After an intersection accident in Cicero, hiring an experienced car accident lawyer provides numerous critical advantages:
Establishing Liability
Determining fault in intersection accidents can be complex, especially when multiple vehicles are involved or when both drivers claim they had the right of way. Your attorney will analyze police reports, witness statements, traffic laws, and physical evidence to build a compelling case that establishes the other driver’s liability. This is particularly important in Illinois, which follows a modified comparative negligence rule that can reduce your compensation if you’re found partially at fault.
Dealing with Insurance Companies
Insurance companies have one primary goal: paying as little as possible on claims. They employ adjusters and lawyers whose job is to minimize liability and devalue your injuries. Without legal representation, you’re at a significant disadvantage when negotiating with these professionals. Your car accident lawyer handles all communications with insurance companies, protects you from tactics designed to undermine your claim, and negotiates aggressively for fair compensation.
Navigating Legal Deadlines and Procedures
Illinois law imposes a two-year statute of limitations for car accident claims, and missing this deadline typically bars you from recovering compensation. Additionally, car accident cases involve numerous procedural requirements, discovery deadlines, and court rules. Hablamos su idioma. We understand that many Cicero families prefer to discuss these life-altering events in Spanish. Beyond legal advice, we help you navigate the immediate aftermath—such as obtaining your crash report through the Cicero Police Department administrative office or online via CRASHDOCS.ORG. Speak to a Cicero Intersection Accident Lawyer today.
Speak to a Cicero Intersection Accident Lawyer
The dangerous intersections of Cicero, Illinois, particularly high-risk crossroads like Cermak Road and Cicero Avenue and 31st Street and Cicero Avenue, see far too many preventable accidents each year. These collisions result from driver negligence, dangerous road conditions, and the inherent risks of high-traffic urban intersections. If you’ve been injured in an intersection accident in Cicero, you don’t have to face the aftermath alone.
Hiring an experienced Cicero intersection accident lawyer with Dixon Law Office provides the investigation, expertise, and advocacy you need to hold negligent drivers accountable and recover the compensation you deserve. Contact our office today to schedule a free case review.
