Lombard Car Accident Lawyers

Dedicated Car Crash Attorneys Fighting for Injured Victims

Lombard, Illinois, sits at the crossroads of some of DuPage County’s busiest commercial corridors: Roosevelt Road, Butterfield Road, and Highland Avenue all converge in and around this community of roughly 44,000 residents. That convenience comes with a cost. Between heavy commuter traffic, retail congestion, and high-volume intersections, Lombard drivers face a real and measurable risk of being involved in a serious crash.

At John J. Malm & Associates, we have spent more than 100 years combined helping injury victims throughout DuPage County obtain the compensation they deserve. Our attorneys understand Illinois personal injury law, know how to investigate complex accident claims, and have successfully represented clients injured in collisions involving distracted drivers, drunk drivers, speeding motorists, commercial vehicles, and uninsured drivers.

How Common Are Car Accidents in Lombard and DuPage County?

Car accidents are not rare, isolated events in this part of Illinois, they are a daily occurrence across DuPage County, and Lombard’s major roadways contribute meaningfully to that total.

• Every year, more than 15,000 car accidents are reported across DuPage County, which works out to roughly one collision every 35 minutes, around the clock.
• Of those, more than 3,500 accidents cause injuries, and nearly 5,000 people are hurt annually as a result.
• On average, DuPage County sees more than 13 injury-causing crashes every single day, with a traffic fatality occurring roughly once a week.
• DuPage County recorded 46 traffic fatalities in 2021, a number that declined to 39 in 2022, still a significant toll for a single county.
• Statewide, Illinois traffic fatalities have been on a general upward trend since hitting a low point in 2011, with more than 1,300 deaths recorded in 2021 alone.

Locally, Lombard’s own crash data reflects the same pattern found across the county. Reported fatal crash data for Lombard shows multiple vehicles and drivers involved in fatal wrecks in recent reporting periods, with impaired driving cited as a contributing factor in a significant share of them.

Why Are Lombard’s Roads So Accident-Prone?

Several of the roads that run directly through or near Lombard rank among the most dangerous in DuPage County, according to an analysis of IDOT crash data spanning 2016 to 2024.

• Butterfield Road: This corridor connects Oak Brook, Wheaton, and Lombard, and its concentration of commercial districts creates constant congestion. Many crashes here are side-impact and rear-end collisions occurring at intersections, often linked to poorly timed traffic signals and abrupt lane changes.
• Roosevelt Road: A heavily traveled east-west route running through the western suburbs, Roosevelt Road sees frequent intersection crashes tied to high traffic volume and retail turn-ins.
• I-88 and Route 59: While slightly outside Lombard proper, these regional corridors funnel significant commuter and commercial truck traffic through the area, and both have consistently ranked among the roads with the highest number of fatal crashes countywide.

Beyond roadway design, a handful of driver behaviors show up again and again in crash reports:

• Speeding: Nationally, about one-third of all fatal crashes involve speeding, which reduces reaction time and increases the severity of impact.
• Impaired driving: Roughly one-third of fatal crashes across the U.S. involve a driver who had been drinking, a pattern reflected in Lombard’s own fatal crash data.
• Distracted driving: Texting, phone use, and general inattention remain leading contributors to rear-end and intersection collisions.
• Failure to yield: Particularly common at busy intersections and left-turn lanes, where drivers misjudge the speed or distance of oncoming traffic.
• Poor weather and visibility: Illinois winters bring snow, ice, and reduced visibility that compound the risks already present on congested roads.

Understanding Injury Severity in Crashes

Illinois classifies crash injuries using a three-tiered system, which matters a great deal when it comes to documenting a claim after an accident:

• Type A – Incapacitating Injury: Injuries that prevent the victim from performing activities they could manage before the crash, such as walking or driving. This category includes broken bones, skull injuries, abdominal trauma, and serious lacerations.
• Type B – Non-Incapacitating Injury: Visible injuries evident to witnesses at the scene, such as scrapes, cuts, bruises, and bumps.
• Type C – Reported, Not Evident: Injuries or symptoms that aren’t visibly apparent but are reported by the victim, including loss of consciousness, limping, pain, or nausea.

This classification system is significant because insurance adjusters and courts often look to it when evaluating the seriousness of a claim. A crash that looks minor on the surface can still involve a Type C injury, such as a concussion or a delayed-onset injury, that doesn’t fully present until days or weeks later.

Pedestrians and Vulnerable Road Users

Lombard’s dense commercial areas and shared parking lots also put pedestrians at elevated risk. Countywide, 2021 data recorded 112 pedestrian-involved accidents, resulting in seven deaths and 109 injuries, 23 of which were classified as incapacitating. Anyone walking near shopping centers along Roosevelt Road or Butterfield Road should stay especially alert near driveways and turn lanes, where visibility is often limited.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Lombard

Taking the right steps immediately after a crash can protect both your health and your ability to recover compensation later.

• Call 911. Even if injuries seem minor, get medical attention and ensure police respond to document the scene.
• Document everything. Take photos of vehicle damage, road conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries.
• Exchange information. Collect the other driver’s name, contact details, insurance information, and license plate number.
• Identify witnesses. Get contact information from anyone who saw the crash happen.
• Avoid discussing fault at the scene. Statements made in the moment can be used against you later, even if you didn’t mean them that way.
• Seek medical follow-up. Some injuries, especially soft-tissue and head injuries, don’t show symptoms right away.
• Consult an experienced Lombard injury attorney before speaking with insurance adjusters. Insurance companies are not obligated to look out for your best interests, and early statements can affect your claim.

Illinois’ Fault and Compensation Rules

Illinois follows a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51% bar to recovery. In practice, this means:

• If you are found to be 50% or less at fault for an accident, you can still recover damages, though your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
• If you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering any compensation.
• Damages may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and, in cases involving extreme disregard for safety, such as a DUI crash, punitive damages.

Because fault percentages are often contested by insurance companies, having a clear, well-documented account of the accident is critical to protecting your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lombard Car Accidents

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Illinois?

In most cases, Illinois law allows two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Claims involving a government entity or a wrongful death may have different, often shorter, deadlines, so it’s important to consult an attorney as soon as possible.

What if the other driver didn’t have insurance?

You may be able to file an uninsured motorist claim through your own auto policy. If the at-fault driver had insufficient coverage to pay for your damages, an underinsured motorist claim may apply instead. Both types of claims involve specific notice requirements, so timing matters.

Will I still be able to recover damages if I was partly at fault?

Yes, as long as you are found to be 50% or less at fault. Illinois’ modified comparative negligence rule reduces your compensation by your percentage of fault, but does not eliminate it unless you are 51% or more responsible for the crash.

What roads in the Lombard area see the most accidents?

Butterfield Road and Roosevelt Road are consistently identified as high-crash corridors due to heavy commercial traffic, frequent turning movements, and congested intersections. Nearby highways such as I-88 also see elevated crash volumes.

Do I need a lawyer if the insurance company already offered me a settlement?

An early settlement offer is often lower than what a claim may actually be worth, particularly if injuries are still developing or if long-term medical needs haven’t been fully assessed. It’s worth having an attorney review any offer before you accept it.

Contact the Elite Lombard Car Accident Attorneys at John J. Malm & Associates

Car accidents in Lombard and across DuPage County are not just statistics, they are life-altering events for the people and families who live through them. A single collision on Butterfield Road or Roosevelt Road can mean months of medical treatment, missed work, and mounting bills, all stemming from another driver’s momentary lapse in judgment. Illinois law gives injured people a path toward fair compensation, but the process is rarely simple, and insurance companies are rarely in a hurry to offer what a claim is truly worth.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a car accident in Lombard, don’t navigate the aftermath alone. Contact our firm today for a free consultation, and let our experienced team put its preparation, resources, and courtroom-ready approach to work for you.