Illinois Roundabout Accident Lawyers

Attorneys for Side-Swipes and Rear-End Crashes in Roundabouts Throughout Illinois

Roundabouts are becoming more common across Illinois as traffic engineers and safety advocates seek ways to reduce severe crashes and improve traffic flow. While modern roundabouts are proven to lower the number and severity of collisions when compared with traditional signalized or stop-controlled intersections, car accidents still occur, sometimes with serious injuries or fatalities.

At John J. Malm & Associates, we understand that being injured in a roundabout accident can be confusing, stressful, and life-changing. Our Illinois car crash injury attorneys are committed to guiding victims through the legal process with compassion, clarity, and aggressive advocacy. With years of experience handling complex traffic and intersection cases throughout the state, we know how to investigate collisions, preserve critical evidence, and hold negligent drivers, municipalities, or other responsible parties accountable. When your safety, recovery, and rights are on the line, our team stands ready to fight for the full compensation you deserve.

“Roundabouts can make roads safer when they are well designed and maintained, but serious crashes still occur, sometimes because of driver error and sometimes because of design or maintenance problems. If you or a family member were injured in a roundabout collision, get advice from an attorney who understands both traffic engineering and how to hold negligent drivers or agencies accountable.” — John J. Malm, Naperville car crash attorney

What is a Roundabout?

A roundabout is a circular intersection design that directs traffic counterclockwise around a central island. Entering traffic yields to circulating vehicles, and geometric design (deflection, splitter islands) slows approach speeds. Transportation authorities promote modern roundabouts because they reduce conflict points (places where vehicle paths cross) and force lower vehicle speeds through intersections, changes that greatly reduce the likelihood of high-energy angle and head-on crashes that typically cause serious injury or death. Multiple federal and peer-reviewed studies show consistent crash reductions after converting signals or stop-controlled intersections to roundabouts, especially for injury and fatal crashes.

Do Roundabouts Reduce Crashes?

When evaluating the safety effect of roundabouts, researchers compare crash counts before and after construction. Key findings include:

• A seminal IIHS study found an average reduction of roughly 38% in all crashes when using roundabouts, a 76% reduction in injury crashes, and about a 90% reduction in fatal and incapacitating injury crashes after converting conventional intersections to modern roundabouts.
• The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports similar ranges. Many studies about the FHWA show reductions in severe crashes up to 80–90%, with more modest reductions in total crash counts because roundabouts often increase low-speed sideswipe or rear-end contacts while greatly reducing high-speed angle collisions.
• A meta-analysis and before-after studies across rural and urban settings reported total-crash reductions commonly in the 30–70% range and very large reductions in injury crashes (often over 70%). These results are consistent enough that roundabouts are considered a prime countermeasure for reducing intersection-related severe crashes.

Why Roundabout Accidents Still Cause Serious Injuries

Roundabouts are safer on average because they reduce severe conflict types and lower speeds, but serious injuries can still occur when:

• A vehicle enters at higher-than-designed speed or the roundabout geometry is inadequate for the traffic mix.
• A driver fails to yield (improper entering), is distracted, or is intoxicated.
• Multi-lane roundabouts create lane-choice errors where drivers change lanes inside the circular roadway.
• Vulnerable road users (pedestrians, older adults, cyclists, scooter riders) are struck due to poor crossing design or lack of visibility.
• Design or maintenance deficiencies, such as inadequate signage, faded pavement markings, poor lighting, or damaged curbs are present, as they reduce the roundabout’s effectiveness.

Liability can arise from negligent driving, but also from negligent design, construction defects, or municipal failure to maintain signage and pavement markings.

Common Crash Types in Roundabouts

Even though overall injury and fatal crashes decline after installation, roundabouts have characteristic crash types that are commonly seen:

• Entering-circulating collisions: drivers who fail to yield on entry and collide with circulating vehicles. These crashes can still produce serious injuries if speeds are high.
• Sideswipe and rear-end collisions: low-speed contact as vehicles adjust speed in the circular lane or slow for other vehicles. These crashes are usually less severe but can still cause injuries.
• Run-off-roundabout / single-vehicle crashes: drivers lose control and strike the central island, curbing, or roadside objects. Often associated with excessive speed or impaired driving. These can be more severe and sometimes involve vulnerable road users like bicyclists or pedestrians.
• Vehicle-pedestrian or bicycle conflicts: multi-lane roundabouts or poorly designed pedestrian crossings can create risk for non-motorized users if splitter islands and refuge areas are inadequate. Proper geometry, signage, and visibility are essential to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

Understanding these crash types helps investigators reconstruct fault and helps injured parties and lawyers collect the right evidence (video, scene measurements, witness statements, and speed or telemetry data).

Who Can Be at Fault in Roundabout Collisions?

Potentially liable parties vary by case:

• Other drivers: for failure to yield, distracted or impaired driving, aggressive maneuvers.
• Municipalities or DOTs: for negligent design, improper traffic control devices, or poor maintenance. Governments have limited waiver/notice rules and sovereign immunity considerations that plaintiffs must navigate promptly.
• Contractors or engineers: for construction defects or failure to meet design standards can create liability under product or professional negligence theories.
• Vehicle manufacturers: for defective brakes, steering components, or advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) failures may be implicated.

Evidence and Investigation in an Illinois Roundabout Accident Case

Proving fault and damages requires a prompt, systematic investigation. Important evidence includes:

• Police crash reports (who was cited, witness statements, initial diagrams).
• Traffic camera or dashcam video showing the sequence of events and speeds.
• Vehicle data (ECU event data recorder information) for speed and brake inputs.
• Scene photographs and measurements (skid marks, final rest positions, vehicle damage pattern).
• Design and maintenance records (plans, as-built drawings, signage logs, lighting maintenance, pavement marking schedules).
• Expert analysis by accident reconstructionists, traffic engineers, and biomechanical or medical experts to explain causation and injury mechanisms.
• Medical records and billing statements documenting injuries and treatment.

Experienced Illinois car accident attorneys and investigators preserve perishable evidence (camera footage, controller logs) immediately because municipalities and private entities may overwrite or erase recordings. Timely preservation letters and discovery requests are often necessary.

Steps to Take If You Were Injured in a Roundabout Accident

• Seek medical care immediately and follow all treatment recommendations. Your health is the top priority and medical records are critical evidence.
• Preserve evidence: take photos of the scene, your vehicle, injuries, and any signage or road markings. Note the time, weather, and any witnesses.
• Try to obtain video: dashcam, traffic cameras, surveillance, and nearby video footage, then preserve it quickly (request copies or ask a lawyer to send preservation letters).
• Get the police report and record names and badge numbers of responding officers.
• Do not give recorded statements to insurers without consulting counsel; insurers often seek early recorded statements to minimize liability.
• Contact an experienced Illinois car accident attorney who understands intersection geometry, roundabout design, reconstruction, and government claims processes in Illinois. An attorney can preserve evidence, identify possible design or maintenance defects, and advise on sovereign-immunity notice requirements if a government entity may be responsible.

Frequently Asked Questions about Roundabout Accidents

Q: What if a city designed the roundabout poorly, can the city be sued?
A: Possibly, but suing a government entity involves special notice and timing rules and may require showing the design or maintenance violated standards or was negligently implemented. Consult a lawyer quickly to preserve claims and meet any notice deadlines.

Q: Can a driver be at fault for not yielding at a roundabout?
A: Yes. Drivers entering a roundabout must yield to circulating traffic unless signs or signals say otherwise; failure to yield that causes a crash can make the entering driver liable.

Q: Are pedestrians and bicyclists safe at roundabouts?
A: Properly designed roundabouts can be safer for pedestrians because crossing distances are shorter and vehicle speeds are lower. However, multi-lane roundabouts and poor pedestrian treatments can create hazards; designers use splitter islands, crosswalk set-backs, and clear signage to protect non-motorized users.

Contact the 5-Star Rated Illinois Roundabout Accident Lawyers at John J. Malm & Associates

If you or a loved one were injured in a roundabout crash in Illinois, don’t wait to act. Preserve any video and physical evidence, document your medical care, and contact the experienced Illinois car accident lawyers at John J. Malm & Associates. We know how to investigate roundabout geometry, reconstruct collisions, and pursue claims against drivers, contractors, designers, or government entities when appropriate. Our firm can help gather evidence, coordinate with reconstruction and traffic-engineering experts, and pursue full compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.

Contact us today for a free consultation. We will review your case, explain your legal options, preserve time-sensitive evidence, and advise you on the next steps toward recovery and justice.