Table of Contents
A driver who makes an unsafe or illegal U-turn can be held responsible for the injuries that crash causes. If a U-turning driver hit you in Joliet, you may have the right to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
U-turn crashes happen fast, and the other driver's insurance company may try to shift some or all of the blame onto you. Our Joliet U-turn car accident lawyer at Conboy Law can investigate what happened, identify every liable party, and handle the insurance claim while you focus on healing.
Call 312-726-9000 today for a free case evaluation.
How Conboy Law Can Help After a U-Turn Car Accident in Joliet
Fault in a U-turn crash is rarely as simple as it looks. Insurance companies often argue that the other driver should have slowed down or seen the turn coming, so your claim needs strong evidence from the start.
Conboy Law was founded by Joseph M. Conboy, who was selected to Rising Stars from 2019 to 2022. When you work with our firm, you get:
- A founding attorney who belongs to the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, and the Illinois State Bar Association
- Published auto accident results, including a $1.5 million settlement for a pedestrian struck in a crosswalk
- A $2.6 million result for injuries from a multi-vehicle crash and a record $2.5 million settlement in Grundy County involving a car and a truck
- Representation on a contingency fee basis, with phones answered 24/7
You can review more of our case results, though past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. If your crash also involved a commercial truck or rideshare driver, our Joliet car accident lawyer team can pursue every insurance policy that may apply.
How Common Are U-Turn Car Accidents in Joliet, IL?
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) does not track U-turn crashes as their own category. Instead, they fall under turning collisions, one of the most common crash types in the state.
According to the IDOT 2024 Illinois Crash Facts & Statistics report, the state recorded:
- 54,608 turning collisions statewide, including 131 fatal crashes and 13,960 injury crashes
- 13,570 total crashes in Will County, which includes Joliet
- 56 fatal crashes and 2,972 injury crashes in Will County
- 250 Will County crashes that caused an incapacitating injury
These injuries carry real financial weight. Based on National Safety Council estimates, IDOT valued each incapacitating injury at $171,925 in 2024.
When Is a U-Turn Illegal in Illinois?
Illinois does not ban U-turns outright. State law allows them only when a driver can complete the turn safely.
The Safety Rule Under 625 ILCS 5/11-802(a)
Under 625 ILCS 5/11-802, a driver may not turn to travel in the opposite direction unless the move can be made safely and without interfering with other traffic. A driver who cuts across your lane, forces you to brake, or pulls into your path may have violated this rule.
The 500-Foot Visibility Rule on Curves and Hills
The same statute bars U-turns on a curve or near the crest of a hill when approaching drivers cannot see the turning vehicle within 500 feet. This rule matters on blind stretches of road where oncoming drivers have no time to react.
Signal and Yield Rules That Also Apply
Other Illinois traffic laws often apply to the same maneuver, including:
- A turn signal given continuously for at least the last 100 feet in a business or residence district, or the last 200 feet elsewhere, under 625 ILCS 5/11-804
- A duty to yield to oncoming vehicles close enough to be an immediate hazard when turning left at an intersection or into a driveway, under 625 ILCS 5/11-902
Who Is at Fault in a Joliet U-Turn Accident?
The driver making the U-turn is often responsible because Illinois law requires that driver to turn safely. Still, fault depends on the facts, and more than one party can share it.
When the U-Turning Driver Is Liable
A U-turning driver may be liable for a crash if they:
- Turned without enough room or time to clear oncoming traffic
- Failed to yield to a vehicle close enough to be an immediate hazard
- Skipped their turn signal
- Turned on a curve or hill with limited visibility
When the Other Driver Shares Fault
The insurer may argue that you were speeding, distracted, or could have avoided the turning vehicle. Those arguments can reduce a claim, so we examine the evidence before accepting any fault percentage.
Other Parties Who May Be Responsible
Some U-turn crashes involve an employer whose driver was on the job, a rideshare driver, or a government agency that owns the vehicle. Identifying every responsible party can open access to more than one insurance policy.
What Is My Joliet U-Turn Car Accident Case Worth?
No lawyer can give you an honest case value before reviewing the evidence. Several factors usually shape what a U-turn claim is worth:
- The severity of your injuries and your long-term prognosis
- The length and cost of your medical treatment
- Income you lost while recovering
- The percentage of fault assigned to each driver
- The insurance coverage available
Available insurance often sets a practical limit. According to the Illinois Department of Insurance, Illinois requires minimum liability coverage of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident, and $20,000 for property damage.
Illinois also sets minimum uninsured motorist bodily injury limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. That coverage can matter if the other driver doesn't have insurance.
What Types of Damages Are Available After a U-Turn Car Accident?
An injury claim may include both economic and non-economic damages, depending on the evidence.
Economic Damages
Economic damages cover losses with a clear dollar value, such as:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle repair or replacement costs
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages reflect how the crash changed your daily life, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Loss of a normal life
Can I Recover Damages If I'm Being Blamed for a U-Turn Car Accident in Illinois?
Yes, as long as your share of fault is not more than 50%. Under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116, recovery is barred only when your fault is more than 50% of the cause, and any award is reduced by your percentage of fault.
Here is how that rule works with $100,000 in damages:
- At 20% fault, you could recover $80,000
- At 50% fault, you could recover $50,000
- At 51% fault, you would recover nothing
Insurers may raise other fault arguments, such as speeding, distraction, or failing to react reasonably. We challenge allegations that are not supported by the evidence.
We'll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your U-Turn Car Accident Injuries
U-turn crashes often lead to side-impact and head-on collisions, which can cause serious harm even at moderate speeds. Our team pursues compensation for injuries such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions
- Neck and back injuries, including herniated discs
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Cuts, burns, and scarring
Some injuries, like concussions and internal bleeding, may not cause symptoms right away. Seeing a doctor promptly protects your health and creates a record linking your injuries to the crash.
What Causes Most U-Turn Car Accidents in Joliet, IL?
Most U-turn crashes come down to a driver misjudging the space and time needed to turn around. Common causes include:
- Misjudging the speed or distance of oncoming traffic
- Turning where parked cars, buildings, or hills block the view
- Distracted driving, including phone use
- Ignoring signs that prohibit U-turns
- Starting the turn from the wrong lane or the shoulder
- Rushing to turn around after missing an exit or address
Impatience plays a role, too. A driver who turns around instead of continuing to a safer spot puts everyone nearby at risk.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a U-Turn Car Accident in Illinois?
A negligence claim generally requires showing that the other driver owed you a duty of care, breached it, and caused injuries that led to real losses. In U-turn cases, a traffic law violation can help show that breach.
Evidence disappears quickly after a crash, so these steps matter:
- Get a copy of the police crash report
- Photograph the scene, including road signs, sightlines, and vehicle damage
- Collect names and contact details from witnesses
- Ask nearby businesses to preserve security video before it is recorded over
- Keep every medical record, bill, and treatment note
- Talk to a Joliet U-turn accident attorney about accident reconstruction if fault is disputed
Our team can take on this work for you, including requesting footage and working with reconstruction experts when a case calls for it.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a U-Turn Car Accident in Illinois?
In most cases, you have 2 years from the date of the crash. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, personal injury actions must be filed within 2 years after the cause of action accrues.
The deadline is shorter when a local government is involved. Under 745 ILCS 10/8-101, most civil actions against a local public entity or its employees must be filed within 1 year from the injury or the date the cause of action accrued.
Joliet crash cases may be filed at the Will County Courthouse in downtown Joliet. Read more about the Illinois statute of limitations for personal injury before your deadline gets close.
Contact Our Joliet U-Turn Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Case Evaluation
You should not have to prove what the other driver did wrong while you recover. Our Joliet U-turn car accident lawyer at Conboy Law can review your crash, explain your options under Illinois law, and deal with the insurance companies for you.
We handle injury cases on a contingency fee basis, and your case evaluation costs nothing. Call 312-726-9000 today to talk with our team about your Joliet U-turn crash.
Joseph M. Conboy is the founding attorney of Conboy Law and represents victims and families in serious personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases throughout Illinois. He has obtained numerous multi-million-dollar results and has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star. As the firm’s primary litigator, he works closely with clients to build strategies tailored to the facts of each case.
