Gurnee, IL (March 7, 2026) — Emergency crews from several Lake County agencies responded to a serious multi-vehicle crash on Saturday afternoon, March 7, at the busy intersection of US-45 and Washington Street.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Forest Preserve Ranger Police, and the Gurnee Fire Department arrived to find multiple vehicles with heavy damage blocking the intersection. Due to the number of victims reporting injuries, a second ambulance was immediately requested to the scene. Paramedics provided on-site triage before transporting at least two individuals to local hospitals. The severity of their injuries has not yet been confirmed.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the cause of the crash.
Our thoughts remain with those hurt in this accident as they work towards recovery.
Your Legal Rights After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Illinois
Illinois follows a "Modified Comparative Negligence" system, specifically the 51% Bar Rule. This means you have the right to recover damages for your injuries as long as you are found to be 50% or less at fault for the accident.
If a jury or insurance adjuster determines that you are 51% or more responsible for the collision, you are legally prohibited from recovering any compensation. If you are partially at fault (e.g., 20%), your total settlement will be reduced by that same percentage.
Victims of multi-car pileups have the right to seek "make-whole" compensation, which is divided into two categories: Economic and Non-Economic damages. Economic damages cover tangible losses such as hospital bills, physical therapy costs, and lost wages from missed work. Non-Economic damages compensate you for intangible losses, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In complex multi-vehicle scenes, identifying the "initiating" driver is crucial for determining which insurance policy is responsible for these payments.
For passengers involved in the crash, the legal path is often more direct. Passengers are rarely at fault for a collision and have the right to file a claim against the insurance policies of any or all drivers involved whose negligence contributed to the crash.
In Illinois, if you are an injured passenger, your medical bills may initially be covered by Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage if it is included in your own policy or the policy of the vehicle you were riding in, regardless of who caused the accident.
Finally, you have the right to a thorough investigation. Because multi-vehicle accidents often involve conflicting stories, evidence like traffic camera footage, "black box" data from the vehicles, and the official Traffic Crash Report are vital. In Illinois, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
If you have doubts after a multi-vehicle crash, we can help explain available options. Our legal team at The Law Office of Jack M. Shapiro has years of experience reviewing car accident cases and providing clear information.
To have your case reviewed by our lawyers, contact The Law Office of Jack M. Shapiro at 847-243-8917 today and book a consultation with our Lake County car accident lawyer.
Note: This post has been prepared using information gathered from publicly available secondary sources. The details of the incident have not been independently verified. If you identify any inaccuracies, please contact the Law Office of Jack M. Shapiro, P.C. so our team can promptly review and update the content to maintain accuracy and reliability.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this post is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or medical advice. This content does not create an attorney–client relationship and is not intended as a solicitation for legal services. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident, please seek immediate medical attention. Any photographs included in this post are for illustrative purposes only and do not depict the actual scene of the accident.
