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Rockford, Illinois - The Forest City, known for its rivers, gardens, and many cultural venues

Rockford is the third largest city in Illinois, and the largest city in Illinois outside of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the county seat of Winnebago County and is located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. According to 2010 census data, the City of Rockford had a population of 152,871. 

Referred to as the Forest City, Rockford is known for various venues of cultural or historical significance, including Anderson Japanese Gardens, Klehm Arboretum, the Coronado Theatre, and the Burpee Museum of Natural History. Its contributions to music are noted in the Mendelssohn Club, the oldest music club in the nation.

Links to recent accidents in the Rockford area

Here is information on the most recent accidents in region:

• Rockford car accidents;
• Rockford motorcycle accidents;
• Rockford bicycle accidents;
• Rockford pedestrian accidents;
• Rockford commercial truck accidents.

Major Freeways

Rockford is linked by highway to Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Madison, Wisconsin; and Dubuque, Iowa. In recent decades, the city's location has worked to its advantage in attracting jobs in the logistics and transportation industries. Public transportation in the city is provided by the Rockford Mass Transit District (RMTD); however, public transit infrastructure in Rockford is not at the level of comparably sized communities.

U.S. Route 20: U.S. Route 20 goes through Rockford twice. The original highway is now an east-west business route (State Street) that divides the city to the north and south. Rockford also marks the point where U.S. 20 and Interstate 90 no longer parallel each other In 1965, a US 20 bypass around the southern end of the city was completed, joining the Northwest Tollway near Cherry Valley. The bypass, known as "Bypass 20", joins State Street west of the city near the village of Winnebago, Illinois. East of Interstate 90, U.S. 20 is a 4-lane divided highway parallelling I-90. From the west, U.S. 20 provides a link to Freeport, Galena, and Dubuque, Iowa. However, much of the highway west of Freeport is a winding two-lane road that discourages truck traffic.

Interstate 39 and U.S. Route 51: Interstate 39 serves as a replacement for U.S. 51 south of the city. Starting from the U.S. 20 bypass, the highway directly links Rockford to Bloomington and Normal, Illinois. Its construction allowed better access to Chicago from the south via Interstate 80 and Interstate 88, also allowing for a bypass around the city of Chicago to Wisconsin. U.S. Route 51 overlaps Interstate 39 throughout the Rockford area.

Information on the major hospitals in Rockford:

Swedish American Hospital;

OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center;

Rockford Memorial Hospital.

When someone is injured in an accident in Rockford, it is important to gather information about what happens next.

Being injured in a serious accident is always a shocking and scary experience, and dealing with the aftermath is exhausting and stressful. Accident victims are forced to deal with hospitalization, medical treatments, missed work, and lost income, often while trying to manage pain and disability from their injuries. And then the insurance adjusters start circling. When an accident or injury is serious, people need legal assistance.

Where to find legal assistance after a Rockford injury accident

After a serious crash, it is crucial to get help from a Rockford personal injury attorney who understands the local regulations and legal standards, who knows how insurance policies work, and who can handle all aspects of an insurance claim so the injured person can focus on recovery. If someone is killed in a collision, a Rockford wrongful death lawyer will launch a claim that will begin the process of financial recovery for the family members left behind. Learn more here about what a Rockford accident attorney can do to help.