The Borman Expressway—I-80 and I-94 running together through Lake County—is one of the heaviest truck corridors in the Midwest. East of Lake Station, I-94 continues on its own through Porter and LaPorte counties toward Michigan. Short distances between interchanges and dense traffic make lane-change and rear-end crashes common.
The route
The Borman enters from Illinois at Hammond and runs east through Munster and Highland and across Gary, where it meets I-65, to Lake Station. There I-80 splits off to join the Toll Road, and I-94 continues northeast past Portage and Chesterton and near Michigan City to the Michigan line.
Truck crash risks on this corridor
- Very heavy truck volumes mixed with commuter traffic around the Chicago metro area.
- Closely spaced interchanges and frequent lane changes.
- Stop-and-go congestion that leads to high-energy rear-end crashes.
- Lake-effect snow and winter conditions near Lake Michigan.
- Work zones on an aging, heavily used corridor.
What we look at after a crash here
We look at dash-cam and telematics data (many fleets running the Borman use cameras), engine data showing speed approaching congestion, and following-distance evidence. Because many Borman crashes involve multiple vehicles, identifying every vehicle and carrier involved is important under Indiana’s comparative fault rules.
Where a case may be handled
Most Borman crashes occur in Lake County, where Lake Superior Court has courtrooms in Crown Point, Gary, and Hammond; crashes on I-94 east of Lake Station may fall in Porter or LaPorte County. Federal cases in this area are typically in the Northern District of Indiana’s Hammond Division. See our Northwest Indiana guide.
Indiana’s general deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the crash (IC 34-11-2-4), and Indiana’s modified comparative fault rules apply (IC 34-51-2). If a government vehicle or a road or work-zone condition may be involved, written notice deadlines are much shorter—180 days for local governments and 270 days for the State. For a full overview, read our Indiana truck accident lawyer page and our page on preserving black box and ELD evidence.
Frequently asked questions
Who investigates truck crashes on the Borman Expressway (I-80/94) and I-94?
Crashes on Indiana interstates are commonly investigated by the Indiana State Police, sometimes with local police or sheriff’s deputies. The Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division may also be involved with commercial vehicles. The crash report usually identifies the investigating agency.
How long do I have to bring a claim for a truck crash on the Borman Expressway (I-80/94) and I-94?
For most injury claims in Indiana, a lawsuit must be filed within two years of the crash (IC 34-11-2-4). Claims involving government entities require written notice within 180 days (local) or 270 days (State).
Can Poynter & Bucheri help if I live outside Indiana but crashed on the Borman Expressway (I-80/94) and I-94?
Yes, we can review crashes that happened in Indiana even if you live in another state. Where a case is filed can depend on where the crash happened and where the defendants are located.
Sources
- Indiana University Public Policy Institute, Indiana Traffic Safety Facts: 2024 County Profiles, Lake County (PDF page 104; 2024 data)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Traffic Safety Facts: Large Trucks, 2024 Data, DOT HS 813 816 (PDF)
- IC 34-11-2-4 — official heading: “Injury or forfeiture of penalty actions.” An action for injury to a person or to personal property generally must be started within two years after the cause of action accrues.
- IC 34-51-2 — official heading: “Chapter 2. Compensatory Damages: Comparative Fault.” Indiana’s comparative fault chapter: a claimant’s own fault reduces damages in proportion, and recovery is barred if the claimant’s fault is greater than the combined fault of everyone whose fault contributed (sections 5 and 6).
Indiana Code links open the official chapter PDF from the Indiana General Assembly (2026 Code); federal rules link to the current eCFR text.
More official links: Indiana accident resources · Indiana crash statistics · How to get your crash report
General information only—not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different; deadlines can be shorter in some situations. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.