What happens when a driver doesn’t clear snow off their car in Illinois? State laws tell us that a motorist may be fined if they fail to uphold their duty to keep their vehicle windows, mirrors, and lights clear. And when it comes to filing car accident claims, a driver whose negligence in winter vehicle maintenance leads to another person’s injuries may be liable for damages.

Let’s take a look at the state laws regulating vehicle snow removal and why these laws are so important for safe road travel in Illinois.

Winter weather might look magical in movies, but it can be lot more dangerous in real life. Any time you have to drive in snowy or icy conditions you are at risk for being involved in a serious car accident.

The steps you take after an accident occurring on black ice are important and may even have an impact on whether you are able to successfully pursue compensation for any injuries. If you have any questions or concerns about the following information, you may want to speak with a car accident attorney at Krzak Rundio Law Group.

If you’ve recently been involved in a car accident, you’re likely feeling a certain amount of stress and even uncertainty. The most important thing to remember is to prioritize your health and safety along with your family’s. If anyone was injured in the accident, make sure they receive the proper medical care immediately and follow any advice given by your medical care team. Once a treatment and recovery plan is in the works, then you can begin to worry about what comes next.

In the immediate aftermath of an auto collision, one of the first questions asked is bound to be: who was at fault? The answer to this question is highly important to those involved. This information is necessary to determine which party’s insurance company should cover damages and losses, and which party may be entitled to compensation due to an at-fault party’s negligence. And in some cases, an at-fault driver may even be subject to criminal charges. All of these critical legal decisions depend on accurately determining fault after an accident.

Whether you’re a resident, new to the city, or just passing through Chicago, one thing you should expect when you’re driving in the city is traffic. It’s incredibly frustrating to sit in and hard to avoid, but you want to do your best. That way, you can be less stressed getting to your destination and stay away from as many other drivers as possible.

Roadside emergencies are stressful—you don’t know what’s wrong with your car, why it’s broken down, if you’re safe, or who to contact. There are likely a million things running through your mind in the moment you have to stop on the side of the road or highway, and you could be wondering what you’re supposed to do.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of spinal cord injury in the United States. The most severe nerve damage after a car accident includes paralysis or loss of motor function—conditions that affect a person’s ability to perform normal, everyday functions. In milder cases, nerve damage can result in discomfort, pain, and temporary impairment. While vehicle crashes are a factor in a high percentage of catastrophic nerve injuries, auto collisions are also a leading cause of less-severe neurological conditions like pinched nerves.  

If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it can be a nightmare to find out that the responsible driver has minimal insurance limits or no insurance at all. Fortunately, if you have uninsured motorist (UM) or underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, you can avoid this nightmare depending on the extent of UM or UIM coverage you carry on your own insurance policy.

In Chicago, high-speed police chases that cause injuries are more common than in most other cities in the United States. Oftentimes, those who are injured in police pursuits aren’t even the violators that the police are pursuing. They’re often innocent bystanders, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other motorists. In Chicago alone, there have been over 200 deaths caused by high-speed police chases since 1979, and over half of those killed were non-violators, according to research done by USA Today.

There are plenty of hazards that appear on the road while you are driving. Whether it’s an animal crossing accident, a flat tire, or your car breaking down, at some point you might have to pull over onto the shoulder, turn your four-ways on, and wait for help.

While you’re stopped on the side of the road in a situation like this, another motorist could cause an even worse situation if they drive too closely to you, are distracted, or if they’re impaired. This isn’t a unique and dangerous situation for regular motorists. When emergency vehicles or police officers are on the shoulder trying to do their jobs, they are also in danger.

While it’s common for most drivers to think that slowing down and moving over for cars, trucks, and emergency vehicles that are stopped on the shoulder is simply a courteous thing to do, you might be surprised to know that by law, you are actually required to do this in the state of Illinois.