Chicago Snow plow

Chicago Snowplow Accident Lawyers

If you’ve ever lived in the Chicago area, you’re likely no stranger to snowy winters. As the snow begins to accumulate on the roads and highways in and around the Chicagoland area, snowplows are deployed to clear the streets. Unfortunately, these large and heavy vehicles also pose a risk to motorists, particularly if the operator or another party fail to exercise adequate care and caution.

Snowplow accidents can result in devastating injuries and significant property damage. If a snowplow hit a vehicle you were in, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, and more.  

Like all truck accidents, injury claims resulting from snowplow accidents can be complex due to the severity of injuries and multiple parties potentially being liable for the crash. The snowplow accident attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. have extensive experience handling cases like these. We are ready to put the skills and knowledge we have used to recover over $2.5 billion for clients to date to work for you. If you or a loved one have been hurt, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. 

Common Causes of Snowplow Accidents

While snowplow crashes have a wide range of causes, among the most common are as follows: 

  • Driving Too Fast For Conditions – Snowplows pose a greater risk of catastrophic crashes than the average passenger vehicle because of their sheer size and weight. These vehicles can do devastating damage when they crash into other motorists in smaller vehicles. The recommended speed for snowplows is generally 35 miles per hour. Traveling at a normal speed can increase the chance of crashes. 
  • Dangerous Road Conditions – A snowplow on the road means slick, icy, or snowy road conditions exist. These hazardous road conditions translate to a higher risk of crashes, especially when operators are focused on removing snow rather than other motorists.
  • Decreased visibility – Although all commercial vehicles have blind spots and visibility challenges due to their size, snowplow operators must also contend with blind spots caused by the snow removal equipment on the front of their vehicles, as well as the snow itself.
  • Inadequate training – To drive snowplows safely, operators need special training in handling these large, unwieldy, and low-visibility vehicles. If drivers do not receive such training or are improperly instructed on critical aspects of snowplow safety, their inexperience can lead to unsafe driving and tragic collisions.

Types of Winter Service Vehicle Collisions

Snowplows typically work in extreme weather conditions. Due to their size, snowplows have more prominent blind spots and are more challenging to maneuver than other vehicles. Because of these factors, snowplow operators must pay attention to their surroundings. Accidents in the snow can occur if snowplow drivers (or other parties) are negligent. 

Some common types of snowplow accident collisions include: 

Snowplow accidents can result in debilitating injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, back and spinal cord injuries, fractures, internal injuries, and more. 

Common Snowplow Injuries

As with any accident with a large commercial truck, a collision involving a snowplow can cause devastating, life-altering injuries. Accident victims may suffer a variety of serious injuries, including: 

  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) – The force of a collision with a snowplow can cause a passenger vehicle occupant’s head to knock against the steering wheel, windshield, or window, resulting in a traumatic brain injury. TBI symptoms can range from minor, such as frequent headaches or short-term memory loss, to severe, including decreased neurological function. 
  • Facial injuries – When a snowplow crashes into another motorist in a smaller vehicle, the force of impact can propel the victim’s head into a hard surface, resulting in facial injuries, eye injuries, and dental trauma. 
  • Broken bones – Fractures are another common injury associated with high-force impacts. Broken bones may require surgery to place pins or rods and can take a long time to heal. 
  • Spinal cord injuries – The blunt force trauma of a car crash can sever an occupant’s spinal cord, limiting their mobility and potentially even causing paralysis. 
  • Internal injuries – Sudden impact or a penetrating wound can damage internal organs and rupture blood vessels, leading to life-threatening injuries that require immediate medical intervention.  

Tragically, many motorists are killed in collisions with snowplows every year. If you were involved in a snowplow crash, reach out to an experienced lawyer at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. to learn about your legal rights and options.

Proving Negligence/Liability

Snowplowing accidents often involve multiple liable parties. Determining who contributed to the accident usually requires the help of an attorney. To prove liability after an accident in the snow, you’ll need to demonstrate that the driver or another party was negligent and that this negligence caused the accident.

For example, if the snowplow driver was texting at the time of the accident, the driver would likely be responsible for the crash. You’ll need to demonstrate that because the driver was distracted by their phone, they caused the collision, which led to your injuries. 

Finally, you’ll need to show that you suffered losses due to the accident. For instance, if you were injured and you incurred medical expenses due to the crash, you could seek compensation for the bills and related out-of-pocket expenses you incurred because of the accident.  

While you can bring a claim against a government entity, seeking compensation can be challenging. Many cities and municipalities have “sovereign immunity,” which protects them from liability. If you were injured in an accident with a city-owned snowplow, you should speak with an attorney to discuss your options. 

Compensation Recoverable in a Snowplow Accident Claim

If you were injured in a snowplow accident, you could be owed significant compensation for the harm you’ve suffered and losses you’ve incurred. Depending on the nature and severity of your injuries, you could be owed payment for: 

  • Present and future medical expenses
  • Lost wages if you cannot work while recovering
  • Lost earning capacity if you are temporarily or permanently disabled
  • Vehicle repairs or replacement
  • Pain and suffering, including physical pain, emotional trauma, mental anguish, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life 

Types of Snow Removal Vehicle Equipment

Like other areas that commonly see snow in the wintertime, Chicago has various types of snow removal vehicles and equipment on standby to help clear roadways if a storm hits. Some common types of snow removal vehicles include: 

  • Skid-steer loaders
  • Front-end loaders
  • Backhoe loaders
  • All-wheel loaders
  • De-icers
  • Salt spreaders
  • Snowblowers

These vehicles and equipment are critical to our city’s infrastructure, but they can be hazardous to other motorists. 

Who Is Responsible for Snowplow Collisions?

Many different parties could be at fault for a snowplow accident, including the following: 

  • The snowplow driver – If the driver fails to adhere to the rules of the road, they could be found liable for their negligence. 
  • The snowplow owner – The person or company that owns the snowplow or operates the company could be to blame for their employee’s on-the-job negligence. They could also be personally liable for failure to train or supervise their drivers sufficiently. 
  • Local government entities – The City of Chicago and other municipal or state governmental bodies could be held responsible for a collision caused by a government-operated snowplow. Because specific requirements and timelines exist for suing governmental entities, it is critical to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after the crash. 
  • The snowplow manufacturer – In the event of snow removal equipment failure, the manufacturer of the snowplow could be found liable for the accident. 

Tips for Driving Around Winter Service Vehicles

Follow these tips to protect yourself and prevent accidents with winter service vehicles:

  • Drive at a safe distance – Many snowplows are too large to fit into a single lane. It’s essential to give the snowplow operator plenty of space to prevent accidents. The driver may not see you because snowplows have large blind spots. If they unexpectedly stop or turn, a collision could occur. 
  • Remain behind a slow plow if possible – While traveling behind a snowplow can seem tedious due to its low speed, it’s much safer to travel behind the plow. The snowplow’s job is to clear dangerous roadways, so driving ahead of them could be risky. 
  • Avoid speeding – Snowplows typically only go out when roadways are too dangerous to drive safely, so you should reduce your speed to accommodate the hazardous conditions. 

While you are responsible for driving safely around snowplows, snowplow drivers are under the same obligation. If you are injured in a snow plowing accident, you should reach out to a truck accident attorney right away. 

Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. Today

Were you severely injured in a snowplow accident? If so, you could be entitled to compensation. Contact the experienced Illinois snowplow accident lawyers at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. today to review your case and evaluate your options. 

Our attorneys have extensive experience representing victims of all types of truck accidents across the Chicagoland area. We will be ready to discuss your case when you call us or reach out to us online for your no-cost consultation.