Watch Out for Snowplows — Accidents with Plows Cause Serious Injuries and Death

Once of the most dangerous hazards of winter driving are snowplows on the highways. It’s extremely important to drive cautiously around snow plows to avoid an accident that is likely to be serious and possibly fatal. Plow trucks are large and heavy and often the blow blade itself is hidden from view by the cloud of snow it throws. Any snowplow accident on a highway is likely to be serious, yet the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) reports that every year hundreds of drivers drive dangerously close to snow plows and many end up in serious accidents.

In 2011, as a response to the high number of snowplow accidents, MDOT and the County Road Association of Michigan (CRAM) launched a campaign to make drivers aware of the need to give snow plows a wide berth on the highway. The campaign’s slogan, which is still being used by both agencies, is “Snowplows Need Room to Groom!”

“Every year, despite the flashing lights on snowplow trucks, poor driver behavior near snowplows leads to collisions that can be deadly,” said CRAM director John Niemela in a joint-agency press release.

Snowplows Need Room to Groom! Safe Driving Tips:

• Don’t drive too close to snowplows — snowplow drivers can’t see directly behind their trucks or in their blind spots
• Don’t drive through snow clouds thrown up by snowplows — they can obscure vision of plow blades, obstructions or other vehicles
• Never pass a snowplow on the right where an unseen plow blade is most likely to cause a dangerous accident
• Don’t talk or text on cell phones while driving
• Always wear a safety belt while driving
• Allow extra time to reach your destination while driving
• Never weave between snowplows
• When there isn’t a safe lane for passing a snowplow, wait till the snowplow pulls over to pass — plow drivers regularly pull over to let traffic by
• Remember that Michigan driving laws require motorists to drive at a “careful and prudent” speed at all times — in winter that often means driving slower than the posted speed limit

The personal injury attorneys at Sachs Waldman, P.C. would also like to remind drivers to give wide berth to any vehicle that is not driving cautiously around snowplows. Should the reckless driving of another driver lead to a snowplow accident, the drivers could lose control of their vehicles and endanger you and other drivers.

Michigan No-fault Insurance Laws Cover Snowplow Accidents

It’s important to remember that no-fault insurance laws in Michigan cover injuries incurred by any automobile accident, including those involving snowplows, regardless of who is at fault. If you’re injured in a snowplow accident, a Michigan no-fault insurance company is required to cover your medical costs, lost wages and other economic losses resulting from your injuries, even if the accident was your fault. Only divers driving their own uninsured vehicle won’t be covered.

However, insurance companies like to cut their losses by denying claims or reducing the value of claims. This often leaves accident victims short of resources to pay medical bills or make up for lost income. That’s why it’s important to involve a personal injury attorney early on. An attorney can help hold the liable insurance company accountable and, if necessary, pursue recovery of benefits you’re entitled to in court if necessary.

In Michigan, the personal injury firm of Sachs Waldman, P.C., can assist in getting you the benefits you’re entitled to for your winter car accident, whether it's a snowplow accident or involves another vehicle or the result of simply losing control on snowy or icy roads. Call our Detroit personal injury attorneys’ office at 1-800-638-6722 to schedule a free consultation.