Michigan Icy and Snowy Road Accident Lawyers

Michigan winters test every driver. One patch of ice can turn a normal commute into a serious crash in seconds. But here's what a lot of people don't realize: slick roads are rarely the whole story. Drivers, and sometimes property owners or government agencies, are still responsible for how they handle winter conditions.

The Lee Steinberg Law Firm has helped injured Michiganders for more than 50 years. We've recovered about $1 billion in settlements and verdicts, and we have the resources to fight for the largest recovery possible. You pay no attorney fees unless we win.

Call an icy road accident lawyer in Michigan at 1-800-LEE-FREE today for a free, confidential consultation. You can also visit our Michigan car accident page to learn more.

How Icy and Snowy Roads Lead to Crashes

Ice and snow cut down the grip between your tires and the road. According to the UK's official Highway Code, stopping distances can be up to 10 times longer on icy roads. Even gentle braking or steering can send a car into a skid.

Black ice is the sneakiest danger of all. It's nearly invisible, and what looks like a wet patch may actually be a sheet of ice. It forms first on bridges, overpasses, and shaded stretches of road. Slush is tricky too. As temperatures drop, it hardens into ice, often in spots you don't expect.

On Michigan highways, these conditions lead to spinouts, jackknifed trucks, and chain-reaction pileups. Some winter storms have caused crashes involving dozens of vehicles at once. Shorter days make it worse, since more driving happens in the dark with less visibility.

Here's the key point. Winter weather in Michigan is completely predictable. That means drivers are expected to slow down, leave more space, and adjust for slick roads. A driver who loses control because they were going too fast for an icy road has usually failed in their "duty of care," which is the legal duty to drive carefully enough to keep others safe.

Michigan Winter Crashes by the Numbers

Winter weather is behind a huge share of Michigan crashes. According to Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, from October 2022 to April 2023:

• 30,786 crashes involved winter weather. That's about 1 in every 6 crashes in the state (17.3%).
• 63 people died in winter weather crashes.
• 385 people suffered suspected serious injuries.

It's a national problem too. NHTSA estimates that in 2023, there were about 101,390 police-reported crashes nationwide during snow or sleet, including 320 fatal crashes and 22,293 injury crashes.

Michigan Counties Hit Hardest by Winter Crashes

There are two ways to look at it. Big counties with lots of traffic see the most winter crashes overall. But in parts of the Upper Peninsula, winter weather is a factor in nearly half of all crashes, or more.

Counties with the most winter weather crashes (October 2022 to April 2023

Counties where winter weather plays the biggest role:

Wherever you drive in Michigan, give yourself extra time and extra space when the weather turns.

Michigan Laws for Driving in Ice and Snow

Michigan's traffic laws don't take the winter off. In fact, several rules matter even more when the snow falls. A driver who breaks them can get a ticket. More importantly for you, breaking these laws can show the driver was negligent (careless in a way that caused your injuries).

Drive at a Safe Speed for the Conditions

Most people know they can't go over the speed limit. What many don't realize is that sometimes the law requires you to drive below it. Under MCL 257.627(1), drivers must go at a "careful and prudent speed" based on traffic, the road surface, and any other conditions. They also can't drive faster than would let them stop within the "assured, clear distance ahead," meaning the open road they can see in front of them.

In plain terms: if the speed limit is 70 mph but the freeway is covered in snow or black ice, 70 is too fast. The law expects you to slow down.

Keep Your Windshield Clear and Your Wipers Working

Under MCL 257.709, every car must have working wipers that the driver can control. Driving with a windshield blocked by snow or ice is also illegal and can lead to a ticket and points on your record.

Clear the Snow Off Your Lights

Snow and ice can pile up over your headlights and taillights, so brush them off before you drive.

Michigan law requires your headlights to be on from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise. They also have to be on any time you can't clearly see people and vehicles 500 feet ahead (MCL 257.684). In heavy snow, that can mean headlights in the middle of the day.

Your headlights also have to do their job. Under MCL 257.699, high beams must light up people and vehicles at least 350 feet ahead, and low beams at least 100 feet ahead. Headlights caked in snow can't do that. Covered or unlit lights can lead to a ticket, and they can also play a role in who's at fault after a crash.

When Someone Other Than the Driver Is Responsible

Icy road cases don't always stop with the drivers. Depending on what happened, others may share the blame:

• Property owners and businesses that didn't properly plow, salt, or maintain a parking lot or private road
• Vehicle owners. If someone else was driving the owner's car or company vehicle, the owner can also be responsible under Michigan law
• Trucking companies that sent a driver out in winter weather with worn tires, bad brakes, or an unrealistic schedule
• Government agencies responsible for certain highway defects

Claims against the government come with special rules and very short deadlines. That's because of Michigan's governmental immunity law, which protects government bodies from many lawsuits. For highway defects, MCL 691.1404 requires written notice of the injury and the defect, usually within 120 days. Miss that deadline, and you can lose your claim entirely.

How We Prove Fault on a Slick Road

The other side will almost always blame the weather. Our job is to show what really happened. Our Michigan car accident attorneys look at the road conditions and everyone's actions, gathering:

• Photos and video of the crash scene
• Certified weather and road condition records
• Plowing, salting, and maintenance records for the road or lot
• The police report and any tickets
• Witness statements
• The car's "black box" (event data recorder), which shows speed and following distance
• Tire and maintenance records in truck and commercial vehicle cases

If a driver simply went too fast for the ice, we prove it. If a property owner or government agency failed to maintain the road, we go after them too.

Winter Driving Tips for Michigan Drivers

You can't control the weather. But you can control a lot of what happens when you drive in it. Here's how to lower your risk this winter.

Get Your Car Ready Before You Drive

Start before you ever pull out of the driveway. Brush off the snow and scrape the ice from all your windows, mirrors, and lights. It's safer, and it's the law. Check your wiper blades too. If they streak or skip, replace them. They're cheap and easy to swap.

Next, top off your washer fluid and antifreeze, and check your tire pressure. Tire pressure drops as temperatures fall, and low tires make braking, turning, and steering harder on ice and snow. Cold weather is also tough on batteries and brakes, so make sure both are in good shape before the first storm.

Finally, pack an emergency kit. Include blankets, a hat and gloves, a snow brush and scraper, a flashlight with extra batteries, flares, jumper cables, sand or kitty litter for traction, a phone charger, bottled water, and snacks. This matters most on rural roads, where help may take longer to arrive. Keep your gas tank close to full, or your EV charged, and tell someone your travel plans. If you don't show up, they'll know where to start looking.

On the Road

• Slow down. Speed is one of the biggest factors in winter crashes. Driving slower gives you more time to react and brake, and it's what the law requires.
• Leave plenty of space. Stopping on ice can take up to 10 times longer. Increase your following distance well beyond the usual 3 to 4 seconds, so you have plenty of time to stop for cars ahead.
• Give yourself extra time. Leave early so you're not tempted to rush.
• Go easy on the pedals and the wheel. Speed up, brake, and steer gently, especially when merging, changing lanes, or driving through slush.
• Turn off cruise control on icy, snowy, or wet roads.
• Watch bridges and overpasses. They freeze faster than the rest of the road.

Share the Road With Plows and Big Trucks

Snowplows and semi-trucks are massive. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), large trucks often weigh 20 to 30 times as much as passenger cars. When they crash with passenger vehicles, it's almost always the people in the smaller car who get hurt worst.

Give plows, buses, and big trucks extra room. Never drive right beside a snowplow. Plows move slowly, make wide turns, stop often, and drift across lanes, so pass only with extreme caution. Don't follow too closely. And remember: if you can't see the truck driver in their side mirror, they probably can't see you either.

Driving in Blowing Snow and Whiteouts

• Use your low beams. High beams bounce off falling snow and make it harder to see. Use fog lights too if you have them.
• Slow down and increase your space. In a whiteout, you may not see the car ahead until it's too late.
• Know when to stop. If visibility gets too low, trust your gut. Pull off at the nearest safe exit and wait it out.

If You Start to Skid

• Ease off the gas. Don't slam the brakes.
• Steer where you want the car to go. If the back of your car slides left, gently steer left. Small, smooth movements work best.
• If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), press firmly and hold. Don't pump them. You may feel the pedal pulse, and that's normal. No ABS? Gently pump the brakes if you feel the wheels start to lock.

Stay Focused and Sober

• Put the phone away. A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study done with NHTSA found that looking away from the road for more than two seconds roughly doubles your risk of a crash or near-crash. If you need to check road conditions or weather radar, pull into a gas station or parking lot first.
• Don't slow down to film or photograph other crashes. Keep your eyes on the road.
• Never drive impaired. Recreational marijuana is legal in Michigan, but driving high is not. Neither is drinking and driving. Both slow your reaction time, which is the last thing you need on an icy road.

If You're in a Crash

If it's safe, move your car off the road to a shoulder, parking lot, or side street. Some of the worst injuries happen in a second crash after the first one. If you can't move the car, turn on your hazard lights and call 911 right away.

If You Get Stuck

• Stay with your car and don't overdo it trying to dig out.
• Make your car easy to see. Tie something bright to the antenna or window and keep the dome light on.
• Watch out for carbon monoxide. Clear snow away from your exhaust pipe. Run the engine only in short bursts to stay warm, and never for long with the windows up.

Kids, Car Seats, and Winter Coats

Puffy winter coats can keep a car seat harness from fitting snugly. Dress kids in thin, warm layers instead. Once the harness is buckled and snug, tuck a blanket or their coat over them for warmth. For more tips, see NHTSA's winter driving guide.

Common Injuries in Icy Road Crashes

Winter crashes often involve cars spinning out of control or piling into each other. That means injuries can be serious. We commonly see whiplash, neck and spinal injuries, back pain, traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, and scarring. In the worst cases, these crashes lead to wrongful death.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

What your case is worth depends on how badly you were hurt. Most claims include two kinds of damages (the legal word for money owed to you).

Economic Damages

These are the losses you can put a number on: medical bills, future treatment and rehab, therapy, medical equipment, and lost wages.

In Michigan, your own auto insurance usually pays these through a No-Fault claim. It's called a "first-party" claim because you're claiming against your own insurer, not the other driver's. No auto insurance? You may still have options. Our team can figure out which insurance company is responsible.

Non-Economic Damages

These cover the harm that doesn't come with a receipt. They're often the biggest part of a case:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress, anxiety, and depression
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of companionship

If a winter crash takes a loved one's life, surviving family members can bring a claim under Michigan's wrongful death law. That can cover funeral and burial costs, medical bills before death, lost financial support, and the loss of your loved one's love, guidance, and companionship.

What to Do After an Icy Road Crash

The steps you take right after a crash can protect your health and your claim:

1. Get to safety and call 911. If you can, move your car out of traffic. Report the crash and stay calm with the officer so a police report gets made.
2. Document the scene if you can. Photograph the cars, skid marks, debris, the road surface, and your injuries. Pictures of ice, unplowed snow, or unsalted pavement can be key evidence.
3. Swap information. Get the other driver's name, contact info, and insurance. Ask witnesses for their names and numbers too.
4. Get checked out right away, even if you feel fine. Some injuries take hours or days to show up. A quick exam also links your injuries to the crash. The ER is best, but urgent care beats nothing.
5. Don't give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company. Talk to a Michigan car accident lawyer first.
6. Call us. We'll move fast to save black box data, weather records, and witness statements before they disappear. Contact our office and we'll walk you through every step.

How to File a Michigan No-Fault Claim After an Icy Road Crash

Michigan is a No-Fault state. After most crashes, your own insurance pays for your medical care and part of your lost wages, no matter who caused the crash. This coverage is called personal injury protection, or PIP.

Filing a No-Fault claim usually looks like this:

1. Figure out which policy pays. Michigan has a set pecking order for this, called the order of priority. Usually your own insurer pays your medical bills.
2. Notify that insurer. This usually means calling them and filling out their application for benefits.
3. Send proof of your losses. That includes medical treatment, missed work, and help you needed around the house.

Here's what PIP covers:

• Medical care: reasonable and necessary crash-related treatment, up to your policy's medical limit
• Lost wages: 85% of your gross pay for up to 3 years after the crash
• Replacement services: payment for someone to help with household chores you can't do, also for up to 3 years

Learn more about your coverage from the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services.

Watch Out for Michigan's Strict Deadlines

The One-Year No-Fault Deadline

This is where people get tripped up. Under MCL 500.3145, many PIP claims must be brought within 1 year. You also generally can't get paid for expenses from more than one year before you file a lawsuit. That's called the "one-year back rule." Miss a deadline, and you could lose benefits you were owed.

The Deadline for Pain and Suffering

Pain and suffering is a separate claim. To recover it, you file a liability claim against the at-fault driver and the vehicle's owner. You usually have 3 years to file that lawsuit under MCL 600.5805. We handle both claims at the same time, so nothing slips through the cracks.

Claims Against the Government

If a government agency may be responsible for a highway defect, the deadline is much shorter. Written notice is usually required within 120 days. If you think the road itself played a role in your crash, call us as soon as possible.

Why Choose the Lee Steinberg Law Firm?

Winter crash cases can involve several responsible parties and government deadlines that are easy to miss. With more than 50 years of experience focused on Michigan injury law, we know how to find everyone who may be responsible and protect every deadline.

We handle winter weather crashes every day, from Detroit and Flint to Grand Rapids, Traverse City, and everywhere in between. Meet our trial team on the attorneys page.

Under the Lee Free Guarantee, you pay nothing unless we win. That means you can take on insurance companies and government agencies without paying a dime upfront.

What Makes a Top-Rated Icy Road Accident Lawyer in Michigan?

Winter crashes are more complicated than they look. When you're looking for a top-rated icy road accident lawyer in Michigan, here's what actually matters:

• Knowing who else is responsible. A great firm looks past the drivers to property owners, trucking companies, and government agencies.
• Tracking every deadline. Government claims can have a 120-day notice deadline. A strong firm catches it early.
• Proving the weather isn't an excuse. That takes weather records, maintenance logs, and black box data. We know how to get all of it.
• A real track record. We've recovered about $1 billion for injured Michiganders over more than 50 years.
• No financial risk to you. Under the Lee Free Guarantee, you pay nothing unless we win.

Talk to an Icy Road Accident Lawyer in Michigan for Free

If you were hurt in a crash on an icy or snowy Michigan road, you don't have to sort it out alone. Call the Lee Steinberg Law Firm at 1-800-LEE-FREE or fill out our online consultation form. No fees unless we win.