You’re driving cautiously through a snowstorm on your way home from Green Bay, keeping a safe distance and staying under the speed limit. Suddenly, another car loses control on the icy road, slams into your vehicle, and changes your life in an instant. Wisconsin winters can be dangerous, but accidents like these happen all the time, because someone else wasn’t careful.

The team at Natasha Misra Law wants you to be as prepared as possible for any road conditions, and we’re here to fight for you if someone else wasn’t, and injured you in an accident. Let’s take a look at what winter conditions you could face, and how you can best try to stay safe out there in the snow. 

Winter Driving Hazards in Wisconsin

Icy Roads: As temperatures drop, moisture on the roads can freeze into a slick, invisible layer of ice. Icy conditions are common across Wisconsin’s highways and residential streets, especially on bridges and overpasses.

  • How it causes accidents: Cars can lose traction, making it difficult to stop or steer.
  • Stay safe: Drive slower, increase following distance, and brake gently to avoid skidding.

Snowstorms and Reduced Visibility: Heavy snow can make it nearly impossible to see other vehicles, road signs, or obstacles. Rural areas like Oshkosh and Fond du Lac can be especially hazardous, with blowing snow creating whiteout conditions.

  • How it causes accidents: Drivers may fail to notice stopped cars or drift into other lanes.
  • Stay safe: Use headlights, drive cautiously, and avoid sudden lane changes.

Black Ice: Black ice is a thin, transparent layer of ice that blends with the pavement, making it almost impossible to detect. It’s especially dangerous on shaded roads or during early morning hours.

  • How it causes accidents: Drivers can spin out or lose control without warning.
  • Stay safe: Slow down, avoid sudden steering, and stay alert on bridges and overpasses.

Snow-Covered Roads: Packed snow can be as slippery as ice and often hides road markings, making it hard to judge where your lane ends or begins. This is a common issue in cities like Green Bay and Appleton after a heavy snowfall.

  • How it causes accidents: Cars can slide when braking or turning too quickly.
  • Stay safe: Use winter tires, keep speeds low, and avoid abrupt maneuvers.

Unplowed or Poorly Maintained Roads: Snow and ice are bad enough, but when roads aren’t properly plowed or salted, the danger increases. Wisconsin’s smaller towns and rural highways often face delayed maintenance, making conditions worse.

  • How it causes accidents: Drivers may skid, collide with snowbanks, or lose control on untreated roads.
  • Stay safe: Avoid driving immediately after storms and report dangerous road conditions to local authorities.

Winter Conditions Lead to More Crashes and Serious Injuries

Winter driving hazards are more than inconvenient—they’re dangerous. Snow, ice, and low visibility significantly increase the likelihood of crashes, and when another driver isn’t as cautious as you are, the consequences can be devastating. Rear-end collisions, multi-car pileups, and sliding accidents happen more often during winter, leading to serious injuries like whiplash, broken bones, and head trauma. If you’ve been hurt because someone else wasn’t careful on Wisconsin’s winter roads, you deserve justice.

Get in Touch with a Car Accident Attorney Today

If you’ve been injured in a winter driving accident in Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton, or anywhere in northern WI—don’t wait to get experienced legal advocacy. Contact Natasha Misra Law today for a free consultation.

Stay safe this winter, and remember: when you need someone to fight for you, Natasha Misra Law is more than just another suit. We’re advocates for your health, safety, and your future.

Like many other states, Wisconsin uses a “comparative negligence” law to determine fault during car accidents. But what does this mean? 

In this blog, we will discuss what you need to know about comparative negligence, and how it may affect your car accident claim.

Comparative Negligence Means You Can Recover Damages, Even if You’re Partially At Fault

First, let’s define comparative negligence. Basically, this is a system of assigning fault in car accidents that determines how much a victim can recover in compensation based on their contribution to the accident.

In other words, both parties involved in an accident can be assigned a portion of the blame. For example, one party may be found to be 30% at fault in the accident, with the other driver being assigned 70% of the fault.

This means two things. First, you can still recover damages if you’re partially at fault for an accident. Even if you contributed to the accident, you may be able to file a personal injury suit and get compensation, as long as you were less than 50% negligent (more about that in the next section). 

This is in contrast to states that use a “pure contributory negligence” law, where drivers are unable to recover any damages, even if they were only 1% responsible for the accident. 

Second, your damages are limited by the amount of fault assigned to you for the accident. So if you are assigned 30% of the fault and the other driver is assigned 70% of the fault, you can only recover 70% of your damages. 

In this situation, if your total damages for medical bills, property damage, renting a car, and other such costs were $20,000, you could only sue the other driver for $14,000 – not the full $20,000 in costs you incurred. 

Understanding The 51 Percent Bar Rule In Wisconsin 

So, comparative negligence means that you can recover some damages after a car accident even if you share fault with the other driver. But what if you’re responsible for the majority of the fault? 

Well, Wisconsin follows what’s called the “51 Percent Bar Rule.” This means that you’re “barred” from recovering damages if you are found to be responsible for the majority (51% or more) of fault. 

In other words, if you are found to be 50% at fault, you can still recover damages after a car accident in Milwaukee. But if you exceed 50% fault, you will not be able to work with a Milwaukee personal injury attorney to file a lawsuit and recover damages. 

Injured In A Car Accident? Get The Help You Need In Milwaukee!

Working with an experienced Milwaukee personal injury attorney can help you get a fair and just outcome when you’ve been in a car accident. 

Natasha Misra Law can help you protect your rights and recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and more. Contact us online or give us a call to schedule a free consultation. 

Natasha Misra

My law practice is dedicated to helping people who have suffered injuries in accidents which were not their fault. Born and raised in Milwaukee, I come from a family of medical professionals. My background and experience help me understand and represent individuals injured in accidents.