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.

Natasha Misra law is experienced representing injured cyclists. Because cyclists are largely unprotected when up against a motor vehicle, we understand that accidents can cause traumatic and lasting injuries. We work with accident victims to help them recover the compensation they need to recover financially.

What Happens When The Accident Is Caused By A Cyclist?

Under Wisconsin law, a cyclist’s own negligence does not bar recovery if his negligence was not “greater than the negligence of the person against whom recovery is sought.” Rather, the cyclist’s damages would be reduced in proportion to the extent to which he was negligent. 

In other words, if a cyclist was only 40% at fault, then he will still be able to recover up to 60% of his available damages. However, if he was deemed 60% at fault, he would be barred from recovery.

What Are Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents?

All forms of negligent or reckless driving can cause collisions with bicyclists. However, other causes include:

  • Low visibility: Bikes are small and may be hard to see, particularly at dusk or on narrow, winding roads. 
  • Distracted driving: Drivers may be distracted by phones, music, other passengers, and more. This can lead them to drive recklessly, take their eyes off the road, and strike an unsuspecting cyclist.
  • Road or weather conditions: Sometimes, accidents are unavoidable tragedies. A car may slip on ice, hydroplane, experience a tire blowout, or otherwise swerve into a cyclist. Similarly, poor road conditions like potholes can send a vehicle off course. 
  • Failure to yield: If a driver fails to yield to a biker as they are legally required, they can strike and seriously injure - or even kill - a cyclist.

How to Prevent Bike Accidents

Defensive driving is the most effective way to avoid a collision with a biker. Maintain the speed limit, pay attention to the road, eliminate distractions, obey all posted signage, yield, obey traffic signals, and let others have the right of way. Above all, always keep a lookout: even if you are doing everything you can and should to stay safe, other drivers - or even cyclists - may not be. Who was doing the “right thing” simply won’t matter if you end up in a lethal collision, so put your pride aside and drive safely, even if someone else is acting reckless.

What To Do After A Bike Accident

You should immediately reach out to a personal injury lawyer for guidance on the right steps to take. However, in general, you should also:

  • Call the police: A law enforcement officer will investigate the cause of your crash and record the facts in an official accident report. Your attorney will use this report to prove your case down the road should you decide to file a claim.
  • Exchange information with involved parties: Gather contact information from the motorist who hit you, as well as any eyewitnesses. Be sure to take down their names, phone numbers, addresses, and drivers’ license and insurance information. 
  • Snap photos: If possible, take photos of the accident scene, including the vehicles involved.
  • Seek medical treatment: It is vital to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Some injuries may not present for days or even weeks after the accident, so take time to ensure you’ve identified any serious latent injuries.
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.