Winter Weather Conditions Can Cause Dangerous Hazards

cars driving in snow The Pennsylvania State Police is reminding residents to clear any ice and snow from their vehicle’s windows prior to driving.

Title 75 Section 4524 of Pennsylvania’s statutes specifies that drivers must have clear and unobstructed views through all windows and be able to see the road.

This means that any debris, like snow or ice, must be completely removed before a vehicle is allowed to be driven on a road or highway.

If a driver neglects to comply with this law, local police and state troopers can issue him or her a fine ranging from $25 to more than $100.

Pennsylvania law also states that if a person is injured or killed by snow or snow falling from a vehicle, the vehicle’s owner could be fined up to $1,000 and held liable for the accident.

These laws exist to keep pedestrians and motorists safe during winter months and requires advance preparation on behalf of drivers.

Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to have tools like an ice scraper and preparation plans that allow them to efficiently clear their vehicle of any ice or snow.

Drivers can also stay updated Pennsylvania’s roads and highways by visiting www.511pa.com for efficient travel planning and alerts on unsafe conditions.

The effects of winter weather can leave vehicles and pedestrians vulnerable to unsuspecting hazards. Auto accidents caused by these conditions are easily preventable if drivers take the time and effort to properly maintain their vehicles.

The Harrisburg car accident lawyers at Schmidt Kramer can help you if you or your loved one has been in an accident caused by a driver’s careless maintenance of his or her vehicle during the winter season. We always provide a free initial consultation and our clients are not charged any fees unless we are able to help them secure compensation for their claim.

Call (717) 888-8888 or fill out a Free Case Evaluation form if you have been in an accident.

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Schmidt Kramer, P.C.partner Gerard C. Kramer won a personal injury action for $10,043,952.13 in Northumberland County on behalf of a volunteer firefighter who was the victim of Intentional Tort. The 50-year-old volunteer firefighter was seriously injured when a barn collapsed, causing a spinal injury which left him a paraplegic. The claim was brought against the arsonist who intentionally started the fire. It is believed that the verdict is the highest ever in Northumberland County.
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Yesterday a Judge in Union County (Lewisburg, PA) awarded a couple from New Berlin, Pennsylvania, over $4,000,000 because the husband was shot while turkey hunting.You might ask yourself, how does a turkey hunting accident end up with that type of verdict? In order to understand the verdict you would have to know our clients. They are good people who had their life wrecked. Plus, you would have to know the defendant, who should not have been hunting with a gun because he was prohibited after a previous criminal conviction.It is a good verdict, because the Judge was able to do two things with his decision. First, he communicated to two very good people that their losses were something that those of us on the outside could appreciate and value. Mike Hobbins (our client) is a 51 year old guy who lost his sight because a convicted felon --who should not have even possessed a gun-- went hunting illegally, and broke with impunity the most fundamental rule in hunting: identify your target before you pull the trigger. The Judge accepted the financial loss Mr. Hobbins' suffered, but listened closely to the evidence of less tangible losses. When Mike broke down on the stand, because his daughter would end up walking him down the aisle at her wedding, as opposed to how it was supposed to go, the Judge was listening. When Mike could not keep it together, because of how emasculating it was for him not to be able to provide financially for his family, the Judge was listening. It was facts like these that the Judge cited to support the $2,000,000 award for non-economic damages. Second, the Judge wanted to send a message. Union County is a hunting county. Many of the residents hunt there, and people from outside the area come to Union County to hunt. It was my impression, from the Judge's statements as he rendered his decision, that he wanted to send a message to the people in Union County to protect them in their sport. The rules in place to restrict people convicted of crimes not to have a gun are not to be broken. Hunting is serious and you have to identify your target before you shoot. When you turn your back on the rules that are set to provide safety in a sport, you risk being an example. Here, the $1,000,000 punitive damage award sends that message loud and clear.When it really comes down to brass tacks, the right action was taken against a Defendant who may never truly appreciate what kind of impact his reckless choices caused.At Schmidt Kramer, we are injury lawyers. That means we work with people who were hurt in car accidents, who were hurt by the neglect of nursing homes, or those that were seriously injured because of the reckless, thoughtless acts of others. If you or a loved one have been injured in Pennsylvania, we may be able to help. While the verdict yesterday is not one that is representative of every case we do, it does show that serious and dedicated representation can bring good results.Joe ChapmanJanuary 18, 2013
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Pennsylvania Law Requires Drivers to Remove Snow from Vehicles