Last week, an AAA manager said she barely missed getting hit by ice on Interstate 95 in Maryland. Ice falling from vehicles may not only cause property damage, but injuries that may be fatal. “It’s particularly, I think, more common with larger trucks, where snow and debris fall off,” a highway transportation spokesperson said. “But even with regular motorists, we encourage them to do that (clear off snow and ice) because again it poses dangers for other motorists on the road.” According to news reports, a study showed that 35% of tractor-trailer drivers noticed ice falling from their vehicle cause property damage or injury to another car. 54% of truckers said they never removed ice.

Maryland drivers have probably noticed the sheets of ice covering the roads, causing dangerous driving conditions. A Maryland State Highway Administration spokesman said drivers should not only drive as carefully as possibly to avoid an accident and injury, but also be aware of ice sliding off cars. “That’s something that we’re very concerned about,” the spokesman said. “We see it all the time, you know, you see these huge sheets of ice just flying right off of cars and trucks….That could be solid ice that’s coming right at you at 60 miles an hour.”

Maryland law says drivers must clear snow and ice from their windows and lights, but does not include hoods/roofs. Other states’ laws say that all snow and ice must be removed, and fines are issued if ice or snow from their vehicle causes injury. As a Maryland personal injury lawyer, I hope everyone takes the time to remove all snow and ice from their cars before they begin driving towards their destination. If you or a loved one are harmed by a reckless driver, a personal injury attorney Maryland can assist you in evaluating your case.