Fog-Related Car Accidents in Chicago

Foggy weather brings a heightened crash risk, even during short drives on familiar roads. Drivers must use extra caution, but not all do.

If you have sustained injuries in a fog-related car accident caused by someone else’s wrongdoing, it is crucial to understand your legal options. Our Chicago car accident attorneys stand ready to pursue your compensation so you can focus on recovering from injuries.

The legal team at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. has decades of experience helping injured people in Chicago and beyond. We have recovered over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients, with 330 case results of at least $1 million. We understand how a crash affects every part of your life and prevents you from working or caring for loved ones.

For a free consultation, contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today.

How Our Chicago Car Accident Attorneys Can Help If You Were Injured in a Fog-Related Car Accident

The following are a few examples of car accident cases where Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. has secured substantial settlements and verdicts for our clients:

$33.2 million jury verdict for a young man severely injured by a drunk driver
$20 million settlement for a Maywood woman
$10.8 million settlement for a Lake County pedestrian

While past results do not guarantee future outcomes, our award-winning law firm has the resources, experience, and determination to pursue the maximum compensation for you after injuries acquired in a fog-related car crash. Our Chicago car accident lawyers are ready to tackle your case, whether the accident happened on a clear day or during inclement weather like foggy conditions.

How Common Are Foggy Weather Car Crashes?

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), thousands of accidents occur in low-visibility conditions, including heavy precipitation, wind-blown snow, dust, smoke, and fog. For fog accidents alone, the DOT reports that in a given year, there are:

Over 38,700 crashes
More than 16,300 injured
Over 600 people killed

What Causes Fog on the Road?

Fog forms when the air’s temperature drops to the dew point, and the moisture present in the air condenses into tiny water droplets.

Several factors increase the presence of fog in Illinois. Proximity to bodies of water, such as Lake Michigan, is a significant contributor. The cool air from the lakes interacts with the warmer land, often resulting in fog, especially during transitional seasons like spring and fall.

According to the Midwest Regional Climate Center, heavy fog occurs most frequently from October through March between midnight and mid-morning.

Why Is Fog Dangerous for Drivers?

Dense fog reduces a driver’s visibility to a quarter mile or less. These low-visibility conditions increase the risk of collision due to:

Obscured objects, including stop signs, traffic signals, pedestrians, and other vehicles
Decreased ability to gauge distances and react promptly
A fog-created optical illusion can make it seem you are moving slower than you are, causing some drivers to speed up
Stopped vehicles in traffic lanes made invisible by dense fog – even with tail lights and brake lights illuminated

What Are Drivers’ Responsibilities While Traveling in Fog?

Drivers always have a duty of care to drive cautiously, but this expectation is greater in heavy fog. The safest course of action is staying off the roads. If that’s not possible, Illinois drivers in foggy conditions should take the necessary precautions and follow the guidelines in the state driver’s handbook:

Speed – Reduce your speed. Speed limits are set for optimal driving conditions. In poor weather, it is likely safer to travel well below the speed limit. If you spot headlights or taillights, decelerate even further. A driver might be using the middle of the road, moving slowly or even be stationary.
Headlights – Use them on the low-beam setting, or use fog lights or hazard lights, if available. Reflected light from high beams makes it even more challenging to see in heavy fog.
Cruise control – Turn it off and maintain a greater distance from the vehicle in front of you.
Vision – Stay within the space you can see clearly. If the fog is too thick to navigate, it’s best to pull over and stop as far from the travel lanes as possible. Avoid crawling at speeds like around 5-10 mph.
Listen – Turn down (or off) music and other sounds so you can hear traffic that you cannot see.
Signals – Engage your turn signals well in advance before making a turn.
Braking – Start braking earlier than usual when you approach a stop, giving a clear indication to the drivers behind you.

Who Is Responsible for a Car Accident in Fog?

Even though fog is a natural phenomenon, it doesn’t absolve drivers of their responsibilities on the road. When determining who has liability for a car accident that occurred during foggy conditions, the primary focus is on the driver’s actions rather than the weather conditions. Navigating through fog requires heightened vigilance and adjusted driving behavior.

A driver could be liable for an accident in the fog if they:

Drive too fast for low-visibility weather conditions.
Fail to use headlights or fog lights, or incorrectly use high beam lights that reduce visibility further and lead to accidents.
Follow too closely in reduced visibility and crash into the car ahead.
Fail to signal for a turn or lane change, catching other drivers off guard.
Stop on roadways or fail to completely pull over to the shoulder and out of traffic lanes.
Drive at 10 mph or less, which is more likely to cause an accident.
Fail to have correctly operating tail lights and brake lights, which could make a car behind crash into them.

Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. for Help After a Fog-Related Car Accident

Illinois has its share of foggy days and nights, and drivers must take extra caution in these conditions. Contact our Chicago car accident lawyers if you are dealing with injuries and expenses from a fog-related car crash involving a careless or negligent driver. You could recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more.

Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. is an award-winning law firm that focuses on helping injured people pursue compensation and seek justice. Let us handle the insurance company and legal details while you focus on healing.

Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation.