In the midst of a winter wonderland, AAA is reminding Connecticut drivers to clear off their vehicles before heading out on the roads. Not doing so can be dangerous for a variety of reasons, AAA reports.

Not only can snow on your vehicle impair your view as a driver, it can also cause what AAA calls “ice missiles” to form, which can pose a threat to other drivers on the road.

What happens is that when a car is driving down a busy road such as Interstate 95, I-84 or Route 15 at high speeds, snow or ice can slide off and smash into the windshield of another driver.

It isn’t just courteous to remove snow and ice from your vehicle so that this doesn’t happen, it is also required by the law.

Connecticut state law requires motorists to remove all snow and ice from the tops of their vehicles before driving. A fine of $75 can apply if snow from your vehicle hits another vehicle, and a fine as high as $1,000 can apply if the snow missile injures someone or causes property damage.

Connecticut drivers “shall remove any accumulated ice or snow from such motor vehicle, including the hood, trunk or roof of such motor vehicle so that any ice or snow accumulated on such vehicle does not pose a threat to persons or property while the vehicle is being operated on any street or highway of this state,” the law holds.

A Connecticut lawmaker said he proposed the bill, which was signed into law in 2013, because his wife was the victim of a snow missile that fell from a truck. Though the lawmaker’s wife was reportedly not hurt because of the incident, it did leave her shaken up.

With that said, if you are involved in an accident because snow flew off of another driver’s vehicle, you may be entitled to damages in a personal injury claim. That’s because not removing snow and ice from a vehicle can be considered negligence.

Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer in your area for more information.

Source: NBC Connecticut, “Clear Off Your Cars to Avoid Ice Missiles,” Feb. 3, 2015