Watching the local news last night there was a story about a slip/fall accident and the lawsuit which (seems to) always occur with such things. Anyway, they were interviewing an attorney (not involved with the lawsuit) and asked for advice to avoid such suits. With a straight face he replied "don't shovel your walks in a negligent manner". So, thinking of the enormous value in those words I thought they were worth sharing here. 

Edited November 20, 20178 yr by Ron Dudelston
tags added

Good one.Fred, I have carried insurance for that for years, let them fight the insurance company.

Herb

Seems like whatever you do, you'll never avoid the potential issue. I don't miss shoveling, plowing, driving or any other activity involving snow. I only miss the cool(er) weather. If it wasn't for my 96 year old mother still living in this house I'd be gone North.

 

They have a strange arrangement here. There are only sidewalks on one side of the secondary streets. Only the major streets have them on both side. In addition, the city owns twenty feet from the center of the street. So, the first 10 feet of the yards are in reality city property. The sidewalks don't belong to the homeowner. However, if you build on a lot you have to build the sidewalk if it is on your side.

 

It wouldn't surprise me if the city were to put the responsibility on the homeowner, even though the homeowner doesn't own the walks.

 

 

7 hours ago, schnewj said:

Seems like whatever you do, you'll never avoid the potential issue.

it's called a gate...

if you are on this side of it you are trespassing... maybe even poaching...

you will be persecuted...

12 hours ago, schnewj said:

 

It wouldn't surprise me if the city were to put the responsibility on the homeowner, even though the homeowner doesn't own the walks.

 

 

 

I live out in the country, unincorporated, and have little to fear on the whole issue...no walks, just my drive. But most of the incorporated areas have laws that make it the responsibility of the property owner to clear the walks. One city actually specifies it has to happen within 4 hours after the snow stops. Just one of the (thousands) of reasons I live out. But what rankled me about that attorney I quoted is that he pretty much said what you said. "Seems like whatever you do, you'll never avoid the potential issue."

what's the difference between a dead lawyer and a dead skunk on the road?

 

There's skid marks before the skunk.

On 12/18/2016 at 3:28 PM, schnewj said:

It wouldn't surprise me if the city were to put the responsibility on the homeowner, even though the homeowner doesn't own the walks.

 

 

Where I used to live the side walk in front of the house was considered mine and were mine to shovel.Any fence would be on my side of the walk