In 2024, my mother fell down the stairs and broke her neck rendering her quadriplegic. I had to purchase a 1 floor house for her so that she could use a wheelchair. Unfortunately, this house has a driveway at almost 50% grade (25 ft elevation change over 50 ft of length.) This house is in a wooded subdivision and has a minimalist HOA whose primary responsibility is taking care of the roads for $500 annually.
This past weekend, it snowed approximately 6 inches with another 2-3 inches of sleet and ice on top of it. I work for the local transit authority and was on shift this weekend, so late evening on Sunday, I loaded my snowblower on a trailer, hitched it to my SUV, and headed for my mother’s house to clear the driveway.
My trailer is approximately 8 ft wide.
It was still actively snowing and the road had not been plowed since the morning. The contract with the plow service states that they must respond if accumulation reaches 3 inches, which is was just at.
I bore to the right to avoid oncoming traffic. The road is 20 ft wide and only a partial width was clear. In doing so, the wheels of my trailer dipped off the road into a drainage ditch/culvert. Rocking back&forth in an effort to free the trailer caused my SUV to be pulled into the ditch.
A passing plow truck offered assistance with a chain.
A woman came out of a nearby house and talked to the plow operator who quickly unhooked his chain and pulled away nervously.
The woman came at me and started yelling: "I hope you know you’re paying for that." "I have pictures of your license plate and I’m calling the police."
I calmly replied, "As soon as I get outta here, we can survey the damage and I’ll be happy to provide you my insurance. But I’d like you to step back so I don’t spray any snow or dirt on you or accidentally hit you. Afterwards, we can address this cordially/civilly, as accidents do happen."
She continued, "You went out to get a snowblower? You know they make shovels." "You’re a p\*\*\*y ass f\*\*\*\*t and I bet you rent." "Go back to where you came from. We can drive here in America." "I hope you get stuck and never get it out."
I eventually rocked my truck back and forth enough to free it and the trailer. Meanwhile, the plow operator took care of her driveway.
Once parked in a clear area of the road, I attempted to address her again, but she continued. "My husband is out protecting the community and you’ve gotta play games with your 4×4 and snowblower."
I explained, "My mother is handicapped and may need medical help, which cannot come in the snow. Besides, I see that you didn’t use a shovel; had the plow clear your driveway."
She said, "They do that for free, because my husband is a public works employee."
I responded, "You think I wear a bright neon yellow snow suit for fun? I work for the transit authority."
Eventually refused to deal with an irrational loon and drove off.
Pics here: [https://imgur.com/a/LDJW5eo](https://imgur.com/a/LDJW5eo)
Obviously NTA. Can’t deal with inflamed or unreasonable people.
INFO: where is the conflict? What did you damage?
Pics attached. Two tire tracks in her “yard.”
HOA docs say that HOA common areas include a total of 40 ft of roadway, the 20 ft wide road and 10 ft in either direction as a shoulder.
I’m confused. I haven’t read the part where you refused to deal with the situation and delayed compensation. So impossible to know if you are the ah or not. Or am I missing something here?
I cannot understand how being forced off the road because of bad weather conditions can be any cause for compensation EXCEPT for the OOP.
The HOA-lady was simply an angry lunatic for some unknown reason. Assuming there’s nothing significant missing. The story has some holes and patches, for sure.
I can’t tell from the pictures. She sounds awful though. Maybe reach out to the HOA on your mom’s behalf about the awful neighbor as well as the plow service not getting to her?
HOA contracts with the plow service for roads only. Driveways are homeowner responsibility…
In other research, HOA docs say that HOA common areas include a total of 40 ft of roadway, the 20 ft wide road and 10 ft in either direction as a shoulder. I may not have even touched awful lady’s yard proper. Won’t know until the snow melts.
I am just here because I have no idea what happened or what I am looking at.
There is no conflict here to judge.
NTA – I would have had a hard time not coming back to do donuts, honestly.
I think you need r/legaladvice, not this sub. That said, (IANAL) I know of no place in the U.S. where you have to offer compensation immediately at an accident scene. There has to be am investigation to see who’s liable.
She was *an* asshole, obviously, with her comments, but you may or may not have done your legal duty at an accident scene. If so, you’re fine, who cares if you were rude too, as long as she knows how to find you. If not, you may have technically committed hit and run. You need a lawyer’s advice.
EDIT: Having read some of the comments, and seen the pictures, I don’t think you even damaged her property? I assumed you had done *something*. At worst you may have killed some grass, as far as I can tell. I still can’t say whether you need legal advice, but if it happened to me, I probably wouldn’t bother. Still, you hopefully made sure she had your contact info. Call your insurance company and see what they say. You were smart not to have given her any compensation yet. And who cares if you were an asshole too (doesn’t sounds like it though).
I would say to post on nextdoor about municipal workers plowing private driveways with a pic of her house and mailbox, but you may or may not be doing the same?
Hi, Lawyer of the accused asshole here. The damage done to the property will all be revealed when the snow melts. You owe around $50,000 in property damage and she is requesting an additional $50,000 for mental trauma. Additionally, she is asking to have your mother put down. We will be reach out to you for further settlement inquiries