Neighbor’s Trampoline Causes Thousands in Property Damage: Why They Refuse to Pay

An anonymous poster resorted to Reddit to receive advice after a neighbor’s springboard caused havoc on his property during a storm.

The drama was developed around 5 in the afternoon, when the man received text messages from his «great neighbor next door who said that a springboard flew out in a storm and damaged our fence/barn behind our house.»

When checking the safety images, the poster discovered that the trampoline in the air originated in the neighbors on the other side of the street (called NAS). Although they were not friends with their neighbors, there were no previous problems.

When evaluating the damage, the man pointed out that his «close was destroyed, almost beaten.» However, it was not only the fence that needed repairs. «The springboard hit the barn with such force that he abolished the metal walls and broke two panels at the garage door,» the man explained in the post.

They estimated that the cost of repairs was between $ 5,000 and $ 10,000, given that «the near aluminum was decorative to appear as wrought iron and the damaged section was 4-5 panels and cost us approximately 4 large three years ago.» The barn, who was only two years old, also suffered significant damage.

While the poster was surveying the destruction, its neighbor arrived. «While examining the damage, the husband Nas climbed the entrance path. He didn’t seem worried and more annoying than anything,» they continued.

The two walked together to evaluate the situation, and the neighbor asked: «What do you want to do regarding the damage?» The poster, which still prosecuted the situation, replied: «Well, your springboard caused the damage, you are responsible.»

Instead of accepting responsibility, the neighbor suggested that the owner submit a claim with his own insurance. «Nas said: ‘Well, everything is damage to his property. He must put all the damage through his insurance.’ He was, again, surprised and unbelievable with the audacity of this person.»

Given his legal background, the poster knew that this was not the correct course of action. «I told him that I am a lawyer (I’m really in my state). Your failure to secure the springboard made me fly to my patio and destroy my fence and damage my barn. I am not presenting my insurance (I do not want my cousin to increase).»

Despite the explanation of the poster, the neighbor was not willing to cooperate, declaring: «Well, I am not paying effective and I do not make a claim against my insurance. This was an act of God.»

The owner, not impressed, reminded the neighbor of legal reality. «I said: ‘It’s fine, I’m sorry you see it like that. My signature demands about 200 cases per week. Sue one more next week will not be difficult.'»

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That statement seemed to change the neighbor’s tone. «That was when NAS finally agreed to notice their owners and exchanged their phone number with me.» Later, the poster consulted with colleagues and mentors, who suggested that NAS probably did not want to tell his insurer that he had a springboard, which can increase insurance costs due to the risk of claims of responsibility.

«Several colleagues and my mentor said that he probably never put the springboard in his insurance, and an uninformed trampoline can lead to the cancellation of the insurance of the owners of NAS,» they explained.

Since he went to Reddit, many users have put themselves on the side of the poster, claiming that the defenses of the «act of God» generally do not apply when it comes to negligence, as not to ensure an element that could become dangerous in bad weather.