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The person who caused the damage drove away before I could get outside to get their info, so I don't know who they are and they don't live in this area as they were visiting from out of town. IF I had the driver's information I would pursue the issue with them directly and not involve the neighbor, but the neighbor didn't give me their friend's info and the neighbor told me he'd handle it for their friend.
There is no better spot to relocate the mailbox post as there's just a narrow strip on either side of my driveway and all the driveways are clustered together on my side of the street, one right after the other for about 5 houses. I could put the post on the narrow strip on the other side of my driveway but the mailbox would still be vulnerable to being hit by people going into or backing out of the house on the other side. I've lived in my house for over 13 yrs and this is the only time I've had someone back into my mailbox -- 2 times in 4 months, both from that one neighbor, who has lived in that house for a couple years.
I promise I will *not* allow any concrete to be used to re-anchor/re-seat the post. It wasn't used before.
First of all, you should not have to relocate your mailbox. What if a child had been standing in that spot? The driver obviously failed to adequately look behind when backing out and should be grateful it was only a mailbox post that was hit.
Second, why should you who has suffered inconvenience/damage to your property for the second time be worried about your neighbor's feelings especially when caused by negligence.
Third, this should be covered by the driver's insurance. (Too bad if he has a deductible.)
I would again ask the neighbor for the driver's information as you want the post repaired as soon as possible. You have been patient but do not feel you should be inconvenienced any further and would like to make an insurance report as is your right and you need to timely do so. I would keep following up as an annoyance much the same as he is allowing this issue to annoy you.
Lastly, you could file a police report and it would be incumbent upon the police to follow up with the neighbor to get the driver's information. I don't know that I would take this route but it would depend upon what type of response I get from the neighbor. It may be since you ended up painting the mail box the last time, he may decide stalling is to his benefit. Think of it this way, what if it gets hit again? Do not establish a precedent of handling it yourself.
If someone damages my property, I expect it repaired on my timeline not theirs. Just because he decided to place himself in the middle of what is his friend's responsibility and is trying to save money is not your problem and whether they like it or not is immaterial. Maybe they will be more cautious in backing out of their driveway.
Last edited by Maddie104; 09-15-2019 at 10:37 AM..
First of all, you should not have to relocate your mailbox. What if a child had been standing in that spot? The driver obviously failed to adequately look behind when backing out and should be grateful it was only a mailbox post that was hit.
Second, why should you who has suffered inconvenience/damage to your property for the second time be worried about your neighbor's feelings especially when caused by negligence.
Third, this should be covered by the driver's insurance. (Too bad if he has a deductible.)
{snipped for space}.
Hi Maddie,
Excellent response; thank you for taking the time to articulate it all so well. You're right about everything. I didn't want to pizz off the next door neighbor since we've had a nice relationship in few years they've been here, but they're renters so they won't live there forever.
So, I just sent a text to the neighbor (that's how we communicate), letting him know the post is still wobbly, needs to be properly reinforced underground at the base just as it was when first installed, a handyman is needed to do the work, and I want to get the repair done this week. I also added if he sent me the name/number of the friend who caused the damage I'd contact her directly.
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AND... he just answered me back, saying he hadn't forgotten, said there was "no need to contact anyone directly as he previously said." He claimed to have already reached out to "his guy" (a handyman) and says he is waiting to hear back on when his guy can "squeeze this in."
Millennial communication is . I had no idea he'd contacted anyone, assuming he's actually telling me the truth that he did call someone, and I'm suspicious about that. Considering he blew off the paint job of the mail post before, I bet he was waiting to see if I'd notice the post wasn't really fixed and that he'd only propped it back up with a little dirt.
I requested he keep me apprised and told him I had no idea he'd called anyone to do the job.
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They want to protect their friend so the burden's on them...
You could file a police report, get ahold of the driver's automobile insurance company, and file a claim.
When the post on our mailbox got loose due to rot, the mailman left use a note to fix it or they would stop delivering mail.
And then there is this:
Since a mailbox officially belongs to the government and thus falls under U.S. law, tampering with, disabling or otherwise vandalizing a mailbox is illegal under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1705. Those found in violation of this code section can be fined up to $250,000 or sentenced to up to three years in prison for each instance.
Individuals can report any theft or violence against a mailbox directly to the U.S. Postal Service toll-free at 1-877-876-2455 or online at USPS.gov. By keeping a mailbox in good repair and in a safe location, individuals can reduce the risk of vandalism.
Excellent response; thank you for taking the time to articulate it all so well. You're right about everything. I didn't want to pizz off the next door neighbor since we've had a nice relationship in few years they've been here, but they're renters so they won't live there forever.
So, I just sent a text to the neighbor (that's how we communicate), letting him know the post is still wobbly, needs to be properly reinforced underground at the base just as it was when first installed, a handyman is needed to do the work, and I want to get the repair done this week. I also added if he sent me the name/number of the friend who caused the damage I'd contact her directly.
-------------------
AND... he just answered me back, saying he hadn't forgotten, said there was "no need to contact anyone directly as he previously said." He claimed to have already reached out to "his guy" (a handyman) and says he is waiting to hear back on when his guy can "squeeze this in."
Millennial communication is . I had no idea he'd contacted anyone, assuming he's actually telling me the truth that he did call someone, and I'm suspicious about that. Considering he blew off the paint job of the mail post before, I bet he was waiting to see if I'd notice the post wasn't really fixed and that he'd only propped it back up with a little dirt.
I requested he keep me apprised and told him I had no idea he'd called anyone to do the job.
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They want to protect their friend so the burden's on them...
Sounds like you might have lit a fire under him -- diplomatically I might add. Good luck.
P.S. Personally I have no problem being a PIA. In many of my jobs that's how I've had to be to get things done.
I have a standard wood mailbox post with mailbox attached, at the end of my property near the street.
A week ago the next door neighbors had a friend visiting and the friend backed into my mailbox post. I saw it happen from my window. By the time I got dressed and outside the friend was gone. I went to the neighbors and they were aware of the accident and said they'd take care of it.
(BTW, this is the second time my mailbox has been run into by this neighbor -- first time a few months ago it was the wife who did it and this time it was their friend who was staying with them.)
The first time the neighbors replaced the post and mailbox entirely with what I specified, as both were damaged, and they had a handyman do the install. I wanted the post painted white like the previous one was and I even had paint ready to use. The neighbor said he'd do it (the painting the post part) instead of having the handyman do it. He never got to it and I wanted it done, so after waiting several days after the new post & box were installed, I just painted it myself. I was annoyed, but it got done.
This time, as before, the neighbor said he'll take care of getting my mailbox repaired.
Well...you can guess where this is going...
It's been a week and I've already texted neighbor a few days ago to remind him. He says he doesn't need to pay a handyman to do it, he can do the repair himself since the post itself is fine, the mailbox is undamaged, and the post just needs to be re-seated and he said he's done that before. Then he added he needs a tool to do the digging and re-seating...but has said nothing since then nor did he commit to when he would do this repair.
My spidey-sense tells me he's procrastinating or will blow this off since the post isn't broken and it's upright, though a bit wobbly in the disturbed ground.
My choices are:
- Continue to nag him to get it done
- Hire someone myself to do the work (I'm unable to do it as I don't know how nor am I strong enough)
Frankly I'm annoyed because I shouldn't have to bear the cost of the repair nor should I have to nag him about it. Although it was his friend who caused the damage he (neighbor) took responsibility for it. At the same time I don't want to create a contentious and awkward situation with a next door neighbor.
Should be less than $50 to hire someone to re-seat the post, right? I'm obviously going to have to hire someone to get it done.
Run over his mailbox.
Tell him you can hire someone and send him the bill if he’s not going to fix it in a timely manner.
Sounds like you might have lit a fire under him -- diplomatically I might add. Good luck.
P.S. Personally I have no problem being a PIA. In many of my jobs that's how I've had to be to get things done.
I'm used to being assertive (yes even a PIA) in a professional capacity, as I've had to light lots of fires under lots of butts in my career and it was required in order to meet product commitments and deadlines.
I was treating the neighbors with kid gloves, giving them the benefit of any doubt and gently prodding, but no more. I think my neighbor is passive/aggressive and on the sleazy glad-handing side, where it's easy to tell a lie to try and make something go away or buy time. I have no doubt he does that at work, now that I've seen him in action.
Cripes... I get that you're venting, but move on already. This is a non-issue. Either the neighbor is a person who will do the right thing (in which case he would have already), or he isn't and no amount of anything will make him.
Life isn't fair, never has been, never will be. You think it's not fair you're going to have to pay $50 to have someone else fix it? I can show you some people who think it's not fair that you have the means to pay someone else $50... and still more people who won't see $50 in one lump sum, ever. Get over it.
As with Absolutely everything in this life, if you want something done, you must do it yourself. No one is going to do anything for you unless They get something out of it for themselves. So, get busy with getting it done. If you want to be vindictive, spend a little more money and use a 4" steel pipe filled with concrete and sunk about 6' into the ground... the next thing that hits That will absolutely know they hit it, and you'll only be out the cost of some time to put a little paint on the thing.
hire someone and hand them the bill . If they refuse time for judge judy . I don't care one tinkers iota if they like it or not , they should not be dragging their feet about it . I mean come on they are a neighbor and I would push it .
We have posts at the end of the alleys in the commercial section of our neighborhood.
The small ones (<6-inches in diameter) kept getting hit and moved/tilted, etc. In two cases, the posts did not protect the adjacent buildings and reconstruction was needed.
The new posts are 8-inch steel pipe filled with concrete and are embedded 4+ feet into the ground. These are not going to move. Some people are going to have expensive damage to their cars and small trucks.
We have posts at the end of the alleys in the commercial section of our neighborhood.
The small ones (<6-inches in diameter) kept getting hit and moved/tilted, etc. In two cases, the posts did not protect the adjacent buildings and reconstruction was needed.
The new posts are 8-inch steel pipe filled with concrete and are embedded 4+ feet into the ground. These are not going to move. Some people are going to have expensive damage to their cars and small trucks.
Now that's a serious solution! I like it. I will look into doing that if it ever happens again.
Ironically I live on a cul-de-sac and it's not like there's a lot of traffic coming through. This is a case of someone not having a full view outside their SUV, not knowing how to back up correctly, my mailbox just so happens to be in their blind spot, and while backing out they turn their steering wheel prematurely, crossing the very narrow strip of land between our driveways, driving over some landscaping bricks lining the edge, and clipping my mail box/post. Both times it happened it was an SUV.
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. I had no idea he'd contacted anyone, assuming he's actually telling me the truth that he did call someone, and I'm suspicious about that. Considering he blew off the paint job of the mail post before, I bet he was waiting to see if I'd notice the post wasn't really fixed and that he'd only propped it back up with a little dirt.
