What exactly is a nor’easter?
There is a keyword that is often thrown around when there is a big snowstorm in the Tohoku region, but what exactly does this mean?
When snow piles up across the country, snow removal crews work around the clock to keep local roads passable. However, during major winter storms, trucks can sometimes cause property damage, such as damaged mailboxes or dented vehicles.
These situations are unfortunate, but they do happen. And if you find your property destroyed by snowplows this winter, here are some tips for dealing with it.
document the damage
Most departments only cover damage caused by vehicles, so you first need to make sure that the damage to your property was caused by a direct hit from a snowplow and not by the snow itself. Check for paint transfer, scuffs, and tire marks.
Next, document the damage to your property as soon as possible. This includes taking photos and videos of the damage and the surrounding area, collecting surveillance footage, and creating a list if several parts of your property were affected.
Submit a claim
To file a claim for damage to your mailbox or landscaping, you will need to determine whether it was a municipal, county, or private snow plow that hit your property. This depends on whether you live on roads maintained by a town or county, or in a private community with private services.
You can then contact your local or county public works department or private company directly and file your claim within about 3 days or up to 90 days, depending on your location. Also, check with your insurance company to find out if your homeowner’s insurance will cover repairs.
Additionally, if your mailbox is severely damaged, you should contact your local post office and ask them to temporarily hold your mail until it is repaired.
To file a claim for vehicle damage, report the accident to the police in a non-emergency manner. You should also contact your auto insurance company immediately to determine whether your policy will cover the necessary repairs.
make necessary repairs
Whether and how mailboxes and landscaping are repaired varies by municipality and county.
Most businesses typically repair damaged landscapes after a snowstorm ends and the ground thaws in the spring.
Also, when it comes to mailboxes, most departments will be provided with standard posts and mailboxes rather than replacing them with the same mailboxes they had before. Some departments will install it for you, while others will require you to install it yourself.
Maddie McGay is a real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering everything that’s worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay or X @maddiemcgayy and sign up for the North Jersey Living newsletter. Have a tip, trend, or great home she should know about? Email MMcGay@gannett.com.
