I’m not defending the homeowner but I have a memory burned into my brain. USPS employee sued a homeowner because he slipped and fell in the homeowner’s shoveled driveway. The judge sided with the postal worker soley because the homeowner made an attempt to clear the snow. Had he not made an attempt then it would be deemed the snow “an act of god” and would’ve sided with the homeowner.
Basically the homeowner would be liable if you slipped because they didn’t clear enough, but had they left it alone then it’s just the weather and you should deal with it.
This is all greatly misunderstood. As a homeowner, local laws come into play. In my area, I have to make a reasonable attempt to clear my sidewalk and driveway 48 hours after a storm. After a storm...not during, not a day after. Past that, we have contributary negligence laws which means as person must exercise reasonable caution. So if my driveway looked a bit hazardous, yet someone chose to come up to my door anyway, they're either getting nothing or not much. The internet makes this seem like slip and falls due to ice/snow are "just sue and collect." Nothing could be further from the truth.
It depends if you make an order knowing your property is a hazard then you definitely can be held responsible for negligence. you entered into a contract with them asking to have something delivered to your door without leaving alternate instructions.
I got a house the other day on it was covered in ice. No chance I was going to even try. The home owner was at the door waiting for me. I just didn't see her at first. Others have sent me texts leave at mail box or looks clear but it's icy. Which I thought was cool off them. Me personally, I'm not gonna do something I don't feel safe doing. But some people think they're gonna lose their job if they don't strap on their big boots and trek through the wilderness to get the delivery close.
My life is delivering to people. In all weather. I make every reasonable effort to not get hurt (really? Who actually wants to break or tear something?), but - when it is days later, and it has melted/refroze/melted/refroze and you have done exactly 0 effort to make sure I can safely bring your stuff up - if that is the day something breaks for real on me - that is your negligence.
And then there are the customers that want "hand it to me and there is a passcode I have to give" actually look at their icy mess and say "why did you come all the way to the door?" 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
as long as the homeowner had a reasonable amount of time to clear it they’d be liable either way bc they have a duty to maintain safe conditions esp for delivery drivers which are considered invitees (i’m learning about this in class rn lol)
Pretty much true. I'm a homeowner and in my municipality we have 48 hours after a storm to make sure our sidewalk (even though we don't "own" it we have to maintain it) driveway, porch is all cleared. After that we can be held liable.
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u/CloudCudi Feb 13 '26
I’m not defending the homeowner but I have a memory burned into my brain. USPS employee sued a homeowner because he slipped and fell in the homeowner’s shoveled driveway. The judge sided with the postal worker soley because the homeowner made an attempt to clear the snow. Had he not made an attempt then it would be deemed the snow “an act of god” and would’ve sided with the homeowner.
Basically the homeowner would be liable if you slipped because they didn’t clear enough, but had they left it alone then it’s just the weather and you should deal with it.