KSL INVESTIGATES

Who’s responsible when a snowplow damages your fence?

May 31, 2022, 6:13 PM | Updated: Jun 19, 2022, 10:01 pm

TOOELE, Utah — With snow comes snowplow damage, so if a city or county snowplow damaged your fence while pushing snow you would expect to get reimbursed, right? Turns out, when plows from multiple agencies work the same area, knowing who is responsible for the damage is not always clear cut. Especially, when they blame each other.

“On the side, that’s where the snow really pushed it in,” Estella Castillo said as she pointed to recent damage to her fence.

Castillo said she and her husband were watching as a snowplow came rumbling past last March. Ice and heavy snow from the plow smacked into their fence with enough force to dent and break privacy slats, and to bend the fence’s lower half out-of-shape. The couple caught a glimpse of the orange plow they thought belonged to Tooele City, but nope.

“The city denied us said that it wasn’t the city it was the county truck,” she said.

So, it had to be a Tooele County plow, right?

“The county says it was the city’s truck,” Castillo said.

All she wants is to have someone fix her fence.

“Pointing fingers at each other,” Castilla said in frustration. “Nobody wants to claim the blame.”

Exhausted by the blame game, she decided it was time to call the KSL Investigators.

When we reached out to the city, they told us the same thing they told Castillo: It was not their truck. it was not their fault.

But when we reached out to the county, they had a different response. Rather than point the finger back at the city, a spokesperson told us they will “turn this matter over to its insurance carrier for investigation and resolution.”

Just like that, Castillo is finally working with the county’s insurer to mend her fence.

“I don’t want a whole new fence,” she said. “Just put it the way it was.”

Generally, homeowners’ insurance covers damage caused by snowplows. So long as a property, whether it is a mailbox or a fence, isn’t in the wrong area – like too close to the street.

KSL 5 TV Live

KSL Investigates

Matt Gephardt meeting with Denis Hawkins after a rental car company after they ignored his calls fo...

Matt Gephardt

Get Gephardt helps Spanish Fork man clear up insurance claim for rental car damage

Get Gephardt clears up an international rental car insurance standstill.

22 hours ago

FILE - An airplane flies through the clouds in Salt Lake City. (Jeffrey D. Allred / Deseret News)...

Matt Gephardt

How recent airline incidents are changing habits and impacting airfare costs

After a year of headlines lamenting runway incursions and midair close calls, the wheels may be coming off for the airline industry. Literally.

2 days ago

Josh Kochevar died unexpectedly last month. The unhappy task of writing the obituary fell to his ol...

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage

How scammers are using counterfeit obituaries to profit off deaths of loved ones

You have probably heard of stories where an empty home was burglarized while everyone was attending a funeral service. Or stories about thieves breaking into cars parked at a funeral. Now, artificial intelligence has opened a new way for crooks to capitalize on grief.

3 days ago

A person scanning a recently generated QR code....

Matt Gephardt and Sloan Schrage, KSL TV

How to protect yourself from fake QR codes scammers use to steal money and info

Here's what you need to know about QR codes and protecting yourself from scammers.

7 days ago

General view outside of the Delta Center ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on March 19,...

Matt Gephardt

NCAA Tournament basketball is coming to Salt Lake and so are the ticket scams

As March Madness excitement ramps up, so do the odds of buying pricey tickets to tournament games that turn out to be fakes or non-existent.

8 days ago

About a year ago, the KSL Investigators went under the hood of some "connected" smart cars to see w...

Matt Gephardt

Internet-connected cars may share driver info with insurance companies, what it means for premiums

some internet-connected vehicles are sharing our driving habits with our insurance companies

9 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Women hold card for scanning key card to access Photocopier Security system concept...

Les Olson

Why Printer Security Should Be Top of Mind for Your Business

Connected printers have vulnerable endpoints that are an easy target for cyber thieves. Protect your business with these tips.

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Who’s responsible when a snowplow damages your fence?