zxcvbob wrote:

The Guy wrote:


\


In the town I grew up in, one guy had a similar problem with cars
failing
to make a curve at the end of a high-speed stretch of road, and
ending up
in his back yard.

He placed some seven to ten-foot tall boulders in the path.

Problem is, in today's litigous society, anything you place in the
possible
path of a car just might make you libel for injuries that might not have
occured if the obstacle was not there, and the person's car simply
came to
a stop in your yard with no man-made obstacles placed in their path -
especially since there is a history/precedent of people walking away
uninjured from forays into your front yard prior to you setting up any
barriers, etc.

We've all read about burglars suing homeowners for unsafe conditions
causing injury while they were attempting to commit a crime. There are
lawyers who are willing to launch just about any sort of lawsuit -
frivolous or not.

I would lobby the local government for some sort of guardrail, or
government-placed barrier - which should absolve you of any
responsibility.

I also think a visit to your lawyer to determine what you can do without
placing yourself in jeopardy might be a good first step. Get his
opinion in
writing, if you can.



I live in a suburban area. Speed limits are generally 25 mph here.
For years during wet weather, inattentive drivers would speed down a
nearby hill and slide across an intersection, occasionally making
contact with a house.

The problem was resolved by installing two rebar reinforced cement
core columns, with brick facing, just inside the property line. Each
column is about 2.5 feet square. In the last decade, about half a
dozen cars have jumped the curb and impacted one of the columns. In
each case, the driver was cited for careless driving and required to
pay for repairs to the column, landscaping and curbs.

A couple of lawyers attempted to push liability onto the home owner
and were laughed out of court. One judge told a lawyer that unless a
column fell over the property line, unassisted, and landed on
someone, liability was just not an issue.

Tim


I was thinking about a section of fence inside the property line
(right-of-way/easement/whatever.) Sections of telephone pole sunk deep
in the ground at each end, a single 5/8" or 3/4" wire rope back and
forth about 3 times between the poles so it looks like 3 strands of
barbwire. Don't stretch the cable too tight, so when someone hits it it
will have some "give" to it. Plant some sturdy bushes just inside it,
and see if the county will put a barrier sign in front (alternating
yellow and black diagonal bands.)

-Bob

Not a bad idea. I would ensure that the fence is on your property and
check with the local building inspector to determine if any permit or
variance was required to erect that type of fence. As long as it is
legal, you should be OK.

Anyone who subsequently trespasses on your property and damages your
yard art / fence will have some explaining to do.

Tim
--
No BoomBoom for me! -