In the winter season we're thankful when a snowplow comes through and clears our street. But what happens if the plow hits and damages our property? Well, some towns won't cover the costs.
Ruby Skroback lives in the Town of Allegany and says she has parked her vehicles along the road in front of her house for 60 years. But last month her car was hit by a town snowplow. "He got my tail light, and the back panel, and my door," Skroback said.
A week after the incident, she and her daughter received a letter saying the town wouldn't cover the cost. "I pay the $500 deductible out of my own pocket. I don't have money for that," Skroback said. "What bothers me is {the town's} insurance won't take care of it... this will raise my insurance."
Allegany Town Supervisor Pat Eaton says the current insurance policies show the town isn't liable. And he says there have only been two snowplow related accidents in the area in 25 years. "The law is and the company's policy is when you're plowing during snow removal it's in essence a snow emergency. And whatever accidents occur, the town is not liable," Eaton said. "We're sympathetic towards these people, we really are but we don't want to start gifting taxpayers' money. When the insurance company says 'no we're not gonna pay' and the law says 'you don't have to pay' and when towns start paying, you're in a gray area now because you're gifting taxpayers' money."
In several larger cities including Buffalo, the policies are different. Snowplow accidents are treated like any other accident. If an investigation shows the city snowplow driver was at fault, then the city's insurance covers damages.
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