Elkhart, IN asked in Car Accidents and Construction Law for Ohio

Q: Who is at fault for ice buildup due to clogged downspout that subsequently fell 30 feet onto a car?

Car owner parked in a parking lot next to a building. The 30 foot tall downspout had ice accumulation due to the fact it was clogged and did not allow proper water drainage. While away, a large section of ice sheared away from the downspout hitting the car and causing major damage. Ice was large enough to shatter windshield and could have easily killed someone had they been under it as well. Is the building owner or car owner responsible for paying damages to the car?

1 Lawyer Answer
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Little Neck, NY

A: An Ohio attorney could advise best, but your post remains open for three weeks. It could depend on a number of factors, including condition/maintenance of the waterspout, conditions for use of the lot, warning signs or disclaimers, and other possible factors. An Ohio attorney could offer better insight with additional details. Good luck

Tim Akpinar

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.