Massachusetts Residents; A Snow Plow Hit My Mailbox, Who is Responsible?

It's that time of year in Massachusetts and the plows are out in full force.

Department of Public works trucks at cities and towns across Massachusetts are out on what feels like a weekly and sometimes daily basis getting ready for, or cleaning up after snowstorms.

While we need and appreciate these trucks to get us going after a big snowstorm, the massive trucks can do some damage, especially if they rendevous with your mailbox.

In Massachusetts, Here's What to Do If Your Mailbox is Hit By a Snowplow

You're pulling out of your driveway after some freshly fallen snow and what do you see? Your mailbox laying on the ground completely taken out by a snowplow. You probably swear once or twice, or three times, maybe even slap the steering wheel for good measure, but then what? Well, what happens next really depends on where you live.

There's no statewide regulation that dictates who is responsible for damage caused by a plow, so your best first step is to reach out to your city or town's highway department. After doing a little digging around, it looks like most towns in Massachusetts will cover damage to your mailbox if it's on your property. However, if it's on the edge of your yard where it meets the road, which is technically city/town property, some places might not cover it. In Massachusetts, the mailbox should be mounted at least eight inches from the curb and 42 inches from the ground up.

So what about Pittsfield? Well if you live in Berkshire County's biggest city, chances are Pittsfield will pick up the tab if a plow hits your mailbox. We talked to City Commissioner Ricardo Morales who said they typically take care of any damage regardless of the location of the mailbox. He said typically because of the odd case where it might not be clear who caused damage, but very likely all are a result of plowing.