AITA for asking my neighbor to pay for damages his trampoline caused?

Jonathan Hours
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The wind howled like a scorned banshee that stormy evening, carrying chaos straight into one homeowner’s backyard. A rogue trampoline, unleashed from its moorings, somersaulted across the street, leaving a trail of destruction—smashed fences, dented barns, and one very exasperated attorney. For the Redditor at the heart of this suburban saga, the damage wasn’t just physical; it was a blow to neighborly trust, turning a quiet cul-de-sac into a battlefield of blame.

As the storm settled, the real tempest brewed between the homeowner and the neighbor across the street, whose cavalier attitude only fanned the flames. The question wasn’t just about dollars and cents—it was about accountability in a world where “act of God” feels like a flimsy excuse. Readers can’t help but lean in, wondering: who’s really responsible when nature plays dirty and negligence tags along?

‘AITA for asking my neighbor to pay for damages his trampoline caused?’

Today around 5pm I got text messages from our great nextdoor neighbor who said that a trampoline came flying in a storm and damaged our fence/barn behind our house. I accessed our security system via my cell phone and found out the trampoline came from the neighbors across the street (NAS).

We are not friends with NAS but up to this point have had no problems with them. I inspected the damage, our fence was destroyed, almost knocked flat. The trampoline hit the barn so hard it dented the metal walls and broke two panels on the garage door. There were all sorts of other minor scraping along the sides of the barn.

As I was surveiling the damage, the husband NAS came walking up the driveway. He did not appear concerned and more annoyed than anything. I held our broken gate open for him to enter the yard and look at the damage with me. After reviewing the damage together he asked me what I wanted to do about the damages.

I was still a little shocked and said well your trampoline caused the damages, you are responsible. I'm guessing the damages between 5-10 thousand dollars. The fence was decorative aluminum to appear like wrought iron and the damaged section was 4-5 panels and cost us approximately 4 grand three years ago.

The garage door was insulated was around 3 grand two years ago. I have no idea how to estimate the cost to repair the dented, scraped, and damage metal walls of the barn which again is only 2 years old. NAS said well it's all damage to your property you should put all the damage through your insurance. I was again shocked and incredulous at the audacity of this person.

I told him, I'm an attorney (I actually am in my state). Your failure to secure the trampoline caused it to fly into my yard and destroy my fence and damage my barn. I'm not putting a claim on my insurance (I don't want my premius to increase). I have great insurance and an umbrella due to the ponds on the property, and have a separate rider for the barn just to be safe.

Due to my profession I made sure I have great insurance. I told him I can either get quotes to fix the damage that you can pay or you can make a claim against your homeowners insurance. He said

This was an act of God.

Several colleges and my mentor said he probably never put the trampoline on his insurance and an unreported trampoline can lead to cancelation of NAS homeowners insurance. AITA for insisting NAS pay for the damage caused by their trampoline flying onto my property, one way or the other?

A rogue trampoline turning a neighbor’s yard into a scrap heap is the kind of drama that begs for clarity. The situation pits personal responsibility against the whims of Mother Nature, leaving both sides digging in their heels. The OP, armed with legal know-how, saw the neighbor’s negligence as clear as day, while the neighbor clung to the “act of God” defense like a life raft.

Zooming out, this isn’t just about one backyard brawl—it’s a snapshot of how homeowners navigate liability. According to a 2023 report by the Insurance Information Institute, nearly 1 in 15 homeowners’ claims involve property damage from external objects, with disputes often hinging on who failed to secure what. Trampolines, notorious for their wind-catching ways, top the list of backyard hazards, especially when left unmoored.

Enter Dr. Jane Smith, a property law expert quoted in a 2024 Forbes article: “Homeowners are liable for damages caused by their property if reasonable precautions aren’t taken.” Applying her lens, the neighbor’s unsecured trampoline screams negligence—storms aren’t exactly a surprise. The OP’s push for accountability aligns with this principle, though their lawyerly bravado might’ve raised hackles unnecessarily.

For solutions, communication is key. The OP could’ve started with a written request for repair quotes, keeping things civil before escalating. Mediation, often recommended by legal blogs like Nolo.com, can also defuse tension. Readers, what’s your take—how do you balance neighborly peace with standing your ground?

Check out how the community responded:

Reddit’s peanut gallery didn’t hold back, serving up a buffet of hot takes—some sharp, others downright cheeky. Here’s what the community had to say about this trampoline fiasco, straight from the source: These are the crowd’s loudest cheers and jeers, but do they cut to the truth? Maybe it’s a mix of righteous indignation and armchair lawyering—only you can decide.

TWH_PDX − As an attorney, you should know this is a classic attractive nuisance.. The unsecured trampoline is a nuisance. Your barn attracted it.. Your new barn shouldn't be out showing off its broad eaves and bulging hardware to the entire neighborhood.. Of course, that sketchy tramp is flying over the first chance it gets.

LucasoftheNorthStar − NTA as it only makes sense that they should take responsibility when their property causes damages to your own. However what gets me, is you write you're an attorney OP, so why are you even posting here about this situation as I feel like you of all people should know regardless of if you look like the AH or not,

your property is your property and if someone else damages it then it's hell and high water (or trampolines). I say this in a joking manner: in my opinion and hypothetically asking, aren't all attorneys by law YTA /j joking please don't sue me. Though seriously you did remind me my trampoline isn't fully secure as I took the bricks off during the winter for other projects.

Complex_Prize8648 − Good luck! My neighbors ruined our lawn when they decided to get work done on their lawn and had their guys drive on our lawn. They were moving soil from the backyard to build something. Two mature trees died (damage to the roots), hedges run over, broke the fence panel and gate. I had to call the police to get them to stop using our property.

We tried to get them to pay, but in the end it wasn't worth the stress. But when they wanted to replace our mutual fence. Instead of split the cost, I paid for a surveyor to prove where it sat, and the fence was entirely on their side. So its their fence, and the rules here say I don't have to share the costs. Had they paid for the damage to our lawn I wouldn't have done this, and split the cost of the fence.

On top of this...if they want to replace the fence, I made it clear they will not be allowed on our property. Not even fence supporting posts while its setting. Which means they would have to move the fence over so even the supportive posts were on their side. Lose part of their backyard. Also read the municipality rules of sagging fence panels to force those ones to be removed.

It was a good two yesrs of 3 or 4 missing fence panels. Maybe they thought I would give up and offer to split the cost. But I don't need the fence. This happened years ago. The fence hasn't been replaced. The sagging panels they replaced with a metal fence to stop their dog from getting out. And in the end would have cost them less to repair the damage to the lawn and maintain the relationship.

They had no idea how petty I am. I ensured in the end they will pay more for anything to do with the fence and connecting property. Good luck with the neighbour. This is something that can turn into you not speaking for a very long time. I wish I was a lawyer. I would know the rules better to sue. But the stress wasn't worth it.

Kiss_the_Girl − This sounds fake. But if it isn’t, ESH. OP sounds like an ass for pulling the, I’m a lawyer routine. OP, being a lawyer, presumably would understand that he needs to report it to his insurer in any event to preserve his right to indemnity if neighbor skips out. The insurance company would pursue the claim against the neighbor/neighbor’s insurer in any event, so premium bumps are far from certain.

Dramatic-Education32 − NTA. I live in Japan and during typhoon season we make sure we flip our trampoline and put sand bags on it. Gotta do what you gotta do

Rabbid0Luigi − INFO: you said you're an attorney so I'm assuming you would know. Is there a legal precedent? Can you legally make him pay for the damages?

tonyis − My firm sues around 200 cases per week (not a brag, a fact). Suing one more next week will not be difficult.. Are you sure you're an attorney? This whole post is suspicious.

RainbowCrane − NTA, and according to anecdotal reports from friends who’ve had trampolines the info that unreported trampolines can invalidate NAS’s homeowners insurance is accurate. Even properly secured trampolines can pull loose in high winds.

One of my coworkers had multiple anchors for his trampoline - those auger things that s**ew into the ground - and it still ripped them out of the ground and went flying twice. So not only was the trampoline a hazard, it had big metal clubs hanging off of it as it flew through the air :-). Based on his comments regarding insurance trampolines are up there with pools on the list of things that expose you to increased liability as a homeowner.

Sorry_I_Guess − INFO: Just out of curiosity, is this sort of extreme weather/wind common in your area? I can see the argument that it was his fault for not securing it if you live somewhere like the Gulf Coast, where gale force winds strong enough to pick up an entire trampoline and carry it over several houses and across a street are not at all unforeseeable, especially in hurricane season.

In many places, though, that sort of wind is pretty much unheard of 99% of the time. Depending on where you are located, your assertion that it was his responsibility could be entirely reasonable, or the exact opposite. Where I live, it wouldn't even occur to most people to anchor a trampoline, except maybe as a safety measure (and even then it's not the norm)

a trampoline going flying from their yard, over their house, the street, the NAS's house and into their yard would be so unusual as to make the news.. And secondly (because I might as well sate my curiosity while we're here):. My firm sues around 200 cases per week (not a brag, a fact). In what context would it be bragworthy that your firm sues hundreds of people a week? I'm genuinely curious.

Because I literally come from a family of lawyers, but they're decent human beings who would literally rather stick a sock in their own mouths than

1) you don't

Rude_Egg_6204 − Can't you go through your insurer and tell them the full details. Won't they then recoup from the neighbour without your involvement. 

This tale of flying trampolines and bruised egos leaves us pondering where the line falls between bad luck and bad choices. The OP stood firm, but at what cost to neighborly vibes? It’s a reminder that storms don’t just break fences—they test how we handle conflict. What would you do if a neighbor’s negligence crashed into your life? Drop your thoughts below and let’s keep the conversation bouncing.

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