My Neighbor Hit My Mailbox (Here’s What You Should Do)

Life can get really frustrating when your neighbor hits your mailbox and doesn’t take responsibility. It’s even more frustrating when you catch them red-handed on camera and they still deny the fact.

If your neighbor hit your mailbox and is denying responsibility, contact your local law enforcement immediately to file a police report against your neighbor. They will begin an investigation and try to charge your neighbor if they are found guilty.

However, there are many other things you need to consider before you do this. We unpacked all the laws and neighborly duties that must be considered before you deal with a damaged mailbox.

This post contains affiliate links from Amazon and other stores. This means Yard Blogger may earn a commission if you make a purchase using any of our links. Please refer to our full affiliate disclosure policy for full details.

Here’s a Quick Pro Tip!

If you’re having issues with neighbors and random people hitting or destroying your mailbox, you should pick up the Sequoia Heavy-Duty Mailbox from Amazon.

This thing is built like a tank and can withstand a lot of abuse without being dented or destroyed.

It’s also a good idea to have a decent security system like a Ring Video Doorbell or Outdoor Security Cameras (both on Amazon) so that you have evidence against your neighbor if needed.

What Do I Do If My Neighbor Hits My Mailbox?

If your neighbor hit your mailbox, confront them about it and give them a chance to admit what they did. If they deny what they did, then you have every right to file a police report against them.

Hitting a mailbox with a car is technically considered a collision. If your neighbor hit your mailbox, did nothing about it, and then denied the fact, that is considered a hit and run and you can get them charged by filing a police report against them.

What to Do If Your Mailbox Gets Hit

If your mailbox got hit, first check to see if anyone left their contact information on your property. This is usually slipped under your door or tucked under somewhere obvious by your front door. If you do not find anything, then file a police report with your local police station as this is considered a hit and run.

The police will begin an investigation into who hit your mailbox by accessing street cameras or finding witnesses. In the meantime, you will have to replace your mailbox in order to receive mail.

Unfortunately, it is your responsibility to maintain your mailbox even after it gets damaged. You may be able to claim the expenses once the person who hit your mailbox is found.

Do You Call the Cops If Someone Hits Your Mailbox?

You should absolutely call the cops if someone hits your mailbox especially if no one is there to take responsibility. This incident is considered a collision and, in this case, a hit and run.

The police will ask you as many details as you have. You may not have much if you weren’t home to witness the incident but don’t worry, the police will handle it from here.

You might also enjoy our post on Can I Put My Neighbor’s Mail in Their Mailbox Legally?

Someone Hit My Mailbox and Left

When someone hits your mailbox and leaves, this is considered a hit and run. You should file a police report immediately so law enforcement can begin an investigation and find out who is guilty.

You can help by asking your neighbors if they witnessed anything- usually, when a car hits into a mailbox, a fairly loud noise is produced and will draw attention.

Also, ask if anyone has any home security footage that might catch the offender in action which they could hand over to the police.

Hit and Run On My Mailbox

Hit and runs occur when there is a collision with a car and anyone involved in the incident flees the scene. This collision can include when a car collides with a mailbox, for whatever reason. A hit and run is a criminal offense in most jurisdictions.

Unfortunately, as the homeowner, you will be responsible for the damage costs of your mailbox, unless it is covered in your homeowner’s insurance.

Additionally, file a police report immediately with your local police station so they can begin an investigation and find who is responsible.

What Happens When Someone Hits Your Mailbox?

When someone hits your mailbox, the first thing you should do is contact law enforcement so an investigation can begin since hitting a mailbox and fleeing the scene is a crime. They will have the resources to find out who is responsible.

Unfortunately, you are responsible for replacing your mailbox if it is damaged. Check with your homeowners’ insurance to find out if the cost is covered.

Look into purchasing a new mailbox like the Sequoia Heavy-Duty Mailbox from Amazon as soon as possible so you can begin receiving your mail again.

Mailbox Keeps Getting Hit by Cars

Your mailbox may be in a vulnerable place if it keeps getting hit by cars or the drivers in your area may just be reckless. Look into buying some illuminating lights to shine onto your mailbox or reflective lights to stick on to the sides of the mailbox.

Making your mailbox easier to see at night may help solve your problem.

You can purchase these sonar ground lights to place around your mailbox that will illuminate your mailbox at night or place these reflective strips on the side of your mailbox.

You should also consider where your mailbox is placed and if you have any room to move it further away from the road.

You might also enjoy our post on Can My Neighbor Move My Mailbox?

Neighbor Hit My Mailbox

Confront your neighbor as soon as you realize that they hit your mailbox, giving them a chance to come clean. If they deny what happened, file a police report immediately by calling your local police station or visiting them in person.

Hitting a mailbox and not taking responsibility for it is considered a hit and run which is a crime. You can have your neighbor charged once the police find them guilty.

Ask your other neighbors if they witnessed anything and ask them to check their security footage if you are comfortable doing so.

In the meantime, you will have to replace your mailbox and cover the costs yourself, unfortunately. But first, check your homeowners’ insurance to see if the damage costs could be covered.

Is It a Crime to Hit a Mailbox?

Hitting a mailbox is only a crime if you flee the scene and do not take responsibility for what happened. But if you hit a mailbox accidentally and report it to the homeowner and come to an agreement as to who will replace it, then, no, this is not a crime.

If you notice your mailbox has been hit and there’s no sign of anyone confessing that it was them who hit it, then you may be a victim of a mailbox hit and run.

This is considered a crime in most jurisdictions in the United States and you should call the police as soon as you can to file a police report.

How Do I Report a Damaged Mailbox?

Begin by reporting your damaged mailbox to your local law enforcement, either by phone or in person, and then to your local post office if your mailbox is owned by the United States Postal Service.

Considering how your mailbox was damaged, the police will begin an investigation. They will be able to tell if a car hit it or if someone hit it out of force.

Either way, both are considered crimes. Reporting your mailbox to your local post office will make them aware of the situation in order to hold mail until you get a new one in place.

Police Report for Damaged Mailbox

It is very wise to file a police report for a damaged mailbox especially since you need a police report to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance. Even if you think the police won’t do anything about it, at least you might be able to get the replacement costs covered.

Regardless of how your mailbox got damaged, it is still your responsibility to reverse the damages which typically means buying a new mailbox.

You can wait for the perpetrator to come forward or for the police to catch them, but you may be waiting a long time and might miss out on important bills.

What to Do If Someone Damages Your Mailbox?

Damaging your mailbox is considered vandalism and if your mailbox is owned by the United States Postal Office then this is actually considered a federal crime. Therefore, you should report this crime to the police as soon as possible.

Filing a police report, either through the phone or in person, will open an investigation for your damaged mailbox. It’s likely that this wasn’t an isolated event, making it easier for the police to catch who is responsible.

You will also need a police report to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance in hopes to be reimbursed for the damage and/or replacement costs.

You might also enjoy our post on Can I Have Two Mailboxes at My House?

Can You Go to Jail for Hitting a Mailbox?

It is very possible that you can go to jail for hitting someone’s mailbox but only if you flee the scene and do not take responsibility for the incident. If it was only an accident, then you should speak with the homeowner immediately and come to an agreement regarding the damages.

However, if you hit a mailbox and then drive away, it’s possible that you could go to jail if you get caught. Depending on the circumstances, you could spend up to five years in jail since you will be charged with a hit and run. You will also face hefty fines.

Can I Sue My Neighbor for Hitting My Mailbox?

You can sue your neighbor for hitting your mailbox but first, you have to file a police report against them and wait for them to be charged once enough evidence is discovered.

Once they are found guilty for a hit and run, you can begin the suing process and hold them financially accountable for the damage to your mailbox and any other damage they may have done, for example to your fence or yard.

Can I Force My Neighbor to Pay For a New Mailbox?

You can’t necessarily force your neighbor to do anything but the police can. It’s best to leave any legal matters to the police and let them deal with your neighbors directly.

If your neighbor damages your mailbox and refuses to pay for it, you can bring this matter up to the police. They will likely tell you to file a police report so they can deal with the matter and hold your neighbor financially accountable.

However, I would not wait for your neighbor to pay you as this may take a while and you need to receive your mail. If anything, ask them for reimbursement once the police have become part of the equation.

Am I Liable If Someone Hits My Mailbox?

Unfortunately, if someone hits your mailbox and drives away, then you are liable for the costs of replacing the mailbox. Your mailbox is owned by the United States Postal Office but, by law, it is up to you to maintain it.

Your homeowner’s insurance may also cover the costs of your mailbox but you need to file a police report first before you can claim the insurance.

As soon as you notice your mailbox is damaged, file a police report with your local law enforcement.

You might also enjoy our post on Can FedEx Deliver to a Mailbox?

Is Hitting a Mailbox a Federal Offense?

Since your mailbox is owned by the United States Postal Office, any damages that are done to it that are in acts of a crime is considered a federal crime. However, if you hit a mailbox by accident and take responsibility for it, then this isn’t a crime.

So if you are worried about getting charged for hitting a mailbox, drive back immediately and tell the homeowner what happened.

They will likely bargain with you regarding the replacement costs and, in the end, your consequences will be nothing compared to what could happen if you get charged.

Mailbox Destroyed What Happens to My Mail?

As soon as your mailbox gets destroyed, you should contact your local post office as soon as possible. They will put your mail on hold until you have a replacement mailbox set up.

You can also request to pick up your mail in person while you wait to purchase and install your new mailbox. But, regardless, contact your local post office as soon as you can.

I Hit a Mailbox by Accident

If you hit a mailbox by accident, you should contact the homeowner as soon as you can, before they contact the police. They have the grounds to report you to the police and you may get charged with a hit and run which could land you large fines and jail time.

Take responsibility for the accident and tell the homeowner what happened. It’s much better to come clean than to get tracked down by the police.

If it was a simple accident, the homeowner may not even ask anything of you but in some cases, they will negotiate with you to decide who will recover the damage costs.

Punishment for Accidentally Hitting a Mailbox

If you accidentally hit a mailbox, you should come clean to the homeowner as soon as possible to minimize any punishments that may happen to you. It’s possible they will be understanding of the situation and let you off easy.

You should approach them with an apology and a solution. Offer to purchase the new mailbox or fix any damages that were done either to the mailbox or to the surrounding yard.

This will minimize your chances of being actually punished by the law.

What If I Accidentally Hit a Mailbox?

If you accidentally hit a mailbox, you should report the accident to the homeowner as soon as you can. This will save you from some serious consequences that will happen if you just escape the scene and never take responsibility.

This is because hitting a mailbox and then driving away is considered a hit and run. If you get charged with a hit and run you may spend a maximum of five years in jail and pay some hefty fines.

It’s best to just deal with your neighbor directly before they get the law involved.

I Hit My Neighbor’s Mailbox

Accidents happen and that’s okay. If you accidentally hit your neighbor’s mailbox, tell them immediately. Present to them with an apology and a solution. They will likely be appreciative that you took responsibility and will let you off easy.

The worst thing you can do is drive away. Your neighbor will then have every right to report you to the police.

If you get caught, you could get charged with a hit and run which is far worse than just coming clean to your neighbor.

You might also enjoy our post on Can UPS Deliver to Mailboxes?

I Hit a Mailbox but No Damage

If you hit a mailbox and don’t see any damage done, it’s still very wise to confront the homeowner and tell them what happened. Let them know it was an accident and you don’t see any damage done but still invite them to look at the mailbox themselves.

You both need to confirm that there are no damages before the issue can be settled. If you don’t, it’s possible that someone caught the accident on camera and will seek you out to hold you responsible, even if there is no damage.

It is best to cover your tracks if you don’t want to land in any trouble.

How to Reinforce My Mailbox?

Reinforce your mailbox by using strong and firm materials that will hold their weight against any cars or vandals, such as rocks, bricks, or even mixing cement.

Once your mailbox is firmly in the ground, place whichever material you choose to fill in any gaps around the pole. You can then choose to build on top of those materials to reinforce the mailbox even more.

Is It Illegal to Reinforce Your Mailbox?

It is not illegal to reinforce your mailbox. You are responsible for maintaining the quality of your mailbox and if that means that you have to reinforce it to protect it from damages, then you have every legal right to.

Sometimes reinforcing your mailbox is all that is left to do if you are repeatedly a victim of mailbox damage. You can reinforce your mailbox by placing firm materials around the pole to ensure the mailbox post won’t fall down.

You can also look into this indestructible mailbox on Amazon that should increase the lifespan of your mailbox.

Can You Put Concrete in Mailboxes?

It is actually illegal to put concrete in your mailbox as this is very dangerous if any moving object hits it. It can cause a lot of damage to someone in a car if they accidentally hit your mailbox and have to deal with such a strong force.

There are other ways you can reinforce your mailbox without putting concrete in it. You are allowed to pour cement between the pole and the ground in order to hold up the pole more efficiently or pour sand in the ground, as well.

Can You Cement Your Mailbox?

You can cement your mailbox into the ground by pouring mixing cement around the pole to fill in any gaps between the pole and the ground. However, you are now allowed to cement your mailbox to the post through the bottom of your mailbox.

This can be very dangerous if any car hits your mailbox by accident as they will have to withstand a huge force from the ungiving mailbox as opposed to one that would just fall off.

Are Mailboxes Federal Property?

Mailboxes are indeed federal property since they are owned by the United States Postal Service. If there are any damages done to a mailbox, then it’s possible that whoever is responsible could be charged with a federal crime.

Even though you purchase your mailbox and are responsible for it, as soon as it is registered for mail, it becomes federal property. Therefore, any crimes involving the mailbox will be charged on a federal level.

You might also enjoy our post on Can Amazon Deliver to Mailboxes?

Are Mailboxes Covered by Insurance?

Damaged mailboxes may be covered by the homeowner’s insurance or the car insurance of the person who hit the mailbox. A police report will first have to be filed in order to make the insurance claim.

So, there are some coverage options when it comes to a damaged mailbox. Speak with the homeowner and decide how you two will cover the costs.

Remember, filing a police report is necessary before you can file an insurance claim.

Final Thoughts

Whether your neighbor hit your mailbox or you hit your neighbor’s mailbox, now you know exactly what you should do to resolve the incident.

In all cases, filing a police report is the best thing to do if no one is taking responsibility for your damaged mailbox as this will open an investigation and allow you to file an insurance claim.

If you are on the other end of the stick, head on back to your neighbor’s house and tell them what happened even if you denied it at first. It is the right thing to do.