Lee R. Schroeder is an Ohio licensed attorney with Schroeder Law LLC in Ottawa. He limits his practice to business, real estate, estate planning and agriculture issues in northwest Ohio. He can be reached at lee@leeschroeder.com or at (419) 523-5523. This article is not intended to serve as legal advice, and specific advice should be sought from the licensed attorney of your choice based upon the specific facts and circumstances that you face.
Crops planted near roadway intersections, often corn, can raise questions regarding who is responsible for an accident if the crops obstruct the view of traffic. Often the landowner or farmer can be found responsible if the crop unreasonably obstructs the view at an intersection.
With many farmers having already planted their corn and other crops this year, the issue of safety where crops are planted near roadway intersections will again become important. If the crop obstructs the view of traffic and an accident results, who may be responsible for the accident?
Generally, a landowner or farmer can be found responsible for accidents resulting from a farm crop (usually corn) that unreasonably obstructs views at an intersection if the crop is planted on the right-of-way (easement) or upon property owned by the government (municipality, township or state).
Read Lee’s full article on responsibility when it comes to crops obstructing views at intersections here: Legal-Ease: Who’s responsible when crops obstruct views?
Source: LimaOhio.com, “Legal-Ease: Who’s responsible when crops obstruct views?” by Lee R. Schroeder, June 6, 2015