My car was flooded in my parking lot at work, is the property manager liable for the damages?

Question

After a severe storm, one corner of our parking lot at work was flooded where it was not draining properly. My car flooded and had both electrical and interior damage. I have submitted a claim to my insurance company, but now am stuck paying my deductible plus probably higher insurance rates. The property manager did send out an email to our office manager notifying us that part of the lot was flooding, but it was sent out too late. Is the property manager at all liable for my vehicle?

Answer 1

Probably not. Different states and cities have different laws regarding flood damage.

Unless you can prove the building changed the natural flow of water and caused the flood you don't have much of a chance.

If the company is large they can keep you from your day in court for years, and increase your cost to more than you can hope to recover.

This is the same as home damage from flooding which is not covered by homeowners insurance.

In your case it is a lesson that did not cost you several thousand dollars.

Answer 2

Generally not. If your car was parked by someone other than a valet hired by the property company, then the law sees the relationship between you and the property company as one of a leasor-leasee where you are "renting" the ground on which you will park your car.  This would be a really hard case to prove that the property manager should pay for the vehicle's damage.