Hiring neighbor's kid to mow lawn

[Numenorean]

Probably not legally binding because he's a minor.


Hey--I feel the same way. I want to reward kids who are willing to work hard, but not at my expense!

That's why you have him and both of his parents sign it.

 

[Zebo]

Have the kid buy business insurance and worker's compensation? That could cost him thousands of dollars. Not to mention it could be difficult to find an insurer willing to insure a child running a business..

No it's not. I was 13 and had liability and workmans comp. I was also sub chapter C incorporated. Cost about $70 for corp, $200 for 3 month deposit on wk comp and $50 a month for insurance. My dad did it all for me cpa/mba.

Bastard also charged me 33% intrest for $1000 loan to get started with mowers, trimmers etc... said if you don't like it go to bank... his way of teaching me importance of credit.

OP you never want to be looking over your shoulder in life, do things the right way. We can't kill the lawyers yet so you better take precaution to protect yourself from them.

 

[highland145]

No it's not. I was 13 and had liability and workmans comp. I was also sub chapter C incorporated. Cost about $70 for corp, $200 for 3 month deposit on wk comp and $50 a month for insurance. My dad did it all for me cpa/mba.

Bastard also charged me 33% intrest for $1000 loan to get started with mowers, trimmers etc... said if you don't like it go to bank... his way of teaching me importance of credit.

OP you never want to be looking over your shoulder in life, do things the right way. We can't kill the lawyers yet so you better take precaution to protect yourself from them.

lol.

 

[maniacalpha1-1]

No it's not. I was 13 and had liability and workmans comp. I was also sub chapter C incorporated. Cost about $70 for corp, $200 for 3 month deposit on wk comp and $50 a month for insurance. My dad did it all for me cpa/mba.

Bastard also charged me 33% intrest for $1000 loan to get started with mowers, trimmers etc... said if you don't like it go to bank... his way of teaching me importance of credit.

OP you never want to be looking over your shoulder in life, do things the right way. We can't kill the lawyers yet so you better take precaution to protect yourself from them.

What insurance companies offered that, lol? The WC I can believe because most states have an assigned risk plan that has no choice but to offer coverage...but the liability, what insurer?

 

[Zebo]

What insurance companies offered that, lol? The WC I can believe because most states have an assigned risk plan that has no choice but to offer coverage...but the liability, what insurer?

This is over 20 years ago. They don't ask your age tho when you call they ask for corporate TAX ID.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

i asked this same question a few years ago and got some dumb ass responses. i think some of the same posters are here to. just keep an eye on the kid. even better, have him sign a waiver

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2077509

In a weird twist of events... this thread is now seventh in the search in the thread you linked...

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=kid+hurt+mowing+grass+property+liability

This thread is the seventh result...

 

[TheNinja]

It's sad that our world has reached the point where people don't want to let KIDS MOW LAWNS for fear of legal retribution.

That being said, I think that I'd pass on it. There are a lot of nutjob helicopter parents that would love to sue the pants off of someone if their kid got a scrape from doing some work. You really just never know.

Ya, it's sad. When I was a kid (not even THAT long ago), we did all sorts of odd jobs and so did all the other neighborhood kids. Now you can't have kids do those jobs for fear of being sued if they get hurt, plus "THEY TOOK OUR JOBS!!" so it's hard to find jobs for kids to mow lawns, shovel snow, trim trees, paint, etc.

 

[pontifex]

you know, i mowed lawns from the age of 12 up to probably 15 or 16 (after I got my 1st part time job). Not once did this issue come up.

heck, I even cleaned snow off a neighbor's roof once. I was on the roof by myself, no supervision or safety gear, lol.

That was in the early to mid 90s.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

How is this even a question? I figure there's two ways of looking at life. You either hire the kid to mow your lawn or, you stay in your basement and hire a landscaper online. Oh wait, this is ATOT...

 

[Dantastic]

No; FEAR of litigation is the problem. Most lawsuits either lose or get tossed out. The problem is people hear about all these magic million dollar suits and think they are common.


Just pay the dam kid and tell him not to be stupid. If you are really worried ask for his phone number and talk to his parents first.

Fear of litigation or not makes no difference to me. The whole reason I would pay a kid to mow my lawn is to help reduce some of the headache in my life. Regardless if I win or loose a lawsuit brought against me for a kid getting hurt mowing my lawn, I don't want to deal with it. Sounds like another headache to me. The 45 minutes once or twice a week (depending on the time of year) doesn't seem like it's worth the headache of potentially be sued by some kid's stupid parents who THINK they see an easy buck.

 

[Kaido]

It's sad that our world has reached the point where people don't want to let KIDS MOW LAWNS for fear of legal retribution.

You should move to my state:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/15/opinions/cevallos-aunt-nephew-lawsuit/

A woman sued her 8-year-old nephew after the child knocked her to the ground in what was described as a "forceful greeting." Jennifer Connell filed a lawsuit against the boy, who is now 12, seeking $127,000 in damages.

 

[rcpratt]

Fear of litigation or not makes no difference to me. The whole reason I would pay a kid to mow my lawn is to help reduce some of the headache in my life. Regardless if I win or loose a lawsuit brought against me for a kid getting hurt mowing my lawn, I don't want to deal with it. Sounds like another headache to me. The 45 minutes once or twice a week (depending on the time of year) doesn't seem like it's worth the headache of potentially be sued by some kid's stupid parents who THINK they see an easy buck.

You joined to necro this thread? You are really passionate about lawn care liability.

 

[IronWing]

I don't have a lawn but I think it would be fun to have a lawn mower so I could spit gravel at passersby.

 

[Red Squirrel]

We need to mass slaughter all the lawyers, bylaw officers and SJWs (those are often the type of people who complain about petty things and get ridiculous bylaws passed). Then the world will be a better place, and you can then let kids mow your lawn without fear.

 

[snoopy7548]

We need to go back to the 50s where kids mowed lawns all the time. #MLGA (Make Lawnmowing Great Again)

 

[IronWing]

We need to mass slaughter all the lawyers, bylaw officers and SJWs (those are often the type of people who complain about petty things and get ridiculous bylaws passed). Then the world will be a better place, and you can then let kids mow your lawn without fear.

And without toes.

 

[pcgeek11]

When I was a kid we mowed lawns all the time for dollar, any size yard.

I had a kid come by the other day and offered to cut my grass. It takes me about an hour with a self propelled mower. He wanted 50 dollars to cut the grass, no edging or raking. And he was going to use my mower and gasoline. I told him that I would hire him if he could convince me he was worth 50 dollars an hour. He had nothing and left.

 

[BudAshes]

When I was a kid we mowed lawns all the time for dollar, any size yard.

I had a kid come by the other day and offered to cut my grass. It takes me about an hour with a self propelled mower. He wanted 50 dollars to cut the grass, no edging or raking. And he was going to use my mower and gasoline. I told him that I would hire him if he could convince me he was worth 50 dollars an hour. He had nothing and left.

Plus you have to tip 20%. Don't be greedy man, spread the money around. Kids need to buy weed too.

 

[pcgeek11]

Plus you have to tip 20%. Don't be greedy man, spread the money around. Kids need to buy weed too.

I would have IF he had a valid reason he was worth 50 dollars and hour. Actually more than 50 considering the wear and tear on my lawn equipment and gas. He didn't have any answer at all, just looked at me...

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah $50 seems way over the top for a one time mow. Some lawn care companies charge several hundred to do it for the whole summer. Kid would have probably had a better chance if he asked for like $25.

 

[pcgeek11]

A lot better chance at 25. There is no way a 16 year old is worth 50 dollars an hour. None.

 

[WelshBloke]

There is no way a 16 year old is worth 50 dollars an hour. None.

I so want to quote this out of context!

 

[pcgeek11]

I so want to quote this out of context!

Good one! 1000 internet points.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I remember back around 2008-09 period one of my neighbor's teenage kids (~15?) wanted more money than the professionals I was already paying to do the job. He got very little business thinking he was better than a company running a business.

 

[rh71]

Getting a self-propelled mower changed my life. What used to take me over an hour only takes me 20 minutes front and back and hardly a sweat. I ain't paying nobody no $100/mo. to do something so easy.

BTW, yes, lawyers suck. Most become lawyers not to help people, but to cash in. Not only is it greedy, they can easily screw others too.