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1st Choice Tree Service

The Importance of Maintaining Trees On Your Property and Removal of Dead Decaying Trees

1/15/2015

5 Comments

 
Trees add value and beauty to your home, but they also can spell trouble if they aren't properly maintained. Dead or dying trees aren't just unsightly; they pose safety hazards and can cause liability issues. It's important for homeowners to understand what is covered by their homeowners insurance policy if a tree should fall on their property or their neighbor's property.

Overview
Most basic homeowners insurance policies will cover damage to your house and the contents caused by falling trees and tree limbs. Most storm-caused tree damage, such as ice, hail and lightning, is covered. As long as the tree was healthy and well maintained, it doesn't matter if it was your tree or your neighbor's tree; your policy covers damage to your property. The same is true for your neighbor. Their homeowners policy is there to cover their property.

Liability
This is where it gets a little more complicated. If a tree on your property is not well maintained, is dead or diseased, and may fall and cause damage to your neighbor's property, you may be liable. Typically, your neighbor's insurance company will pay for the damage and then come after your insurance company for reimbursement in a process called
subrogation. If the insurance adjuster finds that you were negligent (didn't maintain the tree properly), your insurance company may end up footing the bill and you'll feel the pain through higher premiums and potential lawsuits.

If you notice that your neighbors aren't taking care of their trees properly, you should contact them about it. If they aren't cooperative, it's best to use certified mail to have a record of the communication to show you've made an effort to protect your property.

If you don't properly maintain trees on your own property and they cause damage to your home, it's possible the insurance company may deny coverage because you failed to protect your property.

Other damage
Should a healthy tree fall on your garage and damage your car, your homeowners policy will cover the damage to the structure up to limits set within your policy. Your auto insurance, assuming you have comprehensive coverage, will cover the damage to your car. Again, if the tree isn't properly maintained, coverage may be denied.

Your homeowners insurance policy also likely will cover some of the cost of removing the tree from the structure and the cost of hauling it away. Tree removal and hauling away will have separate limits. These can be very expensive, so be sure to see what the limits of your policy are.

It's important to maintain the trees on your property. Keeping them healthy and well trimmed doesn't just protect your family's safety, but can save you from increased premiums, potential lawsuits and a lot of money out of your pocket. Prevention is by far the best cure.
Picture
Fallen dead tree which should have been maintained and ultimately removed. It is very likely homeowner insurance will not cover a situation such as this.
5 Comments
Zachary Tomlinson link
5/4/2020 08:49:21 pm

There's this old tree in my uncle's lawn that looks like it's about to fall and we're concerned about how we could sort this out. I had no idea that if ever it falls to my uncle's home, any damage caused by the tree could be denied coverage. I should share this with my uncle so he could hire expert tree services to sort it out for him before it gets worse.

Reply
Meredith Owens link
8/7/2021 12:42:00 pm

Lovelyy blog you have here

Reply
Henry Killingsworth link
6/29/2022 12:10:33 pm

I thought it was interesting when you mentioned that you can be held liable if you have a tree that falls on a neighbor's home. It seems like it would be a good idea to cut down hazardous trees. A professional landscaping company could cut down a hazardous tree for you.

Reply
visit us link
5/30/2023 01:23:06 am

Really nice and interesting post. I was looking for this kind of information and enjoyed reading this one.

Reply
Superior Siding Victoria, BC link
6/13/2023 05:40:34 am

This is really wonderful! Thank you!

Reply



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    Sarah H.

    Co-Owner

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