Fallen Tree Insurance Claims: How to Handle Fallen Tree Claim Disputes
If a tree falls on your home, you expect insurance to cover it. Unfortunately, things aren’t always straightforward.
Some insurers may blame you for the fallen tree. Why did you leave a tree so close to your home? Why didn’t you proactively cut the tree down? Why didn’t you predict the future?
Today, we’re explaining how fallen tree insurance claims work – and what to do if your insurer is denying or delaying your fallen tree claim.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Fallen Tree Damage?
A standard homeowners insurance policy generally covers fallen tree damage to your home and other structures – like a fence or shed.
If a tree falls on your home because of a covered peril (like wind), then insurance should cover the cost of restoring your property to pre-loss condition.
Exception: Wind Damage Exclusions: If your policy excludes windstorm damage, your insurer could deny your claim. Windstorm exclusions are common in southeastern coastal areas of the United States along with wind-prone regions of the Midwest (typically, homeowners in these areas buy extra wind and hail coverage).
How Fallen Tree Insurance Claims Work
A standard homeowners insurance company covers tree damage to a home.
If a tree falls on your home and causes damage, then you should be able to make an insurance claim.
Here’s how a fallen tree insurance claim works when everything goes smoothly:
- Check for Downed Power Lines: A fallen tree can take down a power line, creating an additional hazard. If your lights are flickering or if your power is out, shut off power to your house at the electrical panel, then call 911 and your electrical provider.
- Make Sure Everyone is Safe & Secure the Scene: Secure your property. When safe to do so, put a tarp over a hole in your roof, board up windows and doors, move personal property away from harm, and take other steps to limit further damage. Your insurance policy requires you to do this, as any ensuing damage may not be covered (you can’t simply leave a hole in your roof after a storm to increase the size of your insurance claim, for example).
- Take Photos & Videos: Take as many photos and videos as possible. The more visual evidence you have, the smoother your insurance claim should be. Take photos of the steps you took to mitigate further damage – like any boards or tarps you set up in the second step.
- Contact Your Insurer or Get a Quote: If the damage is severe – say, if there’s a big hole in your home or your home is unlivable – then contact your insurer and start a claim. If the damage is minor, contact a contractor for a repair estimate. It may or may not be worth making a claim. You’ll pay a deductible (typically around $500 to $1,500) and pay higher homeowners insurance premiums in the future after making a claim.
- Complete Repairs: Your insurer may send an adjuster to your property to survey the damage. Your insurer may also recommend a contractor. You can work with that contractor or choose a different one. The contractor completes repairs, restoring your property to pre-loss condition and removing the fallen tree.
- Final Settlement: Your insurer covers the cost of repairs and tree removal, paying a final settlement for your claim, minus your deductible.
When to Call a Public Adjuster for Fallen Tree Claims: Some hire public adjusters at the onset of a fallen tree claim. Others hire public adjusters after a denied or reduced claim. If the claim seems complicated or your insurer pushes back, consider hiring a licensed public adjuster to protect your interests.
Why Insurers Deny Fallen Tree Claims
Unfortunately, fallen tree insurance claims don’t always go smoothly.
Some of the reasons insurers may deny a fallen tree insurance claim include:
- Negligence or Lack of Maintenance: As a homeowner, you have an obligation to maintain your property. That obligation includes the removal of dangerous trees. If a tree is dead, leaning, or already half-fallen, then your insurer could deny your claim because of negligence.
- Exclusions & Non-Covered Perils: Insurers may also deny claims because of exclusions. Some homeowners insurance policies – particularly in wind-prone regions – don’t cover windstorm damage, for example. If wind pushes a tree onto your home, and your policy excludes windstorm damage, then insurance could deny your claim. Instead, you may need a separate wind and hail policy.
- Damage to a Neighbor’s Property: If your tree falls onto your neighbor’s home, then it may not be your problem. In most cases, you’re only responsible if you neglected the tree – say, if you left an old, rotting tree in your yard. If a young and healthy tree in your yard falls onto your neighbor’s home, then your neighbor makes a claim through their insurance.
- No Property Damage: If a tree falls on your property but causes no damage, insurance is unlikely to cover the cost of tree removal. Instead, insurance is designed to cover unexpected damage to your property. If there’s no damage, you can’t make a claim.
FAQs About Fallen Tree Insurance Claims
As licensed public adjusters and insurance experts, we get plenty of questions about fallen tree insurance claims and how they work.
Here are some of the answers to our most frequently asked questions about fallen tree insurance claims:
Q: A tree fell on my car. Do I file a home or auto insurance claim?
A: Typically, any car damage is filed through your auto insurance – not your home insurance. Whether it’s a fallen tree or a house fire, you make a claim through your auto insurance company (specifically, your comprehensive coverage).
Q: What happens if a neighbor’s tree falls on my home?
A: If the neighbor was negligent, the neighbor may be liable for any damage to your property. If the tree was healthy and simply fell because of wind, however, then you would make a claim through your own insurer.
Q: How much fallen tree damage does insurance cover?
A: Insurance covers fallen tree damage up to the limits of your dwelling coverage. Check your policy to determine your dwelling coverage. Insurance also covers the cost of replacing your possessions – say, any furniture or other items damaged from the incident – up to the limits of your personal property coverage (which is typically worth 50% of your dwelling coverage). If your home is worth $350,000, for example, then you might have $350,000 of dwelling coverage and $175,000 of personal property coverage, making the total possible value of your fallen tree insurance claim $525,000.
Q: What happens if I can’t live in my home after a tree falls?
A: If a fallen tree makes your home unlivable, then insurance should cover the cost of alternative accommodations until your home is repaired. These costs are considered additional living expenses (ALE). Track receipts for meals and hotels, and your insurance should cover the costs.
Q: Does insurance cover fallen tree removal?
A: A standard homeowners insurance policy covers the cost of removing a fallen tree from your property.
Q: What happens if an insurer denies my fallen tree claim?
A: Insurers can and do deny fallen tree insurance claims. Some may blame homeowners for neglecting to remove a rotting tree. Others may attribute the damage to a non-covered peril. If an insurer denies your fallen tree claim, you can hire a public adjuster, use your insurer’s built-in dispute resolution system to ask for a re-assessment, or contact an attorney.
Contact ClaimsMate for a free consultation for your fallen tree insurance claim. We’ve helped homeowners navigate tricky fallen tree claims while protecting your best interests – not your insurer’s bottom line.
Stephanie is a property insurance claim expert with over 20 years of experience working as an insurance adjuster, expert witness, appraiser and umpire. She is passionate about sharing her expertise, knowledge, tips and training to help both property owners and Public Adjusters in their pursuit of effectively managing claims and recovering the claim settlement they deserve after a loss.
