A fallen tree can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home. From the roofing and siding to the belongings inside, falling trees can create an expensive repair bill. This may leave you wondering, “Will insurance cover a tree falling on my house?” Luckily, we’re here to give you the answer you’re searching for.
In this article, we will discuss whether your homeowners insurance will cover fallen trees, how you can avoid falling trees, and who you should call if a tree falls on your house in Northwest Indiana. Read on to better understand what you should do if a tree falls on your property.
Homeowners Insurance & Fallen Trees
Generally, homeowners insurance companies will pay for damages to your NWI home from accidents or severe weather. This does include the effects of fallen trees. If a tree fell on your house, there’s a good possibility that insurance will cover it.
Let’s examine some common questions:
Will insurance cover a tree falling on my house? If a tree has fallen on your property, your homeowners insurance will most often cover the damages. This may include the tree removal, roof repair, structural repair, belonging damage, and more.
Will insurance cover the damages to other areas of my property? Usually, yes. Your homeowners insurance will cover the damages to other structures and belongings on your property.
Will I be responsible for paying any of the damages? You will likely have to pay your homeowners insurance deductible for any damages caused by the fallen tree.
Will homeowners insurance cover my neighbor’s tree falling on my property? Typically, your insurance company will still cover the damages if a neighbor’s tree fell onto your property. However, your agent may contact your neighbor’s insurance agency for compensation in this scenario. Either way, insurance does usually cover this.
Will my insurance cover my tree falling on my neighbor’s property? If a tree falls on your neighbor’s home or property, your insurance may cover the damages. However, their homeowners insurance will likely handle the claim and directly communicate with your insurance. You may still be responsible for a deductible if your insurance pays.
What if there was a storm and I’m unsure where the branch came from? Often, your insurance company will not take the time to ascertain where a branch came from if there was a severe storm that damaged many surrounding trees and homes. Whether it came from your trees or your neighbors, insurance will usually pay for repairs.
Now that you understand the basics of homeowners insurance and your fallen trees, let’s discuss what you should do if a tree falls on your property.
What do I do if a Tree Falls on My House?
The first thing that you should do when a tree falls on your house is make sure that everyone is safe and out of harm’s way. A tree can fall unpredictably, leading to damage anywhere on your home or property. Because of this, it’s important that you get everyone out of the area until you can be certain it’s safe again.
Once everyone is safe, take photos if it’s safe to do so. Then, call your local reputable tree service provider, such as the team at T&T Tree Service. While you may be eager to get on the phone with your homeowners insurance provider, it’s often best to have your tree company deal directly with the insurance company.
Luckily, when you hire a dependable tree company, you won’t have to worry about anything after they arrive. Your tree experts understand the ins and outs of the process, and they will handle everything from the tree removal itself to helping you file the claim through your insurance agency. Additionally, they will help you determine what type of repairs your home may need so that you can have your property in peak condition again in no time.
Simply put, you should first ensure everyone is safe. Then, you can reach out to your local tree service company. They will handle everything from there, including talking to your insurance agency. While fallen trees are stressful, the repair process doesn’t need to be complicated!
How Can You Prevent Falling Trees on Your Property?
So, you can now answer the question, “Will insurance cover a tree falling on my house?” And, you understand what to do if a tree has fallen on your home. Now, let’s discuss what you can do to prevent fallen trees in the first place.
Routine tree care can help you avoid costly damages to your property. With regular tree trimming or tree removal, you can prevent falling trees from damaging your home. Let’s take a look at some tree maintenance strategies:
1. Perform Regular Tree Trimming
Removing excess, dead, or dying branches allows the healthy branches to remain strong and steadfast. By scheduling tree trimming services, a professional tree company can inspect your tree and determine which branches should be removed.
In addition, if you have large branches that overhang your house, you can have these branches trimmed as well to give you peace of mind. Overall, tree trimming can prevent costly repair bills.
2. Have Any Dead or Dying Trees Removed
Oftentimes, when a tree falls on a house, the tree was not healthy to begin with. Signs of a dying tree include shedding bark, visible rot or fungus, absence of or dead leaves, presence of termites, and more. Unfortunately, a dead or dying tree is more likely to break and fall, leading to the damage of anything in its path.
To prevent these avoidable accidents, you should preemptively schedule tree removal services if you have a tree that may be dying.
3. Schedule an Inspection
If you find yourself worrying that one or many of your trees may cause a problem, you can call in the experts for an inspection and estimate. Your local tree company can assess any or all of the trees on your property and give you recommendations for tree trimming or tree removal to ensure your property is protected.
4. Plant Future Trees Further From Your House
Another way to prevent the damages of fallen trees is by planting them further from your home. Clearly, this won’t work for trees that are already established. However, this can be used for future growth and expansion, should you decide to add more trees to your property.
Tree maintenance is simple: Remove any dead or dying branches and trees, check with a professional if you’re unsure, and plant your trees in safe locations. By using these strategies, you can avoid the troublesome circumstances that come with fallen trees.
Overview: Will Insurance Cover a Tree Falling on My House?
In review, the short answer is: YES! Typically, homeowners insurance will cover a tree that has fallen and caused damage to your residence or other areas of your property. Whether a tree falls on your house or your neighbors property, you will generally be covered. You will still be responsible for paying your deductible, but insurance will pay for the repairs and tree removal.
When you are facing a fallen tree, the first thing you should do is get somewhere safe. Avoid the affected area until you know that it is safe for you to return. Then, call in your local tree experts.
They will help you determine the best repair and removal plan, and they will contact insurance directly on your behalf.
To prevent tree damage to your home, you should schedule routine tree maintenance. From tree trimming to tree removal, you can safeguard your property from fallen trees and branches.
In conclusion, while homeowners insurance will likely cover the damages of a fallen tree, it’s always best to avoid the situation in the first place.
When You Have Falling Trees, Contact T&T Tree Service
At T&T Tree Service, we are experienced in dealing with homeowners insurance companies. We understand exactly what needs to be done so that you receive maximum compensation for your damages. When you call our team, you are guaranteed excellent service, top-notch tree removal, and a dependable team.
If you have a fallen tree, don’t wait! Call us for emergency tree removal BEFORE you contact your insurance company. We’ll handle the rest! Get in touch with us today to ensure you receive the most reliable tree services in the region.