If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does the tree make a sound?
A falling tree definitely makes a lot of noise when it lands on your neighbor’s car, or damages your house.
Generally speaking, damage to an insured structure, like a house, pool, or garden shed, is covered by homeowners insurance. The owner of the damaged property pays their deductible, and the insurer covers the rest of the cost of repairs. It’s a good idea to check your homeowners insurance policy for the amount of your deductible.
Also, you might want to look now at what your insurance policy will pay for removing the tree as well as making repairs. Tree removal costs often have a specific limit shown on your policy which varies from insurance company to insurance company, and the limit cannot be increased.
Damage to a vehicle is covered under your automobile policy (minus the deductible, of course). Specifically, the comprehensive coverage in your automobile policy pays for damage not caused by collision. In addition to comprehensive coverage, you should also have replacement value coverage, especially if your car is a newer model. Otherwise, the insurer will only pay the market value of the car if the car is totaled.
When a tree falls and damages property through no one’s fault, each owner’s insurance covers their loss. If it’s your tree, you may want to pay your neighbor’s deductible, as a goodwill gesture, since that money is coming out of their pocket.
On the other hand, if you are up in the tree, trimming branches, and a large branch smashes through the windshield of your neighbor’s vehicle, your insurance—not your neighbor’s—would pay for the repairs. You, not Mother Nature, caused the damage.
Talk to us about your property, inside and out, for good advice on the insurance you need and the steps you can take now to reduce the likelihood of a claim in the future.
