What If My Neighbor's Tree Falls On My Property?

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Whose home insurance pays for tree damage?

When a tree falls and causes damage to someone's property, the common assumption is that the homeowner's insurance of the person who owns the tree will cover the costs. However, this is a misconception and not typically how insurance policies work. In reality, the responsibility for covering the damage usually falls on the insurance policy of the property owner who suffered the damage, not the owner of the tree. This can be surprising to many, as it seems counterintuitive, but understanding the nuances of insurance coverage is crucial in these scenarios.

Every insurance policy is different and the factors that play a role in a claim vary too. Having said that, when severe weather hits, your damaged property is typically covered under your own homeowners policy, even if the tree was your neighbor's. Likewise, if a tree hits your car, that damage is typically covered by the comprehensive coverage of your car insurance policy, if you opted to have it.

What if the neighbor's tree was dead?

Sometimes liability can be an issue if the tree owner has not properly maintained it and it is diseased or dead. That's why it's a really good idea to maintain the trees on your property and treat or remove ones that are diseased or dead. Can you spot the tree on this property with no leaves that the homeowner needs to be remove?

What to do after a tree causes property damage

Whatever your situation, the best thing is for both you and your neighbor to report the damage to your insurance companies and allow adjusters to review the details. There are immediate steps you should take. These are also appropriate if your own tree falls on your house or property.

1. If there are any injuries or utility emergencies, call 911! 
2. Talk with your neighbor if necessary and explain you are reporting the incident to your insurance company and tell them they should do the same. 
3. Report the claim to NNINS. You can do so by calling our 24/7 claims hotline at 1-877-968-7252.
4. Take pictures and/or videos with your cell phone. The more, the better, from up close to further away and before any efforts have been made to clean up the damage and remove the tree.
5. Avoid drive-by solicitations for cheap tree removal- this is very common after a severe weather event in the area. 
6. If the damage is to your home or car, take immediate measures just to protect your property from further damage. After you take pictures, you can remove the tree or have it removed to prevent additional damage by a reputable certified tree removal service. If the tree removal professional estimates more than $2500 for tree removal, please wait for your claim adjuster's approval. If the tree removal is under $2500, proceed and be sure to get an itemized receipt on the vendor’s letterhead for reimbursement consideration.
7. If your home is unlivable, secure your property as much as possible, including boarding up windows and tarping open damage. You may contract this work as well but speak to your adjuster or claims representative first. Save all receipts. Relocate to a safe place and save all receipts for living accommodations, gas, food, and other necessities. 
8. Prepare a written inventory of damaged property to match pictures.
9. Do not dispose of any damaged property until your adjuster has visited.
10. Continue communication with your adjuster about the progress of your claim and provide any requested documentation.

If you have questions, your independent agent is an excellent resource. You can also call us and we'll help you through it. You can try to prevent damage during severe weather by checking all your trees and doing regular maintenance. It's also a good idea to build rapport with your neighbors to ease communication about concerning trees in your neighborhood.

THE NORTHERN NECK INSURANCE INTEGRITY PROMISE — We pledge to provide straight talk and good counsel from our NNINS Virginia insurance experts through our blog. While we hope you find this to be a helpful source of information, it does not replace the guidance of a licensed insurance professional, nor does it modify the terms of your Northern Neck Insurance policy in any way. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy.