If a fallen tree, whether your own or your neighbors, has landed in your yard, on car or on your home, you are likely wondering whether your current homeowners insurance policy will cover the repair costs.
Damage to your home and its contents, regardless of whether the tree’s origin was from your own property or a neighboring, is covered under a homeowner’s policy. For property such as sheds, additions or detached garages, there is generally a maximum amount of coverage offered for fallen tree damage (i.e. 10% of your entire property’s value).
Even though your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover damage resulting from fallen trees, it is important to keep in mind that you are financially responsible for any applicable policy deductible. For example, if your homeowner’s insurance policy has a $5,000 or $10,000 deductible and the total cost of repairs is $25,000, you will be required to pay either $5,000 or $10,000 out of pocket for the clean-up to be completed. If the fallen tree was from your neighbor’s yard, it is possible that your insurance company will attempt to get their policy to cover the cost of the damage. In this event, you may be refunded any deductible you paid for the repairs.
Business Development Officer, T.D. McNeil Insurance Services, Fresno, California
There are two major sections to a homeowner’s policy, the property coverages and the liability coverages. Damage to your property caused by a fallen tree is covered by the property coverages and is adjusted after payment of the deductible.
If your tree falls on a neighbor’s house and does damage your liability policy will provide coverage. In this case the claim will be adjusted without payment of any deductible.
The one part that hasn’t been mentioned is the tree itself. In most cases the coverage for the tree is quite limited. As you can understand replacing a mature tree can be very expensive. It is, however possible, that your homeowner’s policy has some coverage extension that will pay for the loss of a tree caused by a windstorm or similar event. Again that claim will be adjusted after payment of a deductible but the deductible isn’t applied per tree, rather the entire claim.
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Damage to your home and its contents, regardless of whether the tree’s origin was from your own property or a neighboring, is covered under a homeowner’s policy. For property such as sheds, additions or detached garages, there is generally a maximum amount of coverage offered for fallen tree damage (i.e. 10% of your entire property’s value).
Even though your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover damage resulting from fallen trees, it is important to keep in mind that you are financially responsible for any applicable policy deductible. For example, if your homeowner’s insurance policy has a $5,000 or $10,000 deductible and the total cost of repairs is $25,000, you will be required to pay either $5,000 or $10,000 out of pocket for the clean-up to be completed. If the fallen tree was from your neighbor’s yard, it is possible that your insurance company will attempt to get their policy to cover the cost of the damage. In this event, you may be refunded any deductible you paid for the repairs.
If your tree falls on a neighbor’s house and does damage your liability policy will provide coverage. In this case the claim will be adjusted without payment of any deductible.
The one part that hasn’t been mentioned is the tree itself. In most cases the coverage for the tree is quite limited. As you can understand replacing a mature tree can be very expensive. It is, however possible, that your homeowner’s policy has some coverage extension that will pay for the loss of a tree caused by a windstorm or similar event. Again that claim will be adjusted after payment of a deductible but the deductible isn’t applied per tree, rather the entire claim.