Tree Damage and Home Insurance: What’s Covered?

Article summary

• What may be covered: Damage when a healthy tree falls because of a covered event, like wind or lightning, may be covered.
• What may not be covered: Damage linked to a dead, diseased or neglected tree may not be covered and could create liability concerns for you.
• Who may pay: The answer depends on the tree’s condition, where it lands, what it damages and whether negligence is involved.
• What to do after a tree falls: Prioritize safety, document the damage, prevent further loss if possible and contact your insurance company.

Quick answer: Homeowners insurance may cover damage when a healthy tree falls because of a covered event and strikes your home or another insured structure. Tree removal may also be covered in limited situations, such as when the tree damages a covered structure or blocks an insured driveway. If the tree was dead, diseased or neglected, coverage and liability can be more complicated. Your deductible, limits and exclusions apply.

When does homeowners insurance cover fallen trees?

Understanding how your homeowners insurance works and what it covers is a good place to start when understanding tree damage. Typically, home insurance covers damage if a healthy tree falls due to a covered peril. With tree damage, the covered peril most likely is wind or lightning.

Homeowners insurance typically will also cover damage to covered structures from the fallen tree. Structures like your home, a shed, garage, deck or fence, for example.

Here’s a quick chart on what may be covered by insurance and what to know.

It’s important to remember that your policy’s deductible applies before the insurer pays a covered claim. For example, suppose strong winds cause a tree to fall onto your roof, resulting in $10,000 in covered damage. If the insurer approves the full $10,000 claim and your policy has a $1,000 deductible, you would pay the first $1,000 and the insurer would pay the remaining $9,000, subject to the policy’s terms and limits.

When could you be liable for a fallen tree?

Now that we understand how insurance works if a covered peril (e.g., wind, lightning, etc.) knocks a tree down and damages property, what happens if the tree falls due to other factors?

If a tree is dead, diseased or has been neglected, the homeowner is likely to be considered the negligent party, because as the owner, you failed to fix or remove the tree before it fell.

Here are a few examples of when you may be held liable:

• You received prior letters, notifications or warnings from either your neighbors or an arborist that your tree was a hazard and could fall.
• You or your contractors haphazardly maintained a tree or trees that weakened the tree that eventually caused damage.
• The tree’s decay, dead wood or root issues was obvious and visible but was ignored and not dealt with.

Keep arborist reports, maintenance records, photos, written notices and receipts. These records can help document the tree’s condition and the steps you took to reduce risk.

Who pays if a tree falls on a house, car or neighbor’s property?

The policy covering the damaged property is typically the place to begin. If a healthy tree falls unexpectedly on your house during a storm, contact your homeowners insurer. If it damages your vehicle, contact your auto insurer if you carry comprehensive coverage.

What to do after a tree falls

1. Check for injuries and immediate danger. Call 911 about injuries, fire or an urgent threat.
2. Stay away from downed power lines. Treat every line as energized and contact the utility company.
3. Document the scene. Take photos and video before cleaning up when it is safe.
4. Prevent further damage. Use temporary protection only if you can do so safely.
5. Contact the appropriate insurer. Report home damage to your homeowners insurer and vehicle damage to your auto insurer.
6. Use qualified professionals. Get written estimates from an insured tree service, arborist or contractor.
7. Keep receipts and records. Save invoices for emergency work, temporary repairs and related expenses.

How to help reduce tree-related insurance risk

Being proactive with tree maintenance can save you money in the long run because you can identify and solve little issues before they become a bigger problems. To that end, have a professional arborist inspect your trees and keep them trimmed and in good health. Trees should be inspected for dead wood, cracks in branches or the trunk, decay, and root issues. 

Tree branches should not be near or tangled in electrical wiring. Be sure to have a professional clear limbs in contact with power lines and electrical posts.

Take immediate action if the tree is a clear danger to a neighbor’s property—particularly if your neighbor has documentation, such as a written request for you to prune or remove it. 

Review your home and auto insurance policies with your agent. It’s important to know what situations your insurance covers, how much coverage is provided and what your deductible would be.

Review your coverage before the next storm

Your home is one of your most valuable assets, checking your insurance coverage periodically is a good way to stay on top of the insurance you’ll need if something happens like a tree falling.