The rain is pouring. The wind is howling. And suddenly, you hear a massive crash and a roar that sounds like the roof gave way. The offender? A large branch in the fir tree outside back has snapped off and crashed through your roof, carrying out a window in the procedure. Since the rain pours in, take a deep breath: If you have homeowner’s insurance, you’re covered.
When Branches Do Damage, You’re Covered
According to the Insurance Information Institute, average homeowners insurance insures tree-related damage. Let us say a falling tree branch crashes through your roof during a storm, causing not just damage to a roof, but to the space under that was soaked with rain water. So long as your home is insured, standard home insurance policies cover the damage — both to the roof, in addition to any contents on your bedroom damaged by the fallen branch. This would consist of damage like flooding and mould damage, along with the contents of this damaged location. The cost to remove the tree would also be covered. Detached garages, gazebos and sheds can also be insured for tree damage under your homeowners insurance. Based on the coverage, a fence may or might not be insured. The standard deduction for tree damage is $500 to $1,000.
No Behaviour? No Coverage
Imagine if a large tree branch crashes on your roof but no damage occurs? Under this instance, your homeowner’s insurance would not cover the tree that is damaged, nor could it cover removal of this branch.
What’s the Neighbors?
Whether the branch or tree that results in the damage is in your premises or your neighbor’s property does not really matter. Whichever homeowner repeated that the damage should file an insurance claim with his insurance provider. In some cases, if the neighbor’s tree settlement your house (or vice versa), then the policyholder’s insurance company might attempt to collect from another party’s insurance. This typically happens if the tree that did the damage was in poor health or badly maintained.
Crashed Car
If your car (or even a neighbor’s car) is damaged by a falling tree or branch, then it is covered if you’ve got comprehensive auto insurance. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage that is not from an auto accident — like theft, vandalism and also, in this case, natural disasters.
Safety First
Should damage occur, do what you are able to safely protect your house from any extra damage. Take photographs of the damage and maintain receipts of anything your purchase, including supplies used to make emergency repairs. Ultimately, you will use this information when making a claim to your insurance provider.