Does Insurance Cover a Tree Falling on Your House?

A tree falling on your house can lead to significant damage. Homeowners often wonder whether their insurance policy will provide coverage for the resulting repairs and cleanup. Understanding homeowners insurance is important for navigating such situations. This article clarifies how insurance typically addresses damage from a fallen tree, outlining common coverages, situations where coverage may not apply, and the steps to take when filing a claim.

Homeowners Insurance Policy Basics

A standard homeowners insurance policy provides comprehensive coverage for your dwelling and other structures. It covers the house itself on an “open perils” basis, meaning it covers all causes of loss unless specifically excluded. Personal belongings within the home are covered on a “named perils” basis, meaning only the events explicitly listed in the policy are covered.

“Coverage A – Dwelling” protects the physical structure of your home, including its foundation, roof, walls, and any attached structures like an attached garage or deck. “Coverage B – Other Structures” extends protection to structures on your property that are not physically connected to your main dwelling. Examples include detached garages, sheds, fences, and gazebos.

“Coverage C – Personal Property” covers the contents of your home, such as furniture, electronics, clothing, and appliances, both on and off your property. This coverage helps repair or replace personal items damaged by a covered event. Most policies also include debris removal coverage for fallen trees, typically up to $1,000, provided the tree damaged a covered structure.

Common Covered Causes

Coverage for a fallen tree depends on the cause. Homeowners insurance policies cover damage from sudden, unforeseen events, known as perils. These commonly include windstorms, lightning strikes, hail, and the weight of ice, snow, or sleet.

If a tree falls due to a covered peril and damages your dwelling, other structures, or personal property, your policy will likely provide coverage. For instance, if a strong windstorm causes a healthy tree to fall onto your roof, the damage to your home and the cost of tree removal would generally be covered. This coverage applies regardless of whether the tree originated from your property or a neighbor’s property.

Even if a neighbor’s tree falls onto your property due to a covered peril like a storm, your own homeowners insurance policy covers the damage. Your insurer may then seek reimbursement from your neighbor’s insurance company through a process called subrogation.

Situations Not Covered

Certain scenarios involving fallen trees are not covered. Damage from a tree’s poor health, rot, disease, or general neglect is usually excluded. If a tree was hazardous and not maintained, any damage it causes may be considered preventable and not covered.

Standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover damage from specific disasters, such as floods or earthquakes. These perils require separate insurance policies, like flood insurance or earthquake insurance, to provide coverage. If a tree falls due to one of these excluded events, your homeowners policy would not respond.

If a tree falls but does not strike a covered structure, the cost of tree removal is generally not covered. However, some policies may provide limited coverage for tree removal if the fallen tree blocks a driveway, a ramp for handicapped access, or creates a safety hazard, even without direct structural damage. Intentional damage is also excluded.

Steps for Filing a Claim

When a tree falls and damages your property, prioritize safety. Ensure everyone is safe and check for downed power lines, contacting emergency services if needed. If your home is unsafe, arrange for temporary shelter and keep receipts for additional living expenses for potential reimbursement under your policy’s Loss of Use coverage.

Document the damage thoroughly before cleanup. Take clear photos and videos from multiple angles, capturing wide shots and close-ups of affected areas. Include images of the tree, damaged structures, and personal property.

Promptly contact your insurance company or agent to report the damage. Provide a detailed description of the incident, including date and time, and share your documentation. The insurer will assign a claim number and send an adjuster. Obtain several repair estimates from reputable contractors. Make temporary repairs, such as covering a broken window or tarping a damaged roof, to prevent further damage, and save all receipts for materials.