Since the dawn of time philosophers have been asking: If a tree falls and there is no one around to hear it, is it covered by your homeowners insurance?
Sometimes it takes just one good storm to topple what was once a sturdy tree in your yard. And, once the storm passes, you may be wondering whether your homeowners insurance will help pay for the cost of removing the branches or repairing damage to your home.
What caused the tree to fall and is it covered by your homeowners insurance?
If a tree falls on your house because of named peril in your insurance policy then it’s removal and the damage it caused is usually covered by your homeowner insurance. A typical homeowner insurance policy usually covers perils such as fire, explosion, windstorm, and vandalism.
Let’s take the following example: a tree falls during a windstorm and damages your windows. After you pay your deductible, your homeowner insurance will pay for removing the tree and the damaged it caused.
When will homeowner insurance not cover a tree damage?
You might be surprised by how many named perils your policy doesn’t cover. It is important to get clarification from your insurance agent. For example many homeowner insurance policies do not cover floods, earthquakes, rot and negligence. So, if a tree falls on your home because it was old and rotted your homeowner insurance policy will not provide coverage for the damaged it causes. It is important to keep and maintain the trees around your home. Click here for some helpful information on ways to prevent tree rot.
Additional Coverage
If you are worried about a tree falling on your house due to a flood or an earthquake then you may buy an additional rider that will cover such perils. You can contact your insurance provider and you might be pleasantly surprised at how low this additional coverage will cost.
Thus, if a tree falls is the damage covered by your homeowners insurance? The answer depends if the damage is caused by a covered peril. We hope that this article is useful to you and can answer some of your questions. E&Y Agency LLC can help you get proper coverage to protect your property from various perils. Just give us a call at 248-362-1313 or fill the form below.
