Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

The neighbor on the left side of my houses' tree fell onto my front lawn during sandy. There is a wire under the tree but I have electric and cable so It may be an old phone wire but I'm not sure. The neighbors behind me also has a tree that fell towards their house but took out part of my fence. Thankfully we are all safe but Neither neighbor has attempted to contact me about the damage or removal of the tree. Am I responsible to remove the tree and fix the fence? I don't even know who to call about this.

Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

its their tree. its their responsbility. They may have already called their insurance. Id reach out to them. Hey glad you're ok. Did you get through to your insurance about the tree?

Re: Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

yes they said I'd have to make a claim so they can send out an adjuster but my deductible is more than what it will cost to remove the tree so I really don't want to go through my insurance. The agent said if it fell on my property then I would have to pay for it to be removed even of it was their tree. She didn't sound positive about it though.

Re: Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

the agent is correct....yeah it sucks but this was one of the first things we learned when taking the course before the Insurance brokers exam.

Re: Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

When my tree fell during another storm not Sandy and fell on my neighbors fence. We went over to tell them that we were paying to get the tree removed so they would not have to worry about it but any damage that occurred on their property was not covered by our home insurance.

Re: Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

Message edited 11/2/2012 4:48:58 PM.

Re: Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

Re: Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

we chopped the one in front of our into smaller pieces and put it on the curb...our neighbors told us they come and pick it up...it looks like anyone who could cut it up did the same thing. there was another tree blocking the street and our neighbors sawed it up to clear the street but the pieces and bottom half are still laying there out of the ground...nobody has come to pick up any trees on our street

Re: Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

I believe if you can prove the tree was diseased or rotting your neighbor might be responsible but I think since it happened as a result of a hurricane it's an act of god and financially would be your responsibility.

Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

Yes, you are responsible for whatever fell onto your property. A friend of ours had his neighbor's tree fall onto his (friend's) house and smashed the garage and his car. Our friend has to make a claim through his won insurance company for that, even though it was his neighbor's tree. A tree in the same friends yard fell onto the other neighbor's house - that neighbor has to go through their insurance company.

Re: Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

whatever falls onto your property is your problem.

that's the legal policy though i will say i think if someone is a good neighbor/person, they would take care of it if it was their tree. our tree fell into our neighbors yard last year and we took care of it without question. just the right thing to do imo.

Re: Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

A few storms ago my tree fell into my neighbors house. I called my insurance company and they said that they only cover damage to my actual property, and that the neighbors homeowners insurance will cover their damage, because that is the reason they have insurance.

I felt terrible but it is what it is.

Re: Who Is Responsible For a Fallen Tree and Fence

two of our trees fell on to our fences and my husband cut them up to the stump and made a report on line with 311 at nyc.gov and they came and took everything except for the stump sticking torn out of the ground.