Tag tornando

With all the storms in 2019, we have seen unprecedented damage to our community. We have previously covered what happens when a tree falls on your house, and we wanted to supplement that information. We reached out to Katie Tu, a content specialist with QuoteWizard, to answer a few questions.

Does home insurance or auto insurance cover a tree falling on your car?

Most people think that their homeowners insurance will cover the costs if a tree falls on their car. However, this is not the case, unless your car happens to be parked in your garage and a tree falls through the garage and damages your car. In most other situations, your auto insurance will be the one you should look to for coverage.

Keep in mind that different insurance companies will handle these types of situations differently than others, and if you have any specific questions, you should contact your agent for clarifications.

What part of my auto insurance covers for tree damage?

Auto insurance comprises of the following elements: liability, collision, comprehensive, personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist, and underinsured motorist. 

In the situation where a tree damages your vehicle, your comprehensive coverage is where you will be covered for it. Comprehensive coverage protects you from things like theft, fire, falling objects (like a tree), and natural disasters. 

Depending on your state or auto lender, you may not be required to have comprehensive coverage. However, if your car does get damaged for some of the reasons mentioned above, it’s a good idea to consider having it.

Are there any limitations to the coverage for tree damages?

That is going to be dependent on your insurance carrier and the coverages they offer. However, we do know that there are a couple things they may not cover:

• Your carrier is unlikely to cover repairs that cost more than the worth of your car. Therefore, if your vehicle is totaled, they are likely to pay the actual cash value of the car instead.
• They may not pay for the removal of the tree. You may think this is something you could do, but you may risk damaging the car even further. We suggest calling professionals to assist you with removing the tree.

What are the next steps after a tree has fallen on my car?

As soon as you notice the damage to your car, contact your agent or a representative of your auto insurance company. Try to provide as much detail and information as you can about what happened, and they can help navigate you on the next steps.

After completing your conversation, here’s what you should do:

• Take lots of photos: Try to get different angles, close-ups, and whole picture.
• Remove the debris: Avoid hurting yourself or doing any more additional damage. If the job is too big or dangerous for you to do yourself, consult with a tree care company for assistance.
• Check your policy: If you didn’t do it over the phone already, check your policy limits and your deductible. You’ll want to make sure you’re also able to pay for your deductible as well.
• See where the tree damage came from: Check to see if it came from your neighbor’s yard or vice versa.

If the tree that fell on my car was my neighbors, whose insurance pays for it?

If you suspect that your neighbor is at fault for the tree damage to your car, their insurer could pay for the damages if you have hard evidence or proof that they were negligent with care. Evidence like a dated letter to your neighbor asking them to cut the tree due to rot or some other reason could help with your case.

Keep in mind that this works both ways, so if you have a tree that could potentially cause damage to your neighbor, you’ll want to make sure you keep maintenance on it. If you ignore certain warning signs, you and your insurance may have to pay for the damages. 

Regardless, if a tree has fallen on your car and you’re looking for coverage, you would need to file a claim with your insurance.

How could I prevent this from happening?

Of course, to prevent any issues in the first place is to be proactive and do maintenance as needed for trees. If you have a tree in your yard, check it routinely, especially before hurricane season or the winter, to see if you may need to trim it.

It’s always a good idea to also check on your neighbor’s trees or talk to your neighbor about keeping their tree routinely checked to avoid any future damages or headaches.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, and we hate to see destruction like we had in 2019. If you are concerned about the safety or stability of your or your neighbor’s trees, or have any other questions, let us know.

After a devastating weather event like the tornadoes on October 20, 2019, the damage can be hard to assess, let alone start to repair. While damage to homes and other structures is of utmost importance to the community, addressing the damage to our urban forest, and determining what can be saved, is a key component of recovering after destruction.

Cleaning up downed trees is the first priority in an emergency situation. Fallen trees can prevent first responders and repair crews from accessing damaged utility lines and dangerous structures. Once the trees on the ground have been addressed, however, we must think about those left standing. After a high-wind event like a tornado, the trees left standing often have severe limb breakage and defoliation, or loss of leaves. Both of these issues have short- and long-term consequences, that must be understood.

Tree Safety Is Key

As soon as possible after a storm, owners of damaged trees should take a few steps to ensure there is no further damage to people or property:

• Clear the area around any damaged trees of vehicles and valuables and take steps to prevent access to the area.
  • If possible, cordon off the entire dripline area (from the trunk to the tips of the branches).
  • If there is a tree that could fall on your home, consider staying out of that part of the house until the tree can be assessed.
• Once the area has been secured, contact a certified arborist to assess the damage to your trees.
  • The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) has established the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) to train certified arborists in the proper evaluation of the safety and stability of trees. Be sure to find an arborist who has completed the TRAQ program.
  • Ask the arborist about tree stabilization, such as bolting and cabling. These measures can help prevent future issues with splitting trees.
• Trees that are stable, but have lost a great amount of the canopy will probably need fertilization or other plant health care measures to recover.

Will My Trees Survive Tornado Damage?

Ultimately, the prognosis for a storm-damaged tree depends on several factors, including the species, location, soil condition, and underlying health of the tree. Based on our experience, however, certain North Texas trees should fare better than others.

• Live Oaks, Cedar Elms, Pecans, Bur Oaks – Uncertain/Wait and See

  • While these species are resilient, we are assessing them on a case-by-case basis.
  • If the tree is stable, we recommend waiting until the spring to see if new growth appears.

• Red Oaks, Maples – High Risk for Sun Damage

  • Both types of trees are susceptible to sunburn, which dries out the bark, causing it to peel off,  and exposing the sapwood underneath to damage.
  • Even if the tree is stable, the risk of stress and dieback from the winter sun is great.
  • Maples and red oaks that have lost their leaves have little protection from sun exposure.

• Crape Myrtles – High Chance of Survival

  • As long as the crape myrtles remained in the ground, they should survive.
  • Damage to limbs and safety pruning may alter the shape of the tree, but should not cause any major issues.
  • If increased insect activity is observed, consider using insecticidal soap in the winter or pesticides in the spring.

• Mulberries – Uncertain/Wait and See

  • Mulberries are fairly hardy, and may survive, but may suffer from dangerous instability.
  • Once tree is stabilized, wait to reassess during the next growing season.

• Hackberries – Uncertain

  • Have the root area examined by a certified arborist for signs of root rot or kretzschmaria.
  • Even if the tree appears undamaged, the hackberry’s tendency to develop root instability issues may make it a fall risk in the future.

• Magnolias – Unlikely to Survive

  • Extensive defoliation will likely stress the tree past the point of survival, and prevent recovery from any damage.
    • As evergreens, magnolias depend on their leaves year-round.

• Ornamentals – Likely to Survive/May Want to Replace

  • Smaller trees and ornamentals seem to fare better in high winds, as they are able to flex with the pressure.
    • One risk to smaller trees is being damaged by falling debris from larger trees or structures. If there is no physical damage, the tree is probably stable.
  • Many smaller ornamentals are understory trees, used to shade from larger species.
    • As with red oaks, risk of subsequent damage from sun exposure is high.
  • Even if the tree survives, it may not be as well-suited for its space after the damage, and owners may prefer to replace it.
    • Defoliation or wind damage may have irreparably altered the shape.

What Should I Do Now?

Whatever kind of tree you have, and however it has been damaged, contact a certified arborist to determine the best steps to take. We highly recommend fertilization for all trees impacted by storms, especially in our urban soils. If your trees are going to recover, they will need all the nutrients they can get. If your landscaping has been disturbed by the tornado, now might be a good time to adjust your mulching practices to help enrich the soil going forward. If you need guidance, we are always here to help.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers. We are shocked and saddened to see the widespread damage and devastation after the recent tornadoes, and our hearts go out to all those who have lost their homes. So much of our beautiful urban forest seems to have been uprooted or destroyed, and we want to do what we can to preserve what remains. We hope this overview has been helpful, and we are always available to come out to assess your specific trees for damage, stability issues, health issues, or to give you our recommendations for post-storm care. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.