My neighbor's tree fell on my lawn. Should their insurance pay?
DHB Insurance | June 2012
We hear this question all the time.
Many neighborhoods in North Carolina are filled with trees. Anyone who was around when Hurricane Fran hit can tell you that the shade and beauty of a tree filled lawn has a price when big storms hit.
Most of us assume that since it is your neighbor's tree, it is your neighbor's problem. This is often not the case. In order for your neighbor's insurance to pay, they would need to be negligent. If it was an old rotten tree they were warned to take down, you may have a case. However, an otherwise healthy tree blowing over in a storm usually will be considered an "Act of God." You are going to have to look to your own insurance for help.
Your insurance will pay for trees felled by a covered cause of loss which damage a covered structure or block your driveway. Standard HO3 (6/11 edition with HO3232 6/12 edition) homeowners policies pay up to $500 in the event of a loss. The broader HE7 (7/13 edition) policy provides up to $2,000 (up to $1,000 per tree). If you live on a heavily wooded lot and have a standard homeowners policy, you may want to give us a call to see if you are eligible for an HE7.
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