Homeowners: What to do if a tree falls on your house in Massachusetts
A tree damages your house, now what? Get emergency help today and a larger insurance settlement to repair your home.
Are you a Massachusetts homeowner who has had a tree fall on your house recently? Falling trees can damage the roof, foundation, structure, electricity, plumbing, gas lines and more. As a homeowner, an ice storm or Nor’easter can cause you to face a hazardous and expensive repair situation. You want to know what to expect, how to protect your home and family, and how get a bigger settlement from your homeowners insurance claim.
If you want to work with an expert to give you peace of mind and get the largest settlement from your insurance company, fill out this form or call us at 774-239-6822 and we’ll call you back right away to discuss your damages and claim. We also provide emergency services and immediate assistance to secure your property and a safe place to stay at any hour of the day or night.
The five steps to take when a tree falls on your house
1) Get everyone out of the house and to a safe place.
The first step when a tree falls on your house is to get everyone out and to a safe place. Your priority is human safety. The damage from the tree may be visible or hidden, so it’s best to get out first. Take your house keys, car keys, wallet, and important documents, if it’s safe to do so.
2) Call 911, if there is any further risk to human safety.
A tree on a house or outbuilding may create safety risk from the tree itself shifting, as well as from structural damage, severed natural gas lines, exposed electrical power lines, and broken water pipes. Don’t climb on the roof yourself as it may be slippery or compromised. Don’t try to move the tree yourself as your actions may cause more damage, injury or death. Let 911 send a trained public utility crew or fire fighters to reduce the hazard.
3) Protect your home from further damage.
After the public safety crew is finished, lock your windows and doors and secure valuables, if you can do so safely.
4) Call a trusted Massachusetts public insurance adjuster.
If a tree falls on my house, should I call a public adjuster? And if so, when? Yes, call a public adjuster at once – at any hour of the day or night. Unlike insurance staff adjusters and independent adjusters who work for insurance companies, a public adjuster works for you. When a tree falls on your house anywhere in Massachusetts, contact a public adjuster licensed and insured in Massachusetts.
A public adjuster brings a network of trustworthy contractors to secure your home, assess and claim all damages, and get a larger insurance settlement for you. In Massachusetts, public adjuster fees are capped at 10% of any recovery and are paid at the time of the settlement.
We guide you through the entire process. We help with emergency services, such as securing the property, winterization, and temporary accommodations. Next, we thoroughly assess your loss using specialized strategies and techniques specific to the type of loss. We obtain building repair estimates, produce a detailed personal property inventory, determine the full impact of damages, and more.
Learn more: What a public insurance adjuster does for you.
Learn more: Why you should call a public adjuster before you call your homeowners insurance company.
5) Contact your insurance company.
Finally, contact your homeowners insurance company within 24 hours. Your policy states what is and what is not covered. A MA public adjuster can help you maximize your settlement under those terms.
More questions about trees falling on houses
As a homeowner, you may have many more questions, such as: Does insurance cover a tree falling on a house? What happens if a neighbor’s tree falls on my house? Or what happens if my tree falls on my neighbor’s house? What if a dead tree falls on my house? And does homeowners insurance cover tree debris removal?
Does insurance cover a tree falling on a house?
Yes, insurance covers damages due to trees as long as it’s not due to an earthquake or flood, which generally require separate policies.
What happens if my neighbor’s tree falls on my house?
Your homeowners insurance covers damage to your house from a neighbor’s tree.
What happens if my tree falls on my neighbor’s house?
Your neighbor’s policy covers damages to their house from your tree.
What if a dead tree falls on my house?
Regardless of whether the tree was dead, diseased or healthy, homeowners insurance covers damage to the structure caused by a falling tree.
Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal?
Homeowners insurance generally only covers removal and disposal of any tree debris that falls on a structure due to wind, hail, ice, snow or sleet—and many policies cap these services at $1,000.
Earthquakes and floods generally require a separate policy and therefore removal of tree debris that falls on the house due to an earthquake or flood is not covered by most homeowners policies.
Trees that fall on the ground are treated differently. Tree debris removal is not covered for trees that do not lean on a structure.
Removal of diseased and dead trees is not covered, but it’s a good idea to proactively remove them to minimize risk to people and property in the future.
Helping property owners recover from loss for more than 50 years
If you experience structural damage from a fallen tree, calling a public adjuster right away is the best way to be sure you get the settlement you deserve and recover from your losses. Grenier Public Adjusters has helped Massachusetts property owners assess total damages, document lost possessions, and navigate the claims process for the best possible result while you focus on the demands of day-to-day life.
Please contact us or call 774-239-6822 anytime.