Homeowner’s Insurance
Homeowner’s insurance is designed to protect your home and property. But it also provides liability coverage if you should damage someone else’s property or injure another person. A question we often get is, “Who is responsible if my tree falls on my neighbor’s home”?
If your tree falls on your neighbor’s home due to a loss by wind, fire, lightning, or some other act of God, it would be covered under your neighbor’s homeowner’s policy, not yours. Your neighbor’s policy is responsible for the cleanup and repairs up to your neighbor’s policy limits. Your neighbor’s homeowner’s deductible would apply to repair their property.
If a tree falls as a result of your poor care or condition, your homeowner’s insurance will most likely apply. If a tree falls on your property and causes damage to your home, there is coverage. There is minimal coverage to replace that tree subject to the deductable.
You should always make sure that if your neighbor has a tree in poor condition, to contact your neighbor in writing as well as taking dated pictures so you are able to show physical proof your neighbor was negligent, and therefore liable, for the damage caused to your property.
Standard home insurance policies also provide coverage for damage to trees and shrubs due to fire, lightning, explosion, theft, aircraft, vehicles not owned by the resident, vandalism and malicious mischief. Coverage for these disasters is generally limited to up to five percent of the amount of insurance on the structure of the house. Of course all claims are subject to your deductible.
The Management and the entire professional staff of Beckerman & Company will always strive to provide all of our valued clients with the finest in customer service.