What Insurance Actually Covers

Structural Damage Coverage

Dwelling coverage pays for damage when trees hit insured structures. This includes homes, attached garages, decks, and porches.

Detached structures like sheds, gazebos, and fences fall under other structures coverage. This typically provides 10% of dwelling limits.

Coverage applies after deductible payment. Wind and hail deductibles often reach 1% to 5% of dwelling value instead of flat dollar amounts.

A home insured for $300,000 with 2% wind deductible requires $6,000 out-of-pocket before coverage begins. This represents substantial unreimbursed costs.

Tree Removal Limitations

Policies limit tree removal to $500 to $1,000 per tree when trees hit insured structures. Total limits may cap all tree removal combined.

Trees falling without hitting structures generally receive no removal coverage. Some policies cover removal when trees block driveways or handicap ramps.

These limits assume small to medium trees. Large mature trees cost far more to remove safely.

Emergency removal during active storms costs premium rates. Demand surges after major weather events double or triple normal prices.

Landscaping Coverage

Tree and shrub replacement coverage typically caps at 5% of dwelling limits. A $300,000 insured home provides maximum $15,000 for all landscaping.

Individual tree limits often restrict coverage to $500 per tree. Mature specimen trees costing thousands to replace receive minimal reimbursement.

Many policies exclude wind and hail damage from landscaping coverage. The same perils that destroy structures do not qualify for tree replacement.

How Insurance Companies Deny Fallen Tree Claims

The Negligence Argument

This represents the most common denial tactic. Insurance companies argue tree failures resulted from maintenance neglect not covered perils.

They claim visible warning signs required preventive action. Dead branches, fungal growth, leaning trunks, and root exposure all indicate problems you should have addressed.

These expectations exceed reasonable homeowner knowledge. Most people cannot assess tree health or failure risks.

Professional arborist inspections cost hundreds of dollars. Insurance companies expect annual inspections despite policies providing no coverage for these expenses.

Pre-Existing Condition Claims

Insurance companies deny claims arguing trees were diseased or damaged before storms. They claim wind merely accelerated inevitable failures.

Post-storm investigations identify any tree defects. Rot discovered after failures becomes evidence of pre-existing problems.

All trees contain some degree of decay or weakness. Insurance companies use normal conditions to deny coverage.

Sudden wind gusts snap healthy trees regularly. The presence of minor defects does not mean failures resulted from gradual deterioration.

Gradual Damage Exclusions

Policies exclude damage occurring gradually over time. Insurance companies claim tree deterioration represents gradual damage not sudden accidents.

Trees develop problems slowly but fall suddenly. Insurance companies ignore sudden failure events and focus on underlying slow processes.

They argue years of disease progression caused failures not single storm events. This reasoning converts covered perils into excluded maintenance issues.

Inadequate Removal Cost Coverage

The $500 to $1,000 removal caps cover only small trees. Large trees commonly cost $2,000 to $5,000 or more for safe removal.

Trees on structures require specialized equipment. Cranes, bucket trucks, and rigging systems all increase costs substantially.

Insurance companies refuse to exceed policy limits regardless of actual expenses. Homeowners pay thousands in unreimbursed removal costs.

Driveway Blocking Disputes

Some policies cover removal when trees block driveways. Insurance companies interpret this narrowly.

Trees must completely prevent access. Partial obstructions allowing vehicle passage do not qualify.

They deny claims when alternative routes exist even if these routes are inconvenient or unsafe. Reasonable access becomes minimum possible access.

Landscaping Exclusions

Wind and hail damage often gets excluded from tree replacement coverage. Policies cover tree loss from fire, lightning, or vandalism but exclude weather damage.

Insurance companies argue landscaping represents luxury not necessity. Decorative trees do not require replacement for property functionality.

Mature specimen trees provide shade, privacy, and substantial property value. Their loss creates significant financial harm beyond aesthetic concerns.

When to Call a Public Adjuster

Call us immediately when insurance companies deny fallen tree claims as maintenance neglect. We overturn these denials regularly.

Call us when tree removal costs exceed policy limits. We maximize coverage and identify additional recovery sources.

Call us when structural damage exceeds $50,000. Large claims require expert handling to secure proper settlements.

Call us when multiple trees fall creating complex claims. Coordination across damage types and structures requires expertise.

Call us when wind or hail deductibles create substantial out-of-pocket costs. High percentage deductibles necessitate aggressive claim maximization.

Common Fallen Tree Claim Denial Reasons

Insurance companies deny claims as maintenance neglect regardless of actual tree health. Any visible defect becomes evidence of negligence.

They claim pre-existing conditions caused failures not covered storms. Tree rot discovered after failures becomes pre-existing damage.

They refuse to exceed $500 to $1,000 removal limits despite actual costs reaching thousands. Policy caps leave substantial unreimbursed expenses.

They deny landscaping coverage claiming wind and hail exclusions apply to tree replacement. Decorative trees do not qualify for coverage they argue.

They interpret driveway blocking requirements narrowly. Partial obstructions allowing difficult access do not qualify for removal coverage.

They apply percentage-based wind deductibles exceeding homeowner expectations. Two percent of dwelling value reaches thousands of dollars.

We counter every one of these denial tactics. Insurance companies cannot use standard excuses against properly prepared claims.