A fallen tree after a storm – is your insurance coverage up to date and how are you going to get rid of the debris?
Even though Matthew was downgraded to a category 1 on Saturday, its four-day rampage left a trail of destruction from Jacksonville, FL to Wilmington NC. Georgia’s coast fared better than others but still the cleanup continues from fallen trees and flooding miles and miles inland.
Have you ever had to clean up after a storm? Even a medium sized tree or branch can take down a power line or block a driveway. So, what do you do and who do you call?
First, check your homeowners insurance. It is likely it will cover tree removal and any damage to your property.
However, if a tree falls due to neglect, you may not be eligible for coverage. Periodically, check any trees close to your house or outlying buildings and ask your neighbors to do the same.
Sometimes, if a fallen tree has not caused any damage your insurance will not pay for it to be removed. This is something you may want to address with your insurance company before that great pine is lying across your backyard.
If the tree falls into the street your city may clean up the debris. That doesn’t mean you can’t file a claim with your insurance company.
Ask your city who is responsible for removing the tree. The city might be responsible for removing only the portion that is in the street. The rest may fall on your shoulders and pocketbook.
Talk to your car insurance company. If the tree crushes your beloved Ford truck they will probably be your go to guy for covering the cost of damages. But again, that doesn’t mean your car insurance will pick up the tab for removing the tree from your vehicle and yard.
Each insurance carrier handles fallen trees differently. It all depends on your coverage limits and on the specifics of your policy. It’s a good idea to find out ahead of time what is and isn’t covered.
When it comes time to remove the tree, the owners and staff at R & R Container Services in Acworth GA are your “haul guys”. Their containers come in two sizes and are very affordable. You are only charged for the amount of debris in the container, not the size of the container.
The next time a tree falls in your back yard, call the reliable people at R & R Container Service to haul away the debris after you’ve worked out all the details with your insurance company.
