Who pays for storm damage? As the Bay Area dries out, a new set of questions are facing residents.
As the Bay Area dries out from a parade of atmospheric rivers, leaving hundreds of downed trees in their wake, a new set of questions are facing residents: How can trees be protected and risks of damage and danger to life and property reduced? When the damage is already done, who pays?
With so many losses, just finding help is a challenge. We asked some experts for insight: Tree Davis, a nonprofit which plants trees in Yolo County; Michal Brower, State Farm Insurance public affairs specialist; and Elizabeth Hartman, spokesperson for Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies.Tree care can significantly extend the performance, lifespan and the benefits of trees. Have your trees inspected periodically. Prune overextended or dead branches.
There may be coverage limits for tree removal. For instance, Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance companies only pay up to $1,000 for tree removal, regardless of the number of fallen trees, and no more than $500 of this limit will be paid for the removal of any one tree.Your tree removal company should be licensed and bonded. Be sure tarping, if needed, is included in their work or another contractor, so additional damage does not happen through an open roof.
But it might cover the costs if the tree blocks your driveway so that you can’t access your home, or if it blocks a handicapped ramp.Your insurance only covers the cost of removing the tree from your property, not your neighbor’s. If you were found negligent — for instance, the tree was dying before the wind storm — and a neighbor makes a claim or brings a lawsuit against you, that would be handled under the liability portion of your insurance policy.
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