The dog days of summer are reaching their way into the early pumpkin spice craze of fall, but soon enough the air will turn crisp. In a matter of weeks vibrant colored leaves scattered across your yard will give way to chilly temperatures and winter storms. In Northwest Ohio trees are a beautiful reminder of the changing seasons but they do come with certain dangers and responsibilities.
Fall is an excellent time to assess the health of the trees on your property and to prepare them for a possible brutal winter. Trimming and pruning is a must to help keep your tree from becoming a liability. Branches that are near your roof, car or fence need to be properly cut back. In addition, look for discolored leaves, dead branches and early leaf drop as a sign of a tree at risk and call in a specialist to determine if it needs to be removed. Ice storms and winter winds along with an unhealthy or overgrown tree means possible damage to your property.
Let’s talk about what is covered when it comes to claims from trees. Often, if your tree falls on your home then insurance will cover it. If your neighbors tree falls on your home then the claim is again, with your policy. Although this may be frustrating, especially if you have been telling your neighbor to trim his tree back, your deductible could be reimbursed if your neighbor has homeowner’s insurance. If a tree falls in your yard and does not hit the house or obscure your driveway then the cost to remove may not be covered (in this situation it’s all about how your policy is written).
What about if a tree falls on your vehicle or your neighbor’s? The homeowner’s policy may cover the removal cost of the tree but will not cover the damage to the vehicle. Autos are excluded from a homeowner’s policy with some specific exceptions. This is where having a local, trusted insurance agent comes in handy. We can help you navigate and assist with claims to both your homeowner’s and your auto policy in order to receive the maximum coverage from the incident.
We want you to enjoy the benefit throughout all the seasons of those beautiful trees, but when all else fails know that Martin and Martin is there to help you understand your coverage when nature happens!
