Falling branches and toppled trees are a hazard homeowners have to be prepared to face, especially if they’re living in a region known for strong storms. When those trees or branches fall right onto a fence, homeowners have to take action.
If you’re wondering, does home insurance cover fence damage, especially in cases where a neighbor’s tree fell on my fence, the first step is to review and involve your insurance policy. Once the claim process is underway, you can contact fencing contractors to assess the damage. In some cases, the repairs may be minor, but if the impact was severe, a full fence replacement might be necessary.
Note If the Tree is in the Street or Has Hurt Someone
Before anything else, make sure no one’s been injured by the tree falling. If they have, get them to a doctor or call emergency services if needed. If the tree has fallen into the street, call your city or county; most now have a city services number for reporting issues like blocked streets.
Call your insurance company to find out: does home insurance cover fence damage?
Assuming injuries and blocked roads aren’t an issue, and you’re just looking at a smashed fence, your first step is to call your insurance company. They’ll send an adjuster out to look at the damage, and you’ll have to speak with your agent about filing a claim. If the tree was your neighbor’s tree, let your insurance agent know. They’ll have to contact your neighbor’s insurance company. This can lead to legal issues down the road, which is why it’s imperative that you don’t touch the tree or fence (save for the aforementioned emergencies) until your insurance company has had a chance to inspect the site. If this was your neighbor’s tree, their insurance company will likely want to inspect it, too.
Have the Tree Removed When Your Insurance Company Gives the OK
When the insurance company is done checking out the tree, you can have it removed. It’s better to have a tree service remove everything, including the stump if that’s on your property than to try to do it yourself. If the tree fell on your fence from your neighbor’s yard, try to coordinate the removal so that the entire tree can be removed at once. Otherwise, you may have to have the part on your property removed and let your neighbor deal with the portion on their property.
Have the Fence Repaired or Rebuilt
When your insurance company is done processing your claim (or at least at a point where they don’t need to see anything else at the site of damage), and the tree has been removed, it’s time to fix the fence. This is when you call in a professional fencing contractor to either match the existing style and materials, or you have the fence replaced with a new one.
If you’ve filed an insurance claim, double-check just what the company will pay for. If the company will pay for repairs only, and you decide you’re better off replacing the fence, speak with your insurance company about how to split that cost. The fencing company you contract with will likely know how to deal with the insurance company as well.
Obviously, it’s best to call the company that installed the fence in the first place as they’ll have the right materials. But if you can’t call them over, call another fencing company in Richboro, PA. Hilltop Farm & Fence can repair or replace most styles of fencing and make your property look as good as new. If you need to find fencing contractors in Jamison, PA, Hilltop Farm & Fence can help you.