A tree has just fallen in your yard, damaging your property. Who is responsible for removing it? The answer depends on a few factors and varies by state. Understanding who is responsible for a fallen tree in Yardley, PA, can help you determine your next steps and act quickly to begin mitigating the damage.
If you need professional tree services in Yardley, PA, reach out to T&T Tree Service.
Times When You May Not Be Responsible for Tree Removal
Under Pennsylvania’s legal rules for tree damage, you are generally responsible for the trees on your property. But there are a few instances in which you may not be liable for a fallen tree:
- The tree is on public land. If the tree is located in a nearby public forest or park, it may be the borough’s responsibility, not yours. You can report the fallen tree to the Yardley Shade Tree Commission.
- The tree was healthy and fell on your property during a storm. Storm damage is often covered under homeowners’ insurance. If your tree was healthy and not generally at risk of falling, your insurance may apply to the removal and property repairs.
- A healthy tree on your property fell on a neighbor’s property due to a storm. This scenario is often the most nuanced. If you had a dead or dying tree that fell on your neighbor’s property, you may be responsible for failing to mitigate a hazard you should have known about. But if your tree was healthy and it fell in a storm, your neighbor’s insurance may cover this instead. You couldn’t have reasonably predicted that the tree would fall.
Instances When You May Have Tree Removal Responsibilities
These are a few cases in which you may be responsible for a fallen tree in Yardley, PA.
- The tree was on your property and clearly rotting or damaged. A tree that is in poor condition is generally considered a hazard. If your tree was in bad shape and it fell on your own property or a neighbor’s property, its removal may not be covered by insurance.
- The tree was on your neighbor’s property and healthy. If a neighbor’s healthy tree fell on your property in a storm, you may be able to claim it through your homeowners’ insurance. Otherwise, you will likely need to work out a solution with your neighbor about who will pay to remove it.
Your responsibility for fallen trees in these scenarios may include paying to remove the tree and repair damage. If the tree fell on a neighbor’s property, they could sue you for these damages.
This is why it is important to know how to tell if a tree will fall. You can take measures to mitigate tree risks before they damage your or your neighbor’s property and require expensive repairs.
Schedule Fallen Tree Removal in Yardley
Regardless of who is responsible for a fallen tree, removing it promptly is one of the first steps to take when a tree falls in a storm. T&T Tree Service Inc. offers professional tree removal in Yardley, PA. Call 609-397-2700 for a free estimate.
