Home Home insurance Claims One of my trees fell into my neighbor’s yard last night during a storm. It did not cause any damage. Do I need to call my home insurance company to file a claim? One of my trees fell into my neighbor’s yard last night during a storm. It did not cause any damage. Do I need to call my home insurance company to file a claim? View Carriers Please enter valid zip Compare top carriers in your area Written by Barbara MarquandPosted on: July 16, 2012 Why you can trust Insure.com Quality Verified At Insure.com, we are committed to providing the timely, accurate and expert information consumers need to make smart insurance decisions. All our content is written and reviewed by industry professionals and insurance experts. Our team carefully vets our rate data to ensure we only provide reliable and up-to-date insurance pricing. We follow the highest editorial standards. Our content is based solely on objective research and data gathering. We maintain strict editorial independence to ensure unbiased coverage of the insurance industry. No, and there are a couple of reasons for this. The first has to do with where the insurance responsibility falls with downed trees. Generally you file a claim with your own home insurance company if a tree falls and damages your property — no matter where the tree came from. So if the tree caused damage in your neighbor’s yard, your neighbor would file a claim with his own insurance company. The neighbor’s insurer could come after you and your home insurance company, though, if there were signs you neglected caring for the tree, and this led to its fall. Secondly, home insurance typically does not cover the removal of fallen trees if they don’t damage property. To qualify for a claim, the tree must have damaged a structure covered by the policy. An exception is sometimes made if a tree blocks a driveway or a wheelchair ramp for accessing the house. What if the tree had caused damage to your neighbor’s house? In that case, your neighbor’s home insurance policy would pay for the damage, minus the deductible, and the cost of removing the tree up to a specified limit. Although home insurance probably won’t come into play here, that doesn’t you can’t be neighborly and offer to pitch in to remove the tree. For more, see Chain saw massacre: When trees go down, whose insurance picks up the tab? QuickTake Can my homeowners insurance be canceled because my house is empty? Is carpenter ant damage covered by homeowners insurance? Home insurance claims: How to file and what you should know Guide to the insurance claims history report (CLUE) Does homeowners insurance cover rotting wood? How to file a successful mold claim Does homeowners insurance cover a leaking washing machine? Does homeowners insurance cover water damage? Does home insurance cover lightning strikes? Does homeowners insurance cover tornado damage? Does homeowners insurance cover mold? Does home insurance cover damage from fallen trees? Does home insurance cover roof damage from heavy snow? What is sewer backup insurance? Does homeowners insurance cover storage units? How do I find the homeowners insurance policy after a parent passes away? Does home insurance cover accidental kitchen fires? Can insurance companies enter your house or examine your car? Are pools and hot tubs covered by homeowners insurance? Does homeowners insurance cover power surges and outages? How much do claims increase home insurance rates? Mistakes to avoid when filing a car insurance claim Don't get snookered by fake roof damage scams What to do when lightning hits your house Chain saw massacre: Insurance for downed trees My husband fell in our home and broke his ankle. Will our homeowners insurance cover this since the accident happened in our home? That's gross! Why home insurance won't pay for disgusting problems We left a faucet turned on in my home and it caused water damage The trouble with drunk friends Homeowners premiums fluctuate with community's fire-fighting ability See more > In case you missed it What is HO-6 condo insurance and how much does it cost? Average homeowners insurance cost by ZIP code in 2024 What is dwelling coverage and how much do you need? Personal liability insurance: What it is and why you need it Renters insurance quotes: Compare rates Hurricanes and home insurance: How hurricane insurance works How replacement cost coverage works when you file a claim How much do claims increase home insurance rates? Mobile home insurance cost and coverage in 2024 Homeowners insurance basics Home Insurance Advisor Cheapest homeowners insurance in 2024 How much flood insurance do I need? How to bundle home and auto insurance policies to save money The largest home insurance companies by market share Home insurance discounts for cheaper rates How much does dog liability insurance cost and do you need it? Do you have an emergency go-bag? Most Americans don’t 1/1 Related Articles Can my homeowners insurance be canceled because my house is empty? By Nupur Gambhir Are landlords responsible for tree damage to your car? By Nupur Gambhir What is HO-6 condo insurance and how much does it cost? By Shivani Gite Does homeowners insurance cover laptop or computer damage? By Mark Vallet Does homeowners insurance cover TV damage? By Cassidy Horton Does homeowners insurance cover rotting wood? By Penny Gusner ZIP Code Please enter valid ZIP See rates