Unfortunately, most of the time, if your tree falls on your neighbor's property, then your insurance will not cover their damages.
The reason is that, most of the time, you are not held responsible for a falling tree.
So, who will pay for the damages?
Your neighbor's homeowners' insurance will need to pay the claim and not the property owner of the tree.
There are situations that could turn out differently than the above. Such as, if your neighbor had warned you about a potential problem with your tree. Like, if they had told you that your tree was overhanging, dead, dying, etc. If this is the case, then you could be held liable for the damages.
One of the most common causes of a "Neighbor War" is a result of this unpredictable tree issue, according to Consumer Reports.
At CL Butcher, we try to encourage our customers to maintain their property to the best of their ability. If you have an issue with an overgrown or dying tree, please have this taken care of to avoid a potential claim. If you choose to do nothing, the insurance company could possibly deny your claim because of negligence.
Now if you are on the other side of the fence and you have a neighbor that has a problem tree the best thing to do is to write them a certified letter that you are concerned about their tree and you feel that it is a potential threat to you and your property, then ask them to take action. If they they choose to not take care of their property, then you have documentation that you send notice and you have a better chance of recovering the damages from their insurance company.
As always, if you have questions about this issue or any other issue relating to insurance, please contact us!