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Home Insurance & Fallen Trees

October 15, 2020
Updated: January 6, 2024

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A tree falling on a home is a pretty nightmare-ish scenario. Within minutes, you go from living your life to panicking about injury, property damage, and—if the tree that fell came from your property—liability.

Thankfully, in many cases, your Manitoba home insurance will cover fallen trees. But filing a claim isn’t a no-brainer because there are insurance exclusions. And, often, the cost of removing the tree and repairing any damage out of pocket is cheaper than paying your deductible.

In this post, we’ll help you understand what’s covered, what’s not, and whether or not your fallen tree claim is worth filing a claim for.

In A Rush For Answers? Reach Out!

If a tree has already fallen on your home—or you just don’t want to do any more googling—get in touch with us. Our Insurance Consultants will get you the answers you need faster than the internet will.

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Does Home Insurance Cover Fallen Trees?

In most cases, home insurance will protect your home and any other structures on your property–like a fence or a shed–against specific causes of loss. In insurance, we call these “perils”)

Covered perils are typically things like damage caused by a wind or snowstorm.

Auto Insurance for Fallen Trees

Your vehicle isn’t considered an extension of your home, so a tree falling on your vehicle would not be covered by homeowner’s insurance. Instead, you’d file a claim with Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI).

What Home Insurance Covers When a Tree Falls

If a tree falls on your property and your claim is covered, home insurance will pay to repair:

  • Your home;
  • Damage to its contents; and
  • Any additional living expenses

Does It Matter Why The Tree Fell?

Yes. Home insurance policies include coverage for fallen trees, but that coverage depends on a number of factors like what caused the tree to fall and what kind of damage resulted.

Important note: Property insurance will not cover loss or damage caused by negligence or a maintenance-related issue.

Is Cleanup Covered By Insurance?

If the cleanup is related to property damage, then yes, it will be covered.

If the tree falls without doing any damage, no property insurance claim would be opened, so you’d be responsible for cleanup. The same goes for dead trees and branches.

If My Property Is Damaged, Does It Matter Whose Property The Tree Falls From?

No, it doesn’t matter whose property the tree falls from. If your property is damaged, your insurance provider will pay to repair the damage to your house.

What Happens If The Tree Fell From My Neighbour's Property?

If a tree falls from your neighbour’s property, you can claim your insurance as long as the cause of the damage is covered. If a tree falls because of rotting or because it’s dead, your home insurance may not cover the damage. But you may be able to file a liability claim on your neighbour’s home insurance.

What If A Tree From My Property Damages My Neighbour’s House?

You are only responsible if the tree fell because of neglect on your part (like if you let the tree rot or failed to remove a dead tree). If a tree falls for any other reason, you’ll be covered. Your neighbour will just need to open the claim through their property insurance.

What If A Tree From My Property Damages Someone’s Vehicle?

If a tree on your property falls on someone else’s vehicle, the owner of that vehicle can claim it under their MPI policy. If, however, the owner has no coverage, they might ask you to file a claim under your third-party liability coverage.

What To Do If A Tree Falls On Your Home

  1. If someone is injured, call emergency services first.
  2. If there are any damaged or downed power lines, contact Manitoba Hydro as soon as possible.
  3. If there’s any damage to your water lines, shut them off.
  4. If there are broken windows or other exposed parts of the home, protect your valuables from severe weather by putting up a tarp.

How To Prevent Future Tree Fallings

To protect your home from future tree fallings, or to lessen the potential damage, regularly check for and remove dead branches. Also, consider pruning branches from neighbouring trees that extend over your property line.

Think Critically About Filing a Home Insurance Claim

Even though home insurance often covers fallen trees, filing a home insurance insurance claim can be very expensive. So just because you can claim on your insurance, that doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Often, the cost of removing the fallen tree and repairing any damage is less than the cost of a home insurance deductible. If that’s the case for you, then it’s not worth the claim.

If a tree falls on your home, contact your insurance provider. They can help you figure out if the claim is covered and decide whether it’s worth pursuing. And, if it is, they’ll help you get your claim started.

Let’s Make Sure Your Home Is Covered!

Want to ensure that you have the coverage you need in the event of a tree falling on your property? Contact us.

We’ll help you secure the coverage you need so you can relax and enjoy your home– no matter what Mother Nature throws your way.