I parked my tiny home under a majestic oak tree for shade. During a thunderstorm, a massive limb snapped and crushed the roof of my tiny house. Total damage: $18,000. I filed a Comprehensive claim. The adjuster came out, looked at the tree, and pointed to the rot where the branch broke. “You parked under a visibly dead limb,” he said. “This was preventable.”
Key Takeaways
- Falling Objects are Covered (Usually): Comprehensive (Comp) coverage pays for “Falling Objects” (trees, meteors, acorns).
- The “Negligence” Loophole: If the tree was obviously dead and on your property, the insurer might argue you failed to maintain the premises. If it was on someone else’s property (RV park), you are covered (and your insurer will sue the park).
- Deductibles Apply: You pay your Comprehensive deductible ($500 or $1,000).
- Debris Removal: The policy usually pays to fix the house, but check if it pays to remove the tree from the roof. Often, there is a sub-limit (e.g., $500) for tree removal debris.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Duty to Mitigate Risk.”
Insurers expect you to act like a prudent owner. If you see a dead branch hanging over your
100,000houseanddonothing,thatisnegligence.However,usually,treefallclaimsarepaidbecauseit′shardtoprovetheownerknewthebranchwouldbreak∗today∗.Thebiggerissueisusuallythe∗∗limitofcoverage∗∗.Ifyourroofiscustomcopper(100,000houseanddonothing,thatisnegligence.However,usually,treefallclaimsarepaidbecauseit′shardtoprovetheownerknewthebranchwouldbreak∗today∗.Thebiggerissueisusuallythe∗∗limitofcoverage∗∗.Ifyourroofiscustomcopper(
20k) and they value it as standard asphalt ($5k), you lose.
The Investigation (My Analysis of 3 Carriers)
I checked the “Falling Object” clauses.
Progressive
- The Good: Comprehensive covers falling objects.
- The Bad: They heavily depreciate the roof value if it’s not “Replacement Cost.”
National General
- The Feature: They often cover the cost to remove the tree if it damaged a covered structure. If the tree fell in the yard and hit nothing, they pay nothing to remove it.
Foremost
- The Detail: Stationary policies usually have specific “Debris Removal” coverage (e.g., 5% of dwelling limit). This is helpful for hauling away the massive oak trunk.
[IMAGE: Photo of a large tree branch resting on a crushed tiny home roof]
Comparison Table
| Scenario | Tree on Your Land | Tree on RV Park Land |
| Coverage | Comprehensive | Comprehensive |
| Fault | Yours (if dead) / Nature (if healthy) | The Park (Premises Liability) |
| Deductible | You Pay | You Pay (Insurer recovers later) |
| Rate Increase | Likely | Unlikely (Not-at-fault) |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Inspect Your Canopy: Look up. Are there dead branches (no leaves)? If yes, move the house or trim the tree.
- Verify Debris Removal: Check your policy for “Additional Coverages – Debris Removal.” Make sure you have at least $1,000 allocated.
- Take Photos of the “After”: Before you cut the tree off the roof, take 50 photos. Prove the damage was caused by the tree, not your chainsaw.
- Hire a Pro: Do not climb on a crushed roof with a chainsaw. If you fall, that’s another claim. Insurance pays for the pro.
FAQ
What if the tree didn’t break the roof but scratched the paint?
It’s covered, but check your deductible. If paint is $600 and deductible is $500, don’t file.
Does insurance cover the tree itself?
Usually no. They cover the house. They don’t pay to replace your oak tree.
Is wind damage the same as tree damage?
They are often separate deductibles. If wind blew the tree down, it might trigger the higher “Windstorm Deductible.”