When a tree unexpectedly falls in your yard, it not only poses potential risks to your safety but can also result in property damage.
Knowing the right steps to take immediately can mitigate these risks and facilitate the cleanup and insurance processes. To limit the amount of disruption in this type of incident, there are a few steps you should take immediately after a tree emergency:
- You should first make sure that everyone is safe and unharmed.
- Call your power company to have the power lines inspected for damage.
- Check for snags and for anything it might have connected with as it fell without touching. Make sure no utility lines, telephone, or electricity lines were taken down with the tree.
- If anything was damaged in the fall, call the appropriate professionals to assess the damage and hopefully fix it. In case a utility or electric line was damaged, do not approach it. Electricity could still be active, and anyone near the line could be seriously injured.
- Schedule a professional emergency tree removal company to remove the fallen tree safely and quickly. Do not attempt to remove the tree yourself. Depending on where it landed, the tree may have caused greater damage to your home or property than you realize. If you remove a tree improperly, you risk furthering any damage the tree has caused. Also, many insurance companies will not honor a claim to fix your home or yard if you do not have a professional service.
- Check your other trees. Prevent future destruction by checking the health of your surrounding trees. If the trees are old, sick, or have already died and rotted, your home could be in for more damage during the next big storm.
- Take pictures for an insurance claim. Just as you would with a car accident, you want to take pictures of the tree and surrounding damage for your insurance claim. To ensure that you benefit from insurance tree removal, take pictures of the area, hold on to any receipts associated with the incident, and call your insurance company.
Documenting Tree Damage for Your Insurance Claim
If a tree falls on your property, documenting the damage thoroughly is crucial for your insurance claim. Under the right circumstances, your insurance company may pay for tree removal in Atlanta, GA. Knowing your responsibilities in this type of situation is essential for getting the most benefit from your policy and having your insurance company cover the cost of tree removal or emergency tree service.
- Start by taking detailed photographs of the tree, the damage it caused, and its position relative to your home or other structures. If it’s safe, photograph the root area to show whether the fall was due to internal rot or external factors like a storm.
- Then jot down the date and time of the event, as well as any conditions that might have contributed to the tree’s fall, such as heavy winds or rain.
- Avoid moving anything until you’ve documented it or the insurance adjuster has visited, unless it’s necessary to prevent further damage or address safety concerns. Contacting your insurance company promptly to report the incident and initiate the claims process is also essential.
Our Emergency Tree Service Team is Ready For You
Emergency tree services are essential in the aftermath of a tree fall, and handling a fallen tree is not a DIY job. These services are not just about removal, they also provide crucial support in preventing future incidents. Professional arborists from AKA Tree Service can quickly assess the situation, determining the safest way to remove the tree and any debris without causing further damage to your property.
Don’t let that dead or dying tree cause you havoc during the next big storm. Call for a tree removal right away because a fallen tree can be a scary experience. Take a deep breath, make sure everyone is okay, and contact us today for assistance with any tree-related inquiries.
