Help! A tree fell on my car, what do I do? If you recently encountered a tree smashing your car, you are probably wondering if your insurance is going to cover the damages. The only way to have your car insurance cover a tree which has fallen on your car is by purchasing comprehensive insurance coverage before the damage occurs.
Types of Fallen Tree Damage
- Tree Falling from Storm
Parking your car outside on a regular basis leaves your car susceptible to storm damage. A major contributor to property damage is falling trees during heavy wind and snow storms. Comprehensive coverage will repair damages to both fallen trees due to wind and snow, plus other forms of storm damage such as hail damage.
- Dead Falling Tree
Dead trees often become falling trees after a long period of time. Sometimes even driving down the road a large tree limb or an entire tree can come crushing down. Anytime your car is hit by a falling object comprehensive coverage will repair your vehicle minus your deductible.
- Hitting Fallen Tree In the Road
Hitting a tree which has already fallen in the road is handled differently than a tree that has fallen on top of your vehicle. Colliding with a tree lying in the road is considered a collision. Collision coverage will need to be listed on your car insurance policy in order for your insurance company to pay for repairs. Your deductible will apply unless you have been racking up a reduced deductible with a vanishing deductible option. What is the difference between a tree falling on your car and hitting one lying in the road? It is always your responsibility to be looking for obstacles in the road, and you ought to be able to stop without a collision. Falling objects are often unavoidable which is what makes it covered by comprehensive.
File the claim with your insurance company. Ask your insurance agent or the claim representative what you can do to speed up the claims process. Most companies allow you to take photos of the tree on the vehicle so work can begin to remove the tree and possibly have the vehicle towed. It is recommended to use your insurance company’s preferred body shop to speed up the process even more.
Clearly, a tree falling on your car can cause a lot of damage. The best protection for your vehicle is storing it in a garage. Of course it is not always possible. If you frequently park outside near trees, definitely consider adding comprehensive coverage to your car insurance policy so you will be protected against a loss.
