If a tree has fallen and blocked your driveway in the wake of a recent storm, you already know how important it is to schedule removal from professionals offering tree services in Largo, FL, to help you return your life to normal. Read some of the following tips for tree hazard management and emergency tree cleanup.
Safely Assess the Situation and Damage
When you have a blocked driveway, safety should be your primary concern. Try to observe the tree from a distance to look for potential dangers before approaching it. It might have fallen on a power line or landed on another unstable structure, increasing the risk of further damage or injury if you get too close.
Once you have an idea of the extent of the damage, you can take the following steps as needed. In the meantime, be sure to keep your family and any pets out of harm’s way until help arrives.
Contact Your Homeowners’ Insurance Company
If a fallen tree blocking a driveway has also struck your home, car, or garage, you may need to contact your insurance company to file a claim. Be sure to go over the terms of your deductible so that you know what to expect.
If the tree cracked the concrete in your driveway, struck your car, or landed on the roof of the garage, you will likely meet your deductible and should go ahead with filing a claim. The insurance company can give you ideas on how to handle tree removal.
Request Help From a Tree Removal Professional
Local tree removal professionals can recommend driveway obstruction solutions. They will inspect the tree and determine the best way to remove it. If the tree is leaning on a garage or your home’s roof, the tree removal team will work carefully to avoid causing further damage.
Find a Temporary Solution for Your Vehicles
With a fallen tree blocking a driveway, you might not have easy access to your garage. Depending on the level of damage the crashed tree caused, the garage might be out of commission for a day or longer. Determine if and where you can store your vehicles temporarily while the tree removal and garage repairs are underway.
Determine Responsibility for the Fallen Tree
If the tree fell from a neighbor’s property, you might wonder whether the neighbor should pay for the removal. Generally, the neighbor would only be responsible if there were warning signs that the tree was going to fall. If the tree was dangerous and the neighbor knew it but failed to remove it, the neighbor might be responsible for the cost of removal.
If you did not warn the neighbor about the danger of the tree, or if it was completely healthy before it fell, it might be considered an “act of God” and would be no one’s fault. The neighbor could not have anticipated that it would fall and taken steps to prevent it. You would then have to pay to remove the tree yourself or through an insurance payment.
Stevens Tree Service Will Handle All Your Tree Removal Needs
If you have a fallen tree blocking a driveway or need other tree-care services, the team of arborists at Stevens Tree Service can help. Don’t let a fallen tree linger on your driveway and risk damage to the concrete.
We can also explain the common causes of tree fall issues, helping you reduce the risk of having this problem occur again in the future. For a free estimate, contact us today at (727) 734-8733.