First 48 Hours
Tree impact. Here is what to do in the first 48 hours.
Tree damage covers a wide range: roof penetration, siding impact, pool cage collapse, vehicle crush, fence destruction. Each has different coverage rules. The first 48 hours are about safety and documentation, not cleanup.
Before you do anything: make your home safe.
If there is active fire, gas, electrical risk, or structural collapse risk, evacuate and call 911 first. Property damage is recoverable. Safety is not.
Immediate steps
The first hour
Every minute of the first hour after tree impact shapes the claim that follows. Work the list. Do not skip steps. Do not improvise.
- 01
Clear the area of anyone inside the damaged zone
Trees can shift. Branches can continue to fall. Do not enter under a compromised structure.
- 02
Call 911 if there is active risk
Power lines down, gas odor, structural collapse, anyone trapped.
- 03
Photograph the damage before anything moves
Wide, medium, close. All angles. Tree from multiple sides, noting where it originated.
- 04
Determine whose tree it was
Your tree, neighbor's tree, city tree, power company's tree. Insurance handling can differ.
- 05
Contact carrier and open claim
Get a claim number. Get the carrier's emergency tarping/board-up protocol.
Critical
Document before you clean
Photograph everything first.
Your carrier will question anything you clean up before they see. Documentation preserves scope. Cleanup without documentation collapses scope.
- 01
Full exterior photos before any tree removal
Once a tree service cuts the tree into pieces, causation photos are impossible to reconstruct.
- 02
Photograph the point of impact on the structure
Roof penetration, wall impact, pool cage collapse. Close-up plus wide context.
- 03
Photograph interior damage from impact
Ceiling collapse, drywall damage, broken tile, water intrusion through breach.
- 04
If a vehicle was struck, claim on auto comprehensive, not home
This is a common confusion. Your auto comprehensive coverage handles vehicle damage, even from a tree at your own home.
What to photograph and video
- ✓The fallen tree from all sides
- ✓Point of impact on the structure (wide + close)
- ✓Interior damage from impact
- ✓Other structures affected (pool cage, fence, shed, detached garage)
- ✓Any vehicles affected (claim on auto policy if so)
- ✓Yard damage, landscaping affected
- ✓Utility involvement (downed lines, damaged meter)
FNOL
Call your insurance carrier
Once the property is documented and safe, call your carrier. Ask for a claim number. Give the facts. State that you are reserving the right to supplement the claim as the full scope emerges. That is standard language, not a red flag.
Free claim review
Get a free claim review from a licensed Florida public adjuster.
We review your policy and estimate at no cost. If we take your case, our fee only comes from the increased recovery.
- ✓Licensed Florida public adjusters
- ✓We work for policyholders, not insurance companies
- ✓No fee unless we recover more than you were offered
What kind of damage?
Pick the closest match. We will ask for details later.
Do not give a recorded statement yet.
You can decline until you have documented the full scope and, ideally, had a licensed Florida public adjuster review your statement. Once recorded, it is the canonical version of events.
If you know your carrier, read the carrier profile for specifics on how they handle tree impact claims. Each carrier has patterns. Knowing the pattern is half the advantage.
Policy requirement
Mitigate further damage
Your policy requires you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Emergency tarps, plumbing shut-offs, board-up, drying, mold control. Keep every receipt. These expenses are reimbursable.
What is reasonable mitigation?
Tarps on a damaged roof: yes. Full roof replacement in week one: no. Water extraction and drying: yes. Finish replacement before scope is agreed: no. The line is "prevent further damage," not "start repair."
Know the traps
Red flags in the first 48 hours
- NENeighbor's insurance told you to file on yoursGenerally you file on yours regardless of whose tree, unless negligence is proven. Do not be deterred.
- POPool cage damage dismissed as not coveredPool cages are often under Other Structures (Coverage B). Limits may be lower than the repair cost; check your dec page.
- RETree removal quote exceeds policy sub-limitPolicies often cap tree removal coverage ($500-$2,000). If structural damage occurred, removal of the tree from the structure is separate coverage.
- VECarrier says your homeowners covers the carIt does not. Auto comprehensive does. Do not let the homeowners adjuster include vehicle damage in their scope; it muddies both claims.
Free claim review
Still building your claim? We can help right now.
A licensed Florida public adjuster will review your policy and loss documentation for free.
- ✓Licensed Florida public adjusters
- ✓We work for policyholders, not insurance companies
- ✓No fee unless we recover more than you were offered
What kind of damage?
Pick the closest match. We will ask for details later.
Decision
When to call a public adjuster
You should call a licensed Florida public adjuster when the damage is substantial, when the carrier's first response feels like an anchor, when you are being asked to sign things you do not fully understand, or when the carrier is asking questions that feel designed to shift the narrative of cause.
You do not need one for a $500 screen repair. You almost always want one for a $30,000 kitchen restoration. In between, the rule of thumb is: if the claim complexity exceeds the time and expertise you can give it, get representation.
Public adjusters in Florida work on contingency. No recovery over the carrier's first offer, no fee. Our interests align with yours.
No obligation. No fee unless recovery.
Free claim review from a licensed Florida public adjuster.
No obligation. No fee unless we recover more than you were offered.
FAQ
Common questions about tree impact claims
Whose insurance covers a tree that fell from my neighbor's yard onto my house?+
Does my policy cover removal of the tree?+
Is my pool cage covered when a tree falls on it?+
What if a tree fell on my car in my driveway?+
Can I start cleanup before the carrier inspects?+
Does insurance cover the landscaping destroyed by the tree?+
If you need another one
Related playbooks
Water Damage
Water damage moves fast.
Fire Damage
Fire damage claims turn on scope.
Storm Damage
After the storm passes, insurance carriers are overwhelmed.
Roof Damage
Roof claims are the most denied property claims in Florida.
Theft / Vandalism
Theft claims rise or fall on documentation.
Vehicle Impact
Vehicle impact claims are multi-policy situations: their auto, your home, possibly their bodily injury, and sometimes municipal liability.
Go deeper
Deeper claim resources
Claim Process Guide
Every stage of a Florida insurance claim.
Florida Insurance Law
Statutes that protect policyholders.
Denied Claims
When carriers deny and how to fight back.
Claim Types
Every major damage category.
Carriers
Florida carrier profiles.
Glossary
Every claim term defined.
Help Center
Common problems homeowners face.
Case Studies
Real Florida settlements.
Calculators
Decision and settlement tools.
Storms
Every major Florida storm profiled.
Locations
All 67 Florida counties.
First 48 hours
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Free claim review
Your policy says more than you think. Find out what you are actually owed.
Licensed Florida public adjusters. Free claim review. No recovery, no fee.
- ✓Licensed Florida public adjusters
- ✓We work for policyholders, not insurance companies
- ✓No fee unless we recover more than you were offered
What kind of damage?
Pick the closest match. We will ask for details later.
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