Do you need clarification on the laws surrounding fallen tree removal? If so, here are some things you need to know. First and foremost, it depends. Is the subject tree on your neighbor’s property? Did it fail in a significant storm? Was it a dead tree? Was the tree growing on private land, or was […]
Category: Insurance
Acts of God and Other Silly Notions of Trees
May 3, 2022Adjusting Insurance Claims Acts of God: If you are in the business of adjusting insurance claims, you have no doubt heard this scenario numerous times: “There was this incredible wind out of nowhere, and the next thing I knew my huge tree fell through my roof.” Another often repeated theme goes like this: “It must’ve […]
If a Tree Fell in the Woods …
April 12, 2022If a tree fell in the woods, would an insurance agent hear it? It is an amazing phenomenon to observe from afar. Extremely intelligent and well-versed insurance professionals handling claims become immobile when a tree or landscape issue comes before them. Their eyes glaze over. Their right hand goes to their chin. Their eyebrows rise. […]
Appraisal: Nursery/Tree Farm
January 11, 2022Appraisal: Nursery/Tree Farm The most difficult assignment for an arborist or other professional appraiser is evaluating a nursery or tree farm, and the required expertise is exponentially greater if business damages are involved. Further, if the assignment falls under eminent domain, an even greater degree of expertise is required. Nursery and tree farm appraisals are […]
The Settlement Mystery of Trees and Landscapes
December 14, 2021The Settlement Mystery of Trees and Landscapes Nothing evokes frustration, anger, and other awkward reactionary behavior like a claim for trees or landscapes. Something unexplainable occurs when the subject of appraising trees and landscapes occurs. The same thing happens in legal disputes. Pros simply don’t know how to approach just compensation regarding trees and landscapes. […]
Limbs and trees fail …
November 16, 2021Limbs and trees fail. It happens all the time as a natural process of nature, and it’s a good thing, unless there is somebody or something under the limb or the tree. When that occurs, it is seldom viewed as an accident by the person who was the object of stopping gravity or their surviving […]
Why Does a Tree Fall?
July 9, 2021Why does a tree fall? After the hustle and bustle of determining legal positioning in a wrongful death or personal injury matter regarding tree failures, this question inevitably comes up. Could the failure have been predicted within a reasonable amount of certainty before the incident occurred? Were the defects open and obvious? Were the defects […]
Insurance Claims and Trends
June 30, 2021Perhaps it is just me, but there seems to be a greater number of claims without merit occurring than typically is seen in the marketplace. You know, the claimant is being what appears to be less than honest. I have noted a substantial uptick in claims like this recently. As many claims agents already are […]
Insurance Claims for My Review
April 26, 2021I am most fortunate as an arborist to accept a large number of insurance claims for my review and comment. Sometimes I find myself across from the insurance companies. In this matter, an insurance company had refused a claim for approximately $88,000. An 18-wheeler had crossed the road and destroyed the front rows of a […]
Trees and Neighbors
January 31, 2021When talking about trees and neighbors, most diligent arborists are aware of what self-help means. Self-help is the only available option when managing an uncooperative neighbor whose tree is encroaching onto or into an adjoining property owner’s land. Of course, it is incumbent upon each of us to attempt a mutual agreement between two neighbors […]