Storm-Damaged Trees: Insurance, Costs and Who Pays

What to do in the first hours

Make people safe first and keep away from anything touching power lines — report those to the network operator, not to a tree surgeon. Photograph everything before it is moved, including the root plate, the failure point and the damage. Emergency make-safe work to prevent further damage is usually acceptable to insurers, but full clearance is best agreed with them.

• Photographs taken before clearance are the single most useful piece of evidence.
• Keep written quotes and invoices; insurers ask for them.
• Make-safe work and final clearance are often two separate visits and two separate costs.

Reducing the risk before the next storm

Most winter failures happen in trees with pre-existing defects: decay at the base, included bark in a tight fork, previous topping regrowth or a badly one-sided crown. A pre-winter look at large trees near the house, and dealing with obvious deadwood and heavy end weight, is far cheaper than an emergency call-out. Documented maintenance also helps if liability is ever questioned.

How James David Forestry Ltd can help

James David Forestry Ltd works across Liverpool, Merseyside, Wirral, Ormskirk and Lancashire. We assess the actual tree, access and surroundings before recommending work. Clear photographs can be useful for initial guidance, but some questions need a site visit and we will not diagnose a dangerous or diseased tree from website information alone.