CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Friday, people across our area are cleaning up after tropical storm Debby dumped rain across the Carolinas.
The storm left downed tree limbs and flooded roadways, but what happens if a tree from your neighbor’s yard falls over and damages your property? Who is responsible?
OUR SOURCES
WHAT WE FOUND
Insurance Information Institute says if a tree lands on your home, you should immediately file with your insurance company.
After you file a claim, your insurance company might try to collect from the neighbor’s insurance company in a subrogation process.
If this happens and your insurer is successful, you may be reimbursed for your deductible.
Attorney Gary Mauney said if you notice a tree in your neighbor's yard is rotten, you should tell them so they can fix the issue. And if they don’t?
"But it matters if you're proving negligence against someone, then one of the ways that it would help you to prove that, of course, is if you could show that they knew that the tree was rotten or infirm, or that there was something wrong with the tree," Gary Mauney said.
At the end of the day, experts say it's important to maintain and properly prepare your trees for storms because homeowners insurance does not cover poor maintenance.
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