A tree on your house is a high-stress, high-stakes situation. Every decision in the next hour matters. This guide covers the exact steps, in order: how to protect everyone, how to document for insurance, who is responsible for what, and how to get the tree off safely.
If you’re in Smyrna or Cobb County and need emergency help right now, call 470-994-5343. We dispatch 24/7 for fallen tree emergencies throughout the area.
Step 1: Get Everyone Out First
Before anything else, get everyone away from the affected area. A tree in contact with a structure can shift as the weight settles. What looks stable can move without warning.
Two situations require calling 911 immediately:
- You smell gas. Evacuate and call 911. Do not re-enter until the gas company has cleared the line.
- The tree brought down power lines. Do not touch anything near downed lines. Call Georgia Power at 888-660-5890, then call 911.
Should I call the fire department if a tree falls on my house? Yes, if you have gas risk, downed power lines, or reason to believe the structure is at risk of collapse. The fire department can assess structural integrity before you re-enter. For a tree that hit the roof without fire, gas, or line involvement, your first calls are your insurance company and a tree service.
Step 2: Document Everything Before Moving Anything
Do not touch the tree. Do not begin cleanup. Photograph first.
Take photos from multiple angles: the fallen tree, the full point of impact, every area of visible damage to the roof, siding, gutters, and any interior exposure. If rain is incoming and you need to tarp, document thoroughly before the tarp goes up.
These photos are the foundation of your insurance claim. An adjuster who receives thorough before-and-after documentation will process faster and with fewer disputes.
Step 3: Call Your Insurance Company
Call within 24 hours of the event. Have your policy number, the date and time, and your photos ready when you call.
Coverage Item | What Most Homeowner Policies Include |
|---|---|
Structural damage to home | Yes, typically covered |
Temporary emergency tarping | Yes, typically covered |
Debris removal (the tree itself) | Limited, typically $500-$1,000 max |
Detached structures (fence, shed) | Often covered with a sub-limit |
Car damaged in driveway | No, file through auto insurance |
Tree removal if no structure was struck | Typically not covered |
Your specific policy may differ. Read your declarations page or ask your adjuster directly. Do not assume coverage until you have confirmed it.
Whose Insurance Pays? The Answer May Surprise You
If a neighbor’s tree falls onto your property, your homeowner’s insurance covers the damage to your structure.
A healthy tree that fell during a storm is generally treated as an act of nature. Your neighbor is not automatically liable simply because it was their tree.
When does a neighbor become liable? Liability requires proving negligence. If the neighbor knew the tree was dead or hazardous, had been notified of the problem in writing, and took no action, they may bear some responsibility. A healthy tree that fell in a storm does not meet that standard.
Keep written documentation of any time you notify a neighbor about a tree you believe is hazardous. That record matters if the tree eventually falls.
Can my neighbor sue me if my tree falls on their house? They can pursue a claim, but proving liability requires demonstrating you knew the tree was dangerous and failed to act. A healthy tree that failed in a storm generally does not support that claim. The practical way to close this exposure is to remove dead or structurally compromised trees before they become the problem.
Who Is Liable for a Fallen Tree in Georgia?
Georgia follows the general negligence standard. A property owner is not automatically responsible for storm damage caused by a healthy tree.
Liability becomes a real possibility when:
- The tree was visibly dead or diseased before it fell
- The owner had been notified of the hazard in writing and took no corrective action
- A tree service or local authority had flagged the tree as a removal risk
This is why removing a dead or hazardous tree is not just an aesthetic decision. It closes a liability exposure. If you have been watching a tree on your property and putting off the call, a fallen-tree incident turns “I meant to get to that” into a concrete legal and financial situation.
If you want to assess your own trees before the next storm, see the guide to 7 signs it’s time to remove a tree. For guidance on specific warning signs before a tree fails, see warning signs a tree is about to fall.
Step 4: Call a Fully Insured Tree Service for Removal
Do not attempt to remove a tree that has made contact with a structure on your own.
A tree on a roof is under load. The wood is compressed and in tension at different points, limbs are pinned, and cutting in the wrong sequence can cause a secondary collapse or drive a section of the tree through the roof. Rigging a loaded tree off a structure requires professional training and equipment.
Equally important: verify that the tree service carries general liability and workers’ comp insurance before any crew sets foot on your property. An uninsured worker hurt on your land can become your liability. Ask for proof of coverage before the job starts.
Once the emergency removal is done, stump grinding is a separate job and can be scheduled after the site is clear. Our stump grinding service handles that on its own timeline. See our full tree removal and 24/7 emergency tree service pages for details on what the emergency process looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first if a tree falls on my house?
Get everyone out of the affected area immediately. Do not assess damage from inside while the tree is still in contact with the structure. If you smell gas or see downed power lines, call 911. Once it is safe, photograph all damage from multiple angles before touching anything. Then call your insurance company within 24 hours.
Whose insurance pays if a neighbor’s tree falls on my house?
Usually yours. Your homeowner’s policy covers structural damage to your home regardless of where the tree came from. A neighbor is only liable if they knew the tree was dead or hazardous, were notified of the problem, and took no action. A healthy tree that fell in a storm is treated as an act of nature.
Who is liable if a tree falls on my property in Georgia?
Liability requires proven negligence. In Georgia, a tree owner is not automatically responsible for storm damage from a healthy tree. Liability becomes a possibility if the tree was known to be dead or structurally compromised and the owner failed to act after notification.
Should I call the fire department if a tree falls on my house?
Call 911 if there is any gas leak, risk of structural collapse, or downed power lines. The fire department can verify structural safety before you re-enter the building. For a tree that hit the roof without those additional hazards, call your insurance company and a tree service.
Can my neighbor sue me if my tree falls on their house?
They can attempt a claim. Succeeding requires proving you knew the tree was a hazard and failed to act. A healthy tree that failed in a storm generally does not support that claim. Removing dead or structurally compromised trees from your property closes that exposure.
4/7 Emergency Tree Removal in Smyrna, Marietta, Vinings, Mableton, and Austell
A tree on your house is not a situation to schedule for next week. We dispatch for fallen tree emergencies day and night.
Rudy Perez founded Tree Service Smyrna in 2020, building on years of family experience in the trade. We carry general liability and workers’ comp insurance, so any liability stays with us, not with you. We remove the tree safely, document the job for your adjuster, and leave the site clean.
Call 470-994-5343 now. We serve Smyrna, Marietta, Vinings, Mableton, and Austell any time, day or night.
Get Emergency Help | Call 470-994-5343
No pressure after the emergency is resolved. If you want a stump ground or additional cleanup scheduled separately, we’ll quote that as its own job at a fair price.
Sources
- Georgia Office of Commissioner of Insurance, Homeowners Insurance Basics — oci.ga.gov (FLAG: verify URL resolves to homeowners insurance page before publishing)
- Georgia Power, Report Downed Lines and Safety — georgiapower.com (FLAG: confirm exact safety/outage page URL before publishing)
- Insurance Information Institute, Fallen Trees and Homeowners Insurance — iii.org (FLAG: confirm a specific on-topic article page exists before linking)
