Does homeowners insurance cover tree removal after a storm in Mississippi

Storms and heavy winds can wreak havoc on your home and surroundings. If your property has mature trees, then it could be an accident waiting to happen. Mississippi homeowners insurance can help your cover tree removal for your property.

A Mississippi independent insurance agent will review your policy for free so that you're not spending extra money. They'll even shop your coverage with A-rated markets and present the best options. Connect with a local expert to get started in minutes.

What Does Homeowners Insurance Cover in Mississippi?

Each homeowners policy comes with a structured list of limits and losses it will protect against automatically. The majority of homeowners policies will have the following coverages:

  • Dwelling limit: Pays for the replacement or repair of your home itself when a covered claim occurs.
  • Personal property: Pays for the replacement or repair of your personal belongings.
  • Personal liability: Pays for bodily injury, property damage, or slander claims against a household member.
  • Additional living expenses: Pays for your temporary stay at another property when a claim renders your home unlivable. 
  • Medical payments: Pays for the first $1,000 - $10,000 of a medical expense when a third party gets injured on your property.

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Tree Removal after a Storm?

In Mississippi, your homeowners policy will have coverage for storm damage. This includes if a tree falls on your property or a neighbor's and causes damage. Unfortunately, tree removal is not a simple yes or no answer, as there are different variations of coverage.

How tree removals are covered under your home insurance:

  • It covers the removal of a tree that falls onto a structure, like your home or shed, due to a covered loss.
  • It covers the removal of a tree that falls onto your neighbor's structure.

Estimated overall losses due to natural disasters in the US in one recent year, by type (in million US dollars)

Your homeowners insurance will not typically cover tree removal when tree debris falls onto your land or neighbor's land. Since it did not impact a structure, it's an out-of-pocket expense on your part. 

Catastrophes That Could Cause a Tree to Fall in Mississippi

In Mississippi, 414,262,000 homeowners claims were paid last year alone. Natural disasters can create a lot of damage and cause trees to fall. Some of the common ones you'll want protection for are:

  • Severe storms and lightning
  • Burglary and other property crimes
  • Hurricanes and tropical storms
  • Tornadoes
  • Flooding and water damage

Number of homeowner insurance claims paid due to lightning losses in the US in recent years

When lightning strikes a tree, that can be a double whammy of a loss. It can cause both property damage from the tree falling and fire. 

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Tree Removal in Mississippi?

The removal of a tree on your property can be covered in some instances. If the loss is due to a storm and causes damage to a structure, then coverage for the tree removal is usually a given. There is also coverage if the tree blocks access to a driveway or handicapped access ramp. However, if the tree doesn't actually fall on anything but land, you're looking at an expense on your own.

Different types of property coverage when damage occurs:

  • Replacement cost: Pays to replace your home or other structure to its like, kind, and quality when a claim arises, including storm damage.
  • Actual cash value: Pays to replace or repair your property to the current market value. This typically only applies to roofs but can apply to the actual home itself if old enough.

How a Mississippi Independent Insurance Agent Can Help

When you own a home, there's a lot of responsibility. From maintaining the property to protecting it, coverage can get confusing if you're not a professional. There are multiple options you'll have and instances your home policy needs to be prepared to cover.

Fortunately, a Mississippi independent insurance agent has access to a network of carriers so that you have options. Your coverage and premiums will be shopped with A-rated markets for free. Connect with a local expert on trustedchoice.com and start saving in minutes.

Article Author | Candace Jenkins

Article Expert | Jeffrey Green

https://www.statista.com/statistics/216836/estimated-overall-losses-due-to-natural-disasters-in-the-united-states/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/217232/paid-claims-by-us-homeowners-insurers-due-to-lightning-losses/

http://www.city-data.com/city/Mississippi.html

© 2024, Consumer Agent Portal, LLC. All rights reserved.