If a tree falls on your car during Sacramento summer heat, who is responsible for damages?

Jacqueline Pinedo
·4 min read

You may have already spotted a fallen branch this summer around Sacramento as the days heat up and moisture dissipates.

It’s not uncommon for this time of year.

The phenomenon known as the “summer branch drop” can create a disturbance in people’s daily lives. If suddenly a tree branch falls on your parked vehicle, it can certainly put a damper on your day — and deficit in your wallet.

Here’s why branches fall during the summer, who covers damage and who is responsible for clean up:

Why do tree branches fall during summer months?

According to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, drought stress can contribute to sudden branch drop — but it’s not the only factor. Generally, heat and lack of moisture in the summer months can cause trees to self prune and it’s more common with mature trees, The Bee previously reported.

Branch dropping is common in oak trees..

There is no way to prevent branches from falling, according to the University of California research. However, there are some preventative measures you can take:

  • Upkeep your trees by shortening long horizontal branches

  • Keep a proper watering schedule for your tree’s needs

Will my car insurance cover a fallen tree branch?

You may be covered if you have comprehensive coverage, but you’ll want to check your policy.

This usually covers policy holders on incidents that are out of their control or incidents often referred to as “acts of God”, The Bee reported in January. Comprehensive coverage “pays for damage to your car caused by something other than a collision, such as fire, theft, vandalism, windstorm, flood” and “falling objects,” according to the California Department of Insurance.

Comprehensive coverage requires a deductible fee to move forward with a claim. Deductibles are typically around $500, but can be more or less, depending on what you picked when you selected your policy.

If a tree or tree branch falls on your car, you can file a claim through your auto insurance. If you only have liability insurance — coverage for accidents — the damage probably isn’t covered.

There is typically $500 limit to have a tree removed from the damaged structure, said spokeswoman Amy Harris in an email to The Bee. The fee only includes removal of the tree off the vehicle, not off the property.

Harris advises that people do the following if a branch or tree falls on their car:

  • Document the damage with pictures and video. This information can all be helpful in the claims process.

  • Get recommendations for contractors and shop around for the best pricing on car damage.

  • Make sure estimates are all detailed and don’t pay for any work up front.

If the tree isn’t from your property and you can can prove a neighbor or a public entity neglected the fallen tree, they may be responsible for damages. Otherwise: It’s likely on you and your insurance.

Who cleans up the fallen tree in Sacramento?

Trees and their fallen branches are mostly a fact of life in Sacramento — especially in areas with a dense tree canopy.

Here’s who is responsible for the cleanup:

A tree falls on your home

If a tree or a large tree branch falls on your home, you’ll need to call a private tree company to remove the tree, said county spokeswoman Janna Haynes in a previous Bee story. This also applies to private streets. You’ll have to go through your insurance company to find out what damage will be covered.

The rules for the city of Sacramento are similar to those of the county. If a tree or branch falls on private property, the owner is responsible for clean up as they would for any other plant or shrubbery, The Bee previously reported.

A tree falls on the street

If a tree branch falls on a public street, you should report it to the city or county, depending on where you see it — and especially if you notice that it’s touching power lines. Here are some options to get in touch with someone to clean up the branch in unincorporated county:

If you need to report a fallen branch to the city of Sacramento, the rules are similar to those of the county. Dial 3-1-1 or 916-808-5011 to report fallen tress or branches on public roads.

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