Got Some Ash From the Neighbor

We had some pretty heavy thunder storms come through yesterday. I got home from work just as the rain started falling. While I was getting my things together and preparing to run to the house there was a hug crash and the car shook. I looked out the back window and saw nothing but leaves.


It is only the very tops that hit the vehicles. The blue car has a few scratches, but the F250s windsheild is broken. I haven't had a chance to have a good look for other damage yet.



I told my neighbor that I'd take the wood. It will be a few days worth in three years. Interestingly, we got letters from Con Ed that a contractor would be through the area to trim around the wires. My neighbor called and asked then to have a look at this tree. Yesterday the arborist came to look and told him that the tree was healthy and possed no threat. While it fell across his lawn and not into the street and utilities, the service to his house is now under the branch on his lawn. The branch pulled the service off the house, but the wires are intact. he told me that he's gonna call the arborist and ask him to have another look at the tree today.
I'm at work today and Saturday so I won't be able to deal with it until Sunday.

NE WOOD BURNER said:

Yepper some storm! Told ya that tree would come down this year. Glad I got that old flatbed out of there in time!

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It would have been right across the hood of the old flatbed if it were in its spot.

I told him I'd take it all if its cut down. There's probably nearly two cords in that tree and its nice and close to home too.

From the sound of it and how much the car shook, I expected much more damage.

Thanks for the offer. I'll be able to cut it up pretty quickly. Getting rid of the brush is the PIA. I also don't really have any room to stack at the house either. I am at my 13 cord max capacity on the cozy 1/4 acre until I start burning this fall.

Well, I got home just before sundown and got a better look at the truck tonight. It is pretty banged up. The roof and hood are a mess. Not sure how this is gonna pan out with a 13 year old truck. I do have comprehensive coverage.

The good news is that the tree is coming down now. And there's quite a bit of wood in it.

That hedgerow is about 6 feet tall for reference.

Body work is never cheap. I imagine getting those kinks out of the roof would take a lot of time and $$$. With a new windshield it will still do everything it did before the hit. It will just look like crap. We'll see what the insurance company says next week.

But, there is a lot of good wood in that tree. If the branch had missed my truck, it would have been in my neighbor's daughter's bedroom. Trucks are replaceable. Daughters, not so much.

NE WOOD BURNER said:

Your neighbor's homeowners should be fitting the bill on this one. I'm sure your insurance will handle the claim to them.

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From what I can tell a landowner has no liability for damage his tree causes to a neighbor's property during a storm. If I can prove that my neighbor was aware that the tree posed a threat to my property and then chose not to take proper steps to prevent it causing damage then I would have a case against him. It is considered an act of nature and therefore no person is liable for damage.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/If_a_neighbor's_tree_fell_on_your_property_who_is_liable
The fact that an arborist declared the tree to be healthy and posing no threat only hours before it fell surely would no help my case any either.
I have full glass coverage and $200 deductible comprehensive coverage. Bad luck and I'm out $200. If my truck is fixed I pay $200 to get some wood delivered to the house and nice, clear new windshield.

I have. $200 deductible applies.

My neighbor had a guy come and clean up the tree branch. They chipped most of it, but I got some.


Insurance declared the truck a total loss. Repairs would be about equal to value. We are gonna keep the truck as is and take the actual value minus salvage value. Its a shame to have what was still a pretty good looking 13 year old, low mileage, truck banged up, but at least no body was hurt or killed and it only really looks bad on one side.
Getting the rest of the wood eventually will be nice too.