2007-09-05 11:55:45 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Often something like this is a question of who is going to pay for the cleanup.... not just who should get the work organized.
I would ask the neighbor if they would like to take care of it, just to be a good neighbor. Then, if they don't seem interested, I would take care of it myself... because I know something they may not....
In most communities, you will find someone who will come and clean up the wood at no cost to you... you might even make a few bucks out of it... These people would be:
1) A local wood working club - for example, a few members looking for specialty woods for projects and crafts... like wood turners (one of my most recent wood magazines profiles the story of 4 club members that had the opportunity to harvest a walnut tree, and it told of how they turned the "green" wood.)
2) A local lumber mill - Increasingly, I hear stories of "urban forest" harvesting - saw mills have to pay for their logs - and more and more of them are buying wind and storm damaged trees from cities, and highway 'right of ways' -- Chicago for instance has one such company, and this is all that they operate on... they use ONLY the wood that is reclaimed IN THE CITY, and surrounding urban areas... they don't go out to a "forest" and cut down trees... they specialize in harvesting storm damaged trees from the city.
3) A more traditional 'sawmill' will often be interested in any lumber they can harvest, and they can often put you in touch with someone, if they can't do it themselves, who will come to your property, and do the cleanup.
4) Anyone who sells fireplace wood - will have a definite interest in harvesting the timber, and they will clean it all up for you.
5) Perhaps a local "Vo-Tech" school might be interested in the timber, or some of the students, for their class projects.
With lumber costs skyrocketing in recent years, I do not see how you would have to pay anyone to come and clean up the fallen tree... you should be able to locate someone who will do it at no cost to you, or might even be willing to buy the fallen tree from you, if it was healthy when it fell.
Good Luck
2007-09-05 14:56:11 · answer #1 · answered by thewrangler_sw 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who is responsible is dependant on what caused the tree to fall. Several have mentioned "act of god" , but that is not the only reason trees fall. Rot or disease which the property owner did not address would be negligence in most jurisdictions. Any work performed near enough to the tree that may have undermined it would also be negligence. This could be you, your neighbor, the city, a utility company, etc. The first thing to do is call your insurance agent. The second thing would be to POLITELY discuss it with your neighbor and see where they stand. Even if your/their insurance company claim "act of god", you can still pursue matter if you have evidence otherwise. Insurance companies lose in court every day. Call your local college and see if they have (or can refer) an arborist who can help you determine why the tree fell.
GOOD LUCK :)
2007-09-05 23:55:59 · answer #2 · answered by Martin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You home owners insurance will have Act of God coverage. Make a claim and let the 2 insurance companies fight it out. It happened to me once, damages were $1000 or so to my shed. State Farm sent me a check for the damages as it was cheaper for them to do so rather than fight with my neighbor's insurance. It was on my property so it was my responsibility.
2007-09-05 15:34:20 · answer #3 · answered by Griff 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In most cases, since the tree belongs to your neighbor, they are responsible for clean-up. Anyone telling you that you are responsible for any part of the clean up of someone else's tree is a communist.
2016-03-18 00:36:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
this happened to my dad and it destroyed his fence.. well the insurance company of the owner of the tree said it was an act of god.. so no money.. then my dads insurance came out and said the tree was rotten on the inside and sued the others insurance and dad got a new fence.. so it all depends on the person you live by.. if they are friendly then they should do it or at the very least help you clean it up.. if you want to stay friendly neighbors then just do it and ask them to help..
2007-09-05 12:01:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you went to court over it you would both be responsible for the cleanup equally, but good manners would be whomever's tree it was would pay for the cleanup, I just went through this about 2 weeks ago.
2007-09-05 12:00:26 · answer #6 · answered by verndragonx 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each is responsible in this case. The insurance companies have an "Act of God clause". Both parties will have to seek and look at what their home owner's insurance covers.
2007-09-05 14:52:19 · answer #7 · answered by tech4u2_2002 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You.
If it is on your property, you must take care of it.
Having said that, however, you can certainly approach your neighbor and ask him to clean it up. He should do so in a spirit of neighborliness.
Good luck!
2007-09-05 12:16:06 · answer #8 · answered by nora22000 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The person who needs the firewood the most is responsible to clean it up.
Common sense would say that it would be the responsibility of the tree owner, however common sense has little to do with reality these days.
2007-09-05 12:16:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
I would believe that they should be responsable and I strongly emphasize on should.
2007-09-05 12:28:10 · answer #10 · answered by Drain Man 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋