Fallen Tree on Your Property: What to Do Next

Trees usually stand for decades without incident—but when one finally falls, it can feel sudden and chaotic. Whether a tree has landed on your roof, across your driveway, or deep in the backyard, there’s a safe, orderly way to handle the situation.

This guide focuses specifically on fallen trees: what to do right after it happens, how to decide who to call, what cleanup typically involves, and how Bay Area Tree Care approaches fallen tree work as part of our emergency tree service and hazard tree removal.

Quick checklist: right after a tree falls

As soon as you realize a tree has fallen, move through this checklist:

• Make sure people and pets are safely away from the area
• Look (from a distance) for any contact with power lines or service drops
• Check whether anyone is injured or trapped—call 911 if so
• Avoid walking on or under damaged structures or branches
• Take a few photos from a safe distance if conditions allow

Only after safety is addressed should you start thinking about calls to insurers, contractors, and tree services.

1. Safety first: distance, wires, and unstable wood

A fallen tree can still be dangerous. Branches may be under tension, trunks can roll unexpectedly, and damaged structures may shift with very little warning.

Immediately:

• Keep a full tree-length distance from any trunk that could still move or roll
• Treat all downed or sagging wires as live—do not touch or approach them
• Stay off damaged roofs, fences, or vehicles until professionals arrive
• Do not try to cut large limbs yourself with a chainsaw, especially if they’re supporting weight

Even small cuts in the wrong place can release stored energy and cause wood to whip or shift violently.

2. Whose tree is it, and where did it fall?

Responsibility for a fallen tree often depends on where the trunk was growing and what it hit. While every situation and insurance policy is different, a few general patterns are common.

Questions to consider:

• Was the tree growing on your property, a neighbor’s, or city land?
• Did it fall onto your home, vehicle, fence, or into a shared access road?
• Is it blocking a public street or sidewalk?

These answers affect whether you call your own insurer, a neighbor’s insurer, or your city or county first. Your insurance company can provide guidance specific to your policy.

3. Who to call (and in what order)

In many fallen tree situations, multiple parties are involved. This general order helps keep things safe and efficient:

• 911 – If there are injuries, fire, sparking lines, or immediate life safety concerns.
• Utility company – If the tree or branches are touching power lines, service drops, or utility poles.
• City or county – If a public street, sidewalk, or city-owned tree is involved.
• Your insurance company – If there is damage to your home, garage, or personal property.
• Professional tree service – For removing the fallen tree, clearing access, and making the site safe.

When you call Bay Area Tree Care, we can often help you sort out who else needs to be contacted and what can be done right away.

4. What we’ll ask when you call about a fallen tree

To plan the right response, we’ll ask a few quick questions. Having basic information ready can speed things up.

We’ll typically ask for:

• Your name, address, and best contact number
• Whether anyone is injured or if power lines are involved
• What the tree has landed on (house, garage, vehicle, fence, yard, driveway, etc.)
• Whether access is blocked (driveway, private road, or gate)
• Any photos you can safely send to help us see the situation

This helps us prioritize the call and bring the right crew size, equipment, and vehicles on the first trip.

5. How professional crews remove a fallen tree

Once we arrive and confirm the area is safe to work, we plan the removal in stages. The goal is to prevent further damage while clearing the tree as efficiently as possible.

Typical steps include:

• Walking the site and reviewing the plan with you when possible
• Setting up a safe work zone with cones or barriers as needed
• Removing smaller limbs first to reduce weight and complexity
• Cutting and moving larger sections in a controlled sequence
• Stacking wood or loading debris, depending on your service selection

If the tree is on a roof, fence, or structure, we use rigging and careful cutting to avoid sudden shifts and minimize further damage.

6. Partial cleanup vs. full restoration

In some cases—especially during larger storms—the first priority is to restore access and safety. Full landscaping restoration can come later.

We can tailor the scope of work to your needs, including:

• Emergency opening of driveways and access roads only
• Complete removal of the fallen tree and major debris
• Chipping of branches with logs cut to firewood or manageable lengths
• Follow-up stump grinding & removal once the site is ready

We’ll outline options and costs clearly so you can coordinate with your insurance company and other contractors.

7. Insurance, estimates, and documentation

Insurance policies handle fallen trees differently depending on what was damaged and why the tree fell. While we can’t make coverage decisions, we can help with documentation.

Helpful steps include:

• Taking photos and/or video before work begins, if it’s safe to do so
• Documenting any visible damage to roofs, fences, vehicles, and landscaping
• Saving written estimates and invoices labeled as fallen tree cleanup or emergency response
• Asking us to note any relevant details (e.g., storm date, visible decay) on your paperwork

Your adjuster may want to visit the site after the tree is removed; we’re happy to clarify what work was performed if needed.

8. Inspecting other trees after one has fallen

When one tree falls, it’s a good reminder to look more closely at the others—especially those near homes, driveways, and play areas.

During a follow-up visit, we may:

• Inspect nearby trees for cracks, decay, new leans, or root issues
• Identify branches that could become future problems in high winds
• Recommend hazard tree removal where risk is too high
• Suggest trimming & pruning or cabling & bracing for salvageable trees

It’s often easier—and less expensive—to address marginal trees before they become the next fallen tree on your property.

9. Reducing the chances of future fallen trees

No one can guarantee a tree will never fall, but proactive care can significantly reduce the risk of major failures during storms and high winds.

Long-term prevention often includes:

• Regular pruning to remove dead, diseased, and overextended branches
• Periodic inspections before and after storm season as part of quarterly & seasonal tree care plans
• Addressing known structural issues in high-value trees near important targets
• Considering removal and replanting where risk remains unacceptably high

Our guide on Storm Damage Prep: Protecting Your Trees Before the Wind Hits offers practical tips for preparing your trees ahead of bad weather.

From fallen tree to safe, usable space again

A fallen tree can feel like a disaster in the moment—but with the right sequence of steps, you can move from chaos to cleanup to long-term improvements. Your priorities are simple: keep everyone safe, bring in the right help, and then make thoughtful decisions about repairs and future tree care.

If you’re dealing with a fallen tree right now, Bay Area Tree Care can help you assess the situation, coordinate with other parties where appropriate, and provide safe, efficient fallen tree removal and cleanup so you can start putting things back together.