Honey, There’s a Tree in Our Room

Crash! Well, that did not sound good. Lewis and Emily traced the sound back to their master bedroom. A tree limb was sticking through their bedroom wall, practically touching their bed.

Lewis threw on a jacket and boots to investigate further. He made his way around back and found an old oak plastered against the back of the house and roof. Branches everywhere and holes through their house in multiple places.

As he started to check things out, he found more and more impact points from the tree. The back door busted open, holes through the roof, branches in the attic. 

Lewis' mind went first to water coming in  - he had to get the tree off the roof and tarps up. He started making calls.

Tree related claims are some of the most common claims. Their effects can seem simple, but the damage that comes from them can be more complex.

Lewis had Telos Adjusting get involved from the beginning, even down to having Telos file his claim with his insurance company. 

Within days of the tree fall, Telos was onsite with the insurance adjuster. Telos pointed out effects from the tree while also documenting conditions, taking measurements and learning more specific information from the insured. The insurance adjuster left the loss site with a complete understanding of the restoration scope. The same day, he received a full estimate from Telos.

The insurance carrier cannot always recognize the total scope of restoration in their initial estimate. It is important to not be frustrated at an initial determination, and instead recognize the information that can be provided to assist the carrier in assigning additional coverage. 

In the case of this claim, material reports showing that basement flooring was discontinued, code documentation supporting appropriate exterior underlayments, and input from roofing experts allowed coverage to be doubled. 

After settlement was reached within weeks, Lewis and Emily were able to start restoration and bring their property back to its original condition. 

Moving Your Claim Forward

If you find yourself in a situation like Lewis and Emily, proving your loss to the insurance can be tiresome and stressful. Remember that the carrier’s handling adjuster may want to help, and they just need the right information. If you find yourself in this situation, consider signing up for a Claim Consult with one of our senior adjusters who can point you in the right direction or offer our assistance, should it be needed.