A tree fell on my car. What should I do?

The first minutes

Check that people are safe. Call 911 if anyone is hurt, including anyone inside the car. If a power line is on the tree or the car, stay away and call NV Energy, and call 911 if someone is inside. Do not try to move the car or pull the tree off it if the wood is under strain or something is leaning on it. A tree on a vehicle can shift.

Photos and records

Photograph the car, the tree, the stump or break, and the surrounding area from several angles before anything is cut or moved. Note the date and time. Keep the receipts for towing or storage. Insurance questions are for your insurer; for general information see homeowners insurance and tree removal and storm damage and insurance claims. We are not adjusters and cannot say what a policy pays.

Who pays is not our call

Whose insurance applies can depend on whose tree it was and why it fell. Many auto policies with comprehensive coverage address damage from falling objects, but policies differ, and your insurer or an attorney decides. If a neighbor's tree fell, see who pays when a neighbor's tree falls. Nevada's Division of Insurance is the place to ask general consumer questions about a claim.

The tree

Call 775.232.8243 for the tree. Emergency service is available 24 hours a day. Tell the office the car is under it, what the tree is touching, and whether a line is involved. We provide detailed estimates in plain terms, which helps a claim. We do not promise an arrival time.

Do not move the car yet

Unless your insurer or a crew tells you otherwise, leave the vehicle where it is until the tree has been assessed, particularly if there are lines or other limbs hanging above it. Tow or repair decisions are for you and your insurer. Once the tree is off, the arborist can tell you what else on the tree is a hazard to the lot.