Large trees and tree limbs fall with surprising regularity throughout Northern California, and the results can be devastating when that happens. Our law firm has assisted several people who have sustained severe injuries due to being struck by falling trees and tree branches. If you or a loved one has been affected by a falling tree accident, we advise finding an attorney who has handled these unusual and complex cases. There are often complexities involved in proving property owner negligence. We believe that if a dangerous tree harms a person, the tree owner should be held accountable for the monetary damages suffered by the injured party.

Homeowners with yards containing a tree or trees are responsible for maintaining their tree(s) to ensure no dangerous conditions exist. If you are a homeowner with trees on your property, we recommend investing in an inspection by a certified arborist or experienced tree professional. The arborist can check for any diseases or damage that put the tree at risk of falling. The professional will then recommend pruning or removal if the damage is severe. Such inspection and maintenance costs are much lower than potential damages if a tree in your yard causes a visitor severe injuries.

In the course of our advocating for clients who have been injured by falling trees, we have seen that these types of accidents can cause various injuries. Some of those include:

• Broken bones
• Concussion and other types of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
• Back and neck injuries, including fractured vertebrae
• Full or partial paralysis
• Internal injuries

Unfortunately, in many cases, tree accidents cause fatal injuries. The victim is often struck in the head, neck, or upper body with a heavy object traveling at a high velocity. If the person survives, severe head trauma and TBI can leave behind devastating permanent injury and impairment.

Some of the monetary damages that may be recoverable if you were injured by a falling tree or limb include:

• Medical bills – those already incurred and for future care ordered by a physician
• Loss of income and loss of future earning capacity
• Physical pain and emotional suffering
• If applicable, an injured person’s spouse may be entitled to damages to compensate for the injuries’ negative effect on the marital relationship.

When the tree falling accident results in fatal injuries, the deceased’s heirs may bring a wrongful death claim.

The City of Eureka has many trees that are located on public land. Those trees are under the dominion of governmental agencies. The determination to own a tree not on public property will follow the California Civil Code Sections 833 and 834 guidelines. Tree ownership depends on where the trunk is located. The owner is responsible for the tree if it is within one plot. If the trunk spans more than one property, the owners of those adjacent properties are joint owners of the tree.

Again, homeowners and private property owners are legally responsible for maintaining the trees on their land.

One must prove negligence to recover damages from a private property owner after injuries caused by a fallen tree. The homeowner must have known of the dangerous condition and did nothing to address it. A tree owner may also be determined to be liable (legally at fault) if he or she should have known about the tree’s dangerous condition.

Often, the insurance company for the homeowner will attempt to say that a tree falling was caused by an “act of God” or “force of nature” to get out of liability. An experienced Eureka tree accident attorney will know what it takes to establish negligence so that a valid claim can go forward.

In California, a claim for personal injuries must be settled or filed in court before the second anniversary of the incident that caused the injury.

When a claim is against a public/governmental entity, the period you must settle or file is much shorter, only six months. The time limit for a person injured before 18 is longer – the two-year statute begins to run when the injured party turns 18.

Eureka is part of the North Coast Redwood Empire. In 2002, the City Council began a program encouraging homeowners to plant street trees. The street tree program came with a caveat that it was the homeowner’s responsibility to care for and maintain the tree despite it being a city program.

The trees of Eureka are majestic but also prone to illness and damage. Falling trees happen regularly throughout the region, and this sometimes causes car accidents or more direct personal injuries. In California, falling trees cause yearly property damage, injuries, and deaths. When and if such an occurrence happens to you, an experienced tree accident lawyer can help. Our law firm has been advocating on behalf of injured Northern Californians since 1982.

Watch the YouTube video. Below is a clip uploaded by the Roadtrip Guys about Eureka’s beautiful redwoods.

Devastating injuries can result from falling trees and falling tree limbs. Many times, the cases related to falling trees are wrongful death matters. If you or your family needs legal help after a falling tree accident, do not hesitate to contact us for compassionate, free, and friendly advice at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400.

^{Editor’s Note: updated [cha 9.11.23] Photo: MMcB mm [cs 921] cha}