Car crashed into a tree in my yard. Advice needed.

[Blank]

Apparently Monday during the day a high speed car chase ended when the suspect crashed his car over the curb on the side of my yard and completely uprooted a tree. I wasn’t home, I found out the details from a neighbor. Kinda weird the police didn’t at least leave a note or a card.

After calling and tracking down some info I’m waiting for an officer to come over now to file a report. The tree is still just laying there. I need to have it removed, and see if I can get the cost sent to the suspect who ran it over. The other issue is besides of the cost of removal, I’m hoping I can also add on the cost of a new tree? I’m kinda stuck on who to contact for an estimate.

Does anybody have any experience with this, or suggestions on how to proceed so there is no out of pocket cost to me?

Thanks

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[4th of Eight]

Contact your homeowners insurance??

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[jissy]

Blank: Once upon a time my husb. and I owned a Commercial Property that had the glass windows broken….. someone happened to see it happen, the suspect was arrested and a detective called us to make sure and have it fixed and submit the info/cost b/c part of the sentence would include having to repay us “restitution”. And over the course of several years actually we rec’d restitution checks of varying amounts to what I assume was the total cost (although they were so random in their timing and amounts I didn’t actually keep track).

So….. press the issue, maybe call the King County prosecutor (our Bldg. was not in Seattle so it went through King County).

Good Luck and sorry that happened!!!

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[WSB]

No “high-speed chase” that we have heard of … police actually aren’t allowed to pursue at high speed in the city … but I’d love to hear where this happened and match it to an incident, and/or hear what the police said on followup when they arrived on your call. You might not want to publish details publicly but we’d love to hear @ editor@westseattleblog.com … Hope you are getting it sorted out! Regardless of whether a pursuit was involved, certainly the driver would be liable. – Tracy

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[anonyme]

The driver should be legally liable, and you are entitled to have everything back as it was – including replacement of a tree of similar size.

One question, though – was the tree actually within your property lines, or was it on public property (like the planting strip)? You don’t own the planting strip, so can’t make a claim if that’s where the damage took place.

If all else fails, you’ll have to go through homeowner’s insurance, which is probably not worth it.

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[2 Much Whine]

A search on the internet says “The tree is not covered for wind or hail damage but is covered for damage from fire, lightning, explosion, vandalism and vehicle damage (as long as it was not a vehicle driven by members of your family). The limit is typically $500 per tree but can be more on some policies and in some states.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/523563″

You may be in luck.

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[Blank]

The dispatcher I talked to around 6pm yesterday wouldn’t give me details on the case, but confirmed that it happened. An officer was supposed to come out last night to file a report but never showed up. The dispatcher called me back at around 10:30 and apologized but said all police where busy all night and still it would be awhile. I have yet to talk to anybody.

This was at Raymond and 32nd on Monday during the day. My neighbor said a male was driving and ran once the car crashed, but was caught in a nearby yard, and a female passenger stayed in the car and was taken into custody. Thats all I know.

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[smy]

I live in WSea but work for a landscape design/build firm outside of the WSea area. We’ve done estimates for cases like this that come from homeowners who need to get insurance estimates in order to remove/repair damage/replacement. Thus, I’m posting this info as guidance from a neighbor.

From what I’ve seen, if you go through the insurance-route, you will need to get 3 estimates for the above. It will be based on the size/age of the tree, cost of replacing it (and this is heavily dependent on the tree species as some trees grow rapidly and others not so much, thus there is a potentially large difference in cost for replacement based on your tree’s size) and overall, the cost of all steps in the process. It’s a bit of a process to wade through if you go this route.

At this point though, take pics if you haven’t already. They will help to no end.

There are many landscape firms in WSea that should be able to help you with an estimate with all of the above. After that you will likely have to wade through a good deal of paperwork if you go through all of the steps above through the insurance-route on this. From what I’ve seen, it can take 6 mos to a year.

Not great news, I know, but depending on your tree it may be worth it.

I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this, and I hope this helps give you more information.

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[Ken]

Umm That is the city right-of-way and the city planted that tree as a co op deal with SDOT when the SHA was rebuilt. SHA Dollars paid for most of the landscaping and that tree was irrigated for two years before the irrigation was abandoned in place. It was also apparently the only one on the street planted while the supervisor was watching the depth of the hole. Most of the rest on that side of the street (including mine)were planted by shoveling dirt up into a mound, and are “vertically seasoned” firewood (dead). I am pretty sure SDOT is not going to replace any of the trees, recently dead or “vintage” dead.

If you want a tree there, plant one. It also means you are responsible for the tree too close to the side walk 15 feet north. It was a weed but the previous owner actively refused to do any mowing, trimming or other work on that “parking strip” since it was city right-of-way.

Welcome to the neighborhood :)

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[trickycoolj]

If you’re Raymond and 32nd you should probably contact High Point Open Space Association. All of their contact info is on Nextdoor.com and all of the community stakeholders and leaders actively monitor the posts there. Worth checking in since it’s likely their jurisdiction. Also Officer McDaniel is assigned to SHA and can probably get better info re: the incident.

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[Ken]

High Point Open Space Association has nothing to do with those of us who were here before the SHA rebuild. I am pretty sure that is a “good thing”.

The south side of Raymond and the east side of 32nd are SHA/HPOA. The rest of us only deal with SDOT and the city. We are also responsible for the maintenance of the right-of-way sections of each of our properties. Unlike SHA/HPOA,( who ignores snow removal rules at its rental properties) this includes snow/ice removal as well as keeping the sidewalk clear of debris and vegetation.

Let this be notice to my neighbors who have left this responsibility to me for several years. I am getting too decrepit to shovel snow and will only pay the step grandson to shovel mine from now on :)

Also: if the gardening service cuts limbs off trees/weeds at the border and throws them over the fence into my yard again, I will assume they are now deemed “my” trees and take the chainsaw and chipper to the problem. Soon it will be free wood chips :) and thus no problem.

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