Unfortunately, sometimes a neighbor or someone else may have cut down or damaged your tree without permission. By law, that person is required to compensate you for the damage whether the damage was intentional, an accident, or by mistake.
A certified arborist can provide the valuation of compensation levels for the tree or plants damaged. The dollar amount is calculated with various factors, which may include:
- The value of the tree
- The age of the tree
- How long the tree could have lived if not damaged
- The cost of replacing the tree
- Diminished property value
- Tree, stump, or debris removal required
- Aesthetic loss
If settling privately with your neighbor, an arborist can provide the value assessment for private compensation. Alternatively, if a lawyer needs to become involved, an arborist can collaborate with your lawyer to file and pursue a lawsuit, providing documentation of the value assessment for court proceedings. While most lawsuits of this kind are settled out of court, an arborist can serve as an in-court expert witness, presenting the value of the damaged trees.
If you have concern about damage or removal of one of your trees by another party, please contact us for a tree damage assessment and compensation valuation report.