People living in the country need to check, too, although not every tree. Courts have ruled that rural property owners are liable if they should or could have known about a potential problem, he said. Carpenter ants and fungus growing on the trunk signal rot. Off-color leaves may be because of root damage from construction work near the tree in recent years. A property owner who knows a tree is hazardous and does nothing may be left out on a limb by the insurance company, which can decline coverage in such a case.
Ignorance is no excuse.
Then they learned that wasn't the case. The courts have recognized that people are negligent. Scientific studies have shown how poor planting, care and pruning lead to structural ills that weaken branches and roots. Even cities, counties, states and other governmental entities are liable for problem trees growing in their rights of way. Ideally they should monitor the trees with drive-by inspections and remove hazardous ones.