Property owners are responsible for maintaining their trees in a safe condition and may be liable when tree-cutting accidents cause serious injuries to or the deaths of others. While properly caring for trees requires Nevada property owners to trim them, treat tree diseases, and cut down dead or damaged trees, tree cutting and trimming must be done in a reasonably safe manner. People who are cutting trees must make sure that they cut them in a way that they will fall away from the direction of people and property to prevent harm and damage.
Tree Accident Injuries
Tree cutting accidents can seriously injure workers, pedestrians walking nearby, and visitors to the properties where the trees are located. Because of the weight of trees, these types of accidents can cause disfigurement, catastrophic injuries, or deaths. Some of the common types of injuries that can happen in a tree-cutting accident include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Paralysis and spinal cord injuries
- Serious lacerations
- Losses of limbs
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
Workers who are cutting trees may suffer serious injuries when they fall from heights, hit tree knots with their saw blades, or are crushed by trees that fall in an unintended direction. People who are passing by on sidewalks may be crushed or seriously injured by falling limbs. Anyone near to a tree when it is being cut is at risk of being seriously injured or killed if an accident happens. According to data from Dripline, 143 people were killed and 103 were injured in tree accidents. Out of the people who were killed, 41.1% were pedestrians or visitors while 33.3% were tree care professionals.
Tree Accident Liability
Determining liability after a tree-cutting accident is important for injured victims or the families of people who are killed. Several parties might be liable in a tree-cutting accident, including the property owner who negligently maintained or cut the tree, the company that is performing the tree-cutting service, or the government if the accident happened on public property. Property owners owe a duty of care to keep their properties in a reasonably safe and hazard-free condition. This duty extends to maintaining trees on the property in a safe condition. Companies that are cutting trees must use safe practices to prevent accidents from happening. When property owners or companies violate their duties, they may be liable to pay damages to the victims.
