Debby is about to cause chaos.

The tropical storm will bring heavy rains to much of South Carolina this week, potentially causing significant flooding. What happens if a neighbor’s tree falls on your car or house during the rain and flooding? Who is responsible and will cover the costs?

Tree falls due to storm

According to the independent agents of the state of South Carolina, with rare exceptions, no one is found guilty in natural disasters.

“Unless your neighbor has neglected a precarious situation, such as a tree that has been leaning for an extended period of time,” the company’s website states, “but proving that to an insurance company could be difficult.”

SC Car Insurance

If no one is at fault, hopefully you have insurance that will cover the damage. Here are the types of insurance required by law in South Carolina.

• Uninsured Motorist coverage protects you if you are involved in an accident with a driver who does not have enough insurance to pay you full damages.

• Property damage liability insurance to cover the cost of repairing property you damage with your vehicle.

• Personal injury liability insurance to cover the medical expenses of other drivers and their passengers.

Additional car insurance

What car insurance in SC doesn’t cover

Although many things are covered by car insurance in South Carolina, there are still some exclusions, including:

What to do if a tree falls on your car?

Don’t wait. Act as soon as possible.

First, take photos of the damage from all angles. Then, contact the insurance company to file your claim. Ask your claims adjuster if there are any other steps you can take to get your car repaired faster.

You are responsible for paying your policy deductible and your comprehensive insurance will cover the rest.

If a tree fell on your car, not due to a natural disaster but due to someone else’s fault, you should obtain the person’s insurance information and include it in your claim.