Insurance companies screwing landscapers on tree removal liability claims

Out here in north Georgia, I just got hit with a $4500 claim on my general liability after a job where we were trimming oaks for a client using my Stihl MS 261 chainsaw. The homeowner's dog got spooked by the noise and ran into the street, got clipped by a car, and now they're trying to pin it on us for 'creating a hazardous work environment.' I've been running my landscaping biz for 8 years and never seen BS like this, especially when we're following all the local regs on equipment barriers and noise. Called my agent at State Farm and they said it's covered but my premiums are jumping 30% next year. Anyone else dealing with these absurd liability stretches on routine tree work? Saw a similar rant in the Landscaping Professionals Facebook group last week, guy lost a whole season's profit over a kid's trampoline accident.

FML, had a similar thing with a painter's ladder scaring a cat into the road. Insurance paid but premiums doubled, total crap.

these insurers are vultures, every landscaping job now feels like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

i feel you man, north georgia hills make every tree job risky as hell.

sucks, been trimming for 15 years and premiums keep climbing for nothing.

proud i went with a smaller carrier last year, saved 20% on liability even after a minor claim.

how do you even quote tree jobs now without building in massive insurance buffers?

SharkBite fittings are safer than these tree branch drops that get you sued.

love how insurers ignore the real risks like falling branches but nail you for a damn dog chase.

use Jobber for tracking all your safety logs, helped me fight off a claim last month.

the rage is real, we're out here busting ass on landscapes and they treat us like criminals.

get everything in writing with clients about pet restraints before starting.

document every step with photos, saved my ass on a mulch pile claim.

exactly like that post on r/landscaping about the employee wrecking equipment, insurers love piling on.

never trust state farm for trades, they drop coverage faster than a bad client.

controversial take: skip the big trees altogether, stick to lawn maintenance to avoid this nonsense.

warning: don't skimp on workers comp either, had a guy slip on wet grass and it cost me 10k out of pocket.

been there with a chainsaw kickback, insurance dragged their feet for months.

same, north georgia rain turns every site into a slip hazard.

upsell clients on fencing off the yard, covers your ass legally.

i hear ya, lost a big account over a premium hike after a nothing claim.

get a lawyer on retainer for liability, worth every penny for landscapers.

yeah man, the dog thing sounds like total overreach, fight it hard.

watched a Stanley Dirt Monkey video on risk management, he says audit your policies yearly.

haha, my last claim was over a squirrel, not even kidding.

client blamed us for their kid's scraped knee on a rock we didn't even place, insurers ate it up.

wait, double post? anyway, yeah frustrated as hell with this system.

guy in Lawn Care Business Owners FB group said to form an LLC for better protection.

frustrated too, just quoted a job and had to bake in extra for potential claims.