Initially, you or your health insurance are responsible for paying the bills to avoid damage to your credit and collection actions. If you have MedPay (medical payments) coverage on your own auto policy, that can pay first. Do not delay treatment expecting the other party’s insurance to pay upfront; they only pay as part of a final settlement. Your eventual liability settlement should reimburse you for these paid bills and cover any outstanding balances.

Look for obvious injuries like bleeding, bruising, swelling, or difficulty moving. However, also note complaints of pain, dizziness, nausea, or numbness, even if no visible injury exists. Verbally ask about their condition and listen carefully to their response. Document their own words describing their pain (e.g., “sharp pain in lower back”). This contemporaneous account is powerful evidence later if their claimed injuries are disputed. Never dismiss someone who says they are “just shaken up.“

The property owner where the tree was rooted is typically responsible if the damage resulted from negligence. This means you could be liable if you knew or should have known the tree was dead, diseased, or dangerously unstable and you failed to take reasonable action. If the tree was healthy and fell due to an unexpected “Act of God,“ like an extreme storm, you generally would not be held liable for the resulting damage to your neighbor’s property.