Tree Trimming Accident Lawyer

Tree trimming is among the more hazardous jobs performed in California. At least 10 fatal injuries occurred per year in California among both tree trimmers and pruners from 2023 to 2024, according to US BLS data.

Workers and bystanders who become injured in a tree trimming accident may be able to file a claim against the tree service company, the equipment manufacturer, the property owner or even a third-party contractor, depending on how the injury took place.

Recovery options in a tree trimming accident lawsuit often extend beyond a single workers’ compensation claim, since injuries frequently involve a third party like a lift bucket manufacturer, a harness maker or a property owner.

Request a free case evaluation or call us at (800) 718-4658 to discuss your accident and related injuries with a dedicated and knowledgeable member of our personal injury legal team in California.

Table of Contents

• Who Can Sue After a Tree Trimming Accident?
• Leading Causes of Tree Trimming Accidents
• Who Can Be Sued After a Tree Trimming Accident?
• Injuries Commonly Linked to Tree Trimming Accidents
• Damages Available After a Tree Trimming Accident
• California Statute of Limitations for Tree Trimming Accident Claims
• How Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help You
• Frequently Asked Questions

Who Can Sue After a Tree Trimming Accident?

Injured workers, bystanders and property occupants, as well as families of workers killed on the job, could each have a legal claim, depending on how the accident happened and who caused it:

Injured Tree Service Workers

Any victim injured while trimming, cutting, felling or removing trees for a job, such as employees, subcontractors and day laborers, could have a legal suit to pursue recovery for their injuries after an accident. An attorney can help determine whether legal recovery beyond workers’ compensation may be available.

Injured Bystanders and Property Occupants

Bystanders, homeowners or neighboring property occupants may be hurt by falling limbs, debris or equipment during a tree service job. These victims could be eligible for a personal injury claim.

Family Members Filing a Wrongful Death Claim

Family members of a worker killed in a tree trimming accident may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. An attorney can help these surviving loved ones determine their eligibility based on their relation to the deceased.

Workers Hurt by Defective Equipment

Individuals hurt by defective equipment used in tree work, such as lift buckets, chainsaws, harnesses or wood chippers, may be able to pursue a defective product claim separate from any workers’ compensation claim. A personal injury lawyer can help you navigate your legal options based on the unique facts present in your case.

Leading Causes of Tree Trimming Accidents

According to a review of nearly 70 investigated tree work accidents over two years, 74% of such accidents resulted in a worker hospitalization while 17% involved the death of a worker. Additionally, a 2025 report found that an average of about 11 tree worker deaths occurred per year over a decade. Some of the most common causes of these tree service accidents include:

Falls From Height

Falls from ladders, bucket trucks or a tree itself, possibly due to unsecured harnesses or improper rigging, can lead to injury and death. Falls from heights are even recognized as causes of tree trimming injuries by the California Department of Industrial Relations.

Struck-By and Crush Hazards

Being struck by falling limbs, trunks or large fronds during removal or trimming can lead to injury or death.

Suffocation from collapsing palm fronds is a somewhat common hazard that can cause tree work-related injuries. California FACE investigators have documented at least eight palm-frond crushing fatalities across their case history, including their most recent case in 2024.

A separate CDPH worker fatality alert found that three tree trimmers suffocated under collapsing palm fronds in a Southern California cluster between 2010 and 2012, which is an average of about one death per year.

Electrocution and Power Line Contact

Contact with energized power lines, causing electric shock or arc flash burns, can lead to injuries, some of which could be severe. Falling tree branches may contact these lines and cause some of the electric shock risks.

Chainsaw, Chipper and Equipment Hazards

Chainsaw and power tool lacerations from equipment used while working in a tree can cause injuries and medical emergencies, such as severe blood loss. Being pulled into a wood chipper is also a possibility, often resulting in catastrophic or fatal injury.

Equipment failure can also involve issues with faulty lift buckets, cranes or harness systems. A personal injury attorney can determine possible causes and legal options based on the facts of your tree cutting accident case.

Who Can Be Sued After a Tree Trimming Accident?

Liability could fall on the tree service employer, a property owner or contractor, an equipment manufacturer, a utility company or a subcontractor, depending on what led to the tree accident.

The Tree Service Employer

The tree service company may be responsible for a worker’s injuries through the workers’ compensation system. In some cases, separate liability may fall on a general contractor or another third party if that party’s own conduct contributed to the accident.

The Property Owner or General Contractor

A property owner may be at least partially responsible if unsafe property conditions or a lack of oversight contributed to the accident. Premises liability laws may apply.

Equipment and Product Manufacturers

An equipment manufacturer could be held liable in a defective product lawsuit. If a defective lift bucket, harness, chainsaw or chipper malfunctioned, causing tree work injuries, the product manufacturer is more likely to be at least partially at fault.

Utility Companies

A utility company could be named as a defendant in your injury lawsuit if improperly maintained or unmarked power lines caused an electrocution. Concealment of faulty lines could also cause a utility provider to be held liable in the eyes of the law.

Subcontractors and Crew Leaders

A subcontractor or crew leader could be held liable separately from the tree service employer if directions given on the worksite created an unreasonable risk for tree workers. Records of who was responsible for what work orders can help build your legal case.

A workers’ compensation claim against an employer does not necessarily prevent a separate injury lawsuit against a negligent third party. An attorney can help determine what options you may have for recovery in addition to workers’ compensation benefits.

Injuries Commonly Linked to Tree Trimming Accidents

Injuries in a tree service accident may include the following:

Traumatic and Catastrophic Injuries

Traumatic and catastrophic injuries may occur after a tree care accident, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures from falling objects or falls from height.
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis from high falls.
• Crush injuries and internal bleeding from being pinned by a falling trunk or limb.
• Severe lacerations, amputations or dismemberment from chainsaws or wood chippers.
• Electrical burns and electric shock from contact with power lines.

Fatal Injuries

Injuries may be fatal in cases involving suffocation, electrocution, dismemberment or catastrophic falls. As previously mentioned, family members may be eligible to seek wrongful death damages in such cases.

Damages Available After a Tree Trimming Accident

Damages available in a tree trimming accident lawsuit usually fall under three categories: economic damages, non-economic damages or wrongful death damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages may include medical expenses connected to emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation and long-term care from serious injuries. Lost income and reduced future earning capacity for workers unable to return to physical labor due to ongoing medical issues may also be compensated.

Non-Economic Damages

Non-economic damages typically cover pain and suffering tied to the physical and emotional impact of the injury.

Wrongful Death Damages

Damages for surviving family members may be available as wrongful death compensation, including loss of financial support and companionship. A personal injury lawyer can better determine who might be eligible for this type of compensation based on the facts of the case and relation to the victim.

The amount of compensation in any case depends on varying factors such as injury severity, liability disputes and available insurance coverage. WCIRB California data shows that California’s elevated tree-pruning classification recorded more than 3,400 workers’ compensation claims across policy years 2019 through 2021, which measures out to a loss-to-payroll ratio about 7.1 times the statewide average.

This data can help victims understand the prevalence of tree-pruning accident claims and payout amounts in the state but does not represent average legal compensation amounts, which vary based on the facts of individual cases.

California Statute of Limitations for Tree Trimming Accident Claims

California law generally requires a personal injury lawsuit to be filed within two years of the date of injury. Claims against a government entity, such as one involving a city-maintained tree or utility right-of-way, generally require a separate and much shorter administrative claim filing period of six months.

Waiting to consult an attorney can make it harder to preserve evidence such as equipment condition, harness inspection records and witness statements. Contact a lawyer as soon as possible to avoid missing filing deadlines or losing evidence.

How Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help You

Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers’ legal team investigates every possible source of recovery, including gathering data on defective lift buckets, harnesses and other tree work equipment. We do not aim to focus solely on a single employer claim. Our team also works with safety and equipment experts to determine whether a product defect or maintenance failure contributed to the accident.

Our law firm handles cases on a legal-fee basis, so injured workers and families can pursue a claim without paying costs out of pocket up front.

Our law firm recently secured a $1 million recovery for a tree trimmer’s family after he was struck by falling palm fronds and fell to his death in a Los Angeles tree-trimming injury case.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is unique, and results depend on its specific facts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I File a Lawsuit if I Was Injured While Working for a Tree Service Company?

Yes. In many cases, a workers’ compensation claim against your employer does not prevent a separate lawsuit against a negligent third party, such as an equipment manufacturer, property owner or utility company, if that party contributed to the accident.

What Should I Do After a Tree Trimming Accident?

Take the following steps after a tree trimming accident:

1. Call 911 and seek medical attention immediately.
2. Report the incident to a supervisor or property owner.
3. Photograph the equipment, work site and any visible hazards if possible.
4. Avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurance company before speaking with an attorney.

Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident to preserve evidence and to help ensure that filing deadlines are not missed.

Is a Tree Service Company Liable if a Falling Branch Hits a Bystander?

A tree service company can be held liable if it failed to secure a work area, warn nearby people of a hazard or follow standard safety precautions while trimming or removing trees, resulting in injury to a bystander.

How Long Do I Have to File a Tree Trimming Accident Lawsuit in California?

California law generally allows two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, under CCP § 335.1. Claims involving a government entity may require a much shorter filing deadline under the California Tort Claims Act.