This past winter a large SUV crashed into a Norway Maple in front of my house out near the road. The tree has a 7" caliper, 21" circumference and is about 35-40 feet high. A chunk of the bark about 18" high and about 1/3 of the circumference was knocked off down to the bare wood.
The driver was very cordial and said that their insurance would pay for the damage. I had a certified horticulturalist from Weston Nurseries come and look at the tree and write a letter giving an estimate. It says "This tree will continue to live for several more years, however, with each year this tree will leaf out less and less, resulting in rotting branches and internal rot of the exposed hard wood due to the extensive cambium layer scar. No remedial action can save this tree."
The numbers were: Tree: $5,000 Delivery w/crane truck: $275 Tree and stump removal: $600 Installation w/3 laborers and compost soil: $600
After sending this information off to Commerce Insurance, they came back and said "We'll give you $500 because we do not think the tree needs to be replaced and that's all that the damaged bark is worth. We sent an adjuster to look at the tree and it looks just fine."
I am looking to get a second opinion from another certified horticulturalist who is familiar with tree values and associated costs. Does anyone have any recommendations or the best way to proceed?
Thanks,
-al sung Hopkinton, MA