Interesting portion on the tree problem and insurance. This summer I had to have a tree removed from the backyard. I thought I could get it pruned. When the tree guy and I were inspecting it, we saw that the truck was split almost to the ground. It was a maple tree. The trunk seemed to have grown in a triad. There were three distinct nodes well before the first branching (crotch). One of the nodes could be pushed and separated causing the entire part of that section, up to the 50 or so foot top, to rock. I couldn't get that tree out of there fast enough. The first guy (small outfit) couldn't get to for three weeks. That was not an option. I had another guy come out the next day and he said he could get to it Wednesday (it was a Friday). He was more expensive, but I couldn't take the chance on a freak storm causing it to fall and take out the neighbor's fence and shed. It was a tense five days. Short of it all - get the trees inspected!