Kenosha County Tree Incident Highlights Insurance Policy Gaps

In Kenosha County, Wisconsin, a driver encountered significant obstacles after a tree fell onto her vehicle while she was on the road. Carrie Cusenz, en route to Burlington, escaped serious injury as the tree struck both on and beneath her car. The Kansasville Fire and Rescue Department responded to the emergency, tackling additional challenges like downed power lines.

Cusenz, originally from Burlington and now residing in Indiana, faced a $1,250 fee from the local fire department for the cleanup operation following the incident. Although she holds a comprehensive insurance policy with USAA covering her car's total loss value of $12,000 and medical expenses of $500, the policy did not extend to the cleanup costs. USAA indicated that due to policy constraints, they could not cover these specific expenses, despite assisting members when possible.

Understanding Local Insurance Practices

Industry insights reveal that billing for cleanup operations is not uncommon. John Breuer, president of the Wisconsin Fire Chiefs Association, noted that municipalities often levy cleanup fees for incidents not funded by local taxes. Fire departments generally seek reimbursement from the vehicle's insurance policy, particularly from at-fault drivers. However, in cases like Cusenz's, where there's no clear liable party, these costs frequently fall on the vehicle owner.

Investigations throughout southeastern Wisconsin show varying approaches to these fees by different fire departments. Some departments impose standard fees or none at all, particularly for hazardous tasks or non-resident drivers. Breuer pointed out that rising operational costs often justify these charges.

The complexity of Cusenz's situation due to overlapping municipal boundaries highlights the jurisdictional challenges within municipal governance. The highway involved falls under Kenosha County but is maintained by Racine County. Attempts to obtain comment from Kansasville Fire and Rescue on their billing practices were unsuccessful. Local governance, such as Brighton town authorities, clarified their non-involvement in specific accidents or billing decisions.

USAA remains committed to supporting policyholders with covered damages, although their ability to negotiate specific municipal charges is limited by existing policy structures. This case underscores the importance of reviewing insurance coverage aspects that could potentially involve overlooked municipal fees.