Imagine this: Two minutes into a standard mowing job, you feel the mower blades connect with a hidden object that goes flying. Now there’s a spiderwebbing crack in the customer’s living room window. Upon seeing the damage, the homeowner expects you to pay for the window’s replacement.
Flying objects are one of the most common causes of property damage landscapers face, and the damage they cause can easily lead to expensive claims. However, these types of claims are often preventable.
Main Takeaway: To help prevent flying object landscaping claims, inspect the site, clear loose materials, adjust mowing direction, create safer work zones, and know what to do if accidental property damage still happens.
Why Flying Objects Cause So Many Landscaping Property Damage Claims
Flying objects are a common cause of landscaping claims because many lawn care tools are designed to eject trimmed materials away from their blades as quickly as possible. This helps keep them working efficiently, but it also makes them unpredictable, even when used by the most careful crews.
Here’s a closer look at why this type of claim is so common:
- High blade speed: Because mower and trimmer blades spin so fast, even a small rock or stick can become a projectile capable of cracking glass or denting a car. Higher speeds also mean lower margins for error, and once you hit an object, there’s no time to stop it from going wherever it pleases.
- Hidden hazards: Rocks, twigs, metal fragments, and similar small items can be difficult to see, especially when they’re hidden in grass, mulch beds, or near other landscaped edging.
- Space and distance: Driveways, windows, parked cars, and other client property are often located within a few feet of your work area.
The combination of speed, hidden hazards, tight property lines, and no warning is why flying object claims are so frequent and why prevention habits (not just good intentions) are the best fix.
Pro tip: Gravel, small rocks, and similar objects hit by mower blades can reach speeds of 100mph or more, according to industrial mower manufacturer Green Climber North America.
What Property Is Most Often Damaged by Lawn Care Equipment?
Pretty much anything a customer has on or near their home and yard can be considered their property. This means damage to anything from windows and lights, swing sets and cars, to fountains, flowers, and trees could result in a property damage claim.
The most frequently damaged client property includes:
- Windows and glass doors
- Parked nearby vehicles
- Siding, doors, and garage panels
- Fences, gates, and outdoor fixtures
| Property Damaged | How Damage Happened | Prevention Tips |
|---|---|---|
|
Cracked ground floor window |
A mower caught and flung a forgotten dog toy toward the residence |
Slow down near structures Scan the area for objects and debris before trimming |
|
Scratched and dented car door |
A mower ran over a patch of gravel and threw a few rocks |
Inspect the area for loose debris Mow away from parked cars Slow down near hard surfaces and edges |
|
Shattered glass porch light |
An edger tool caught a stray rock |
Slow down and angle away from fixtures |
Pro tip: According to NerdWallet, the average cost of a new sliding glass door is $2,564. That’s more than five years’ worth of landscaping liability insurance premiums.
Landscaping Claim Prevention: How to Lower the Risk Before You Start
Most flying object claims are preventable with a few consistent habits built into your routine — before the blades even start spinning. None of them take much time, but together they cover the moments where these claims actually start: what’s on the ground, where your equipment is throwing, and how fast you’re moving near things that break.
Inspect the Work Area Before Mowing or Trimming
Do a quick walkthrough of the property to remove anything that could become a projectile. Look for things like:
- Large sticks
- Rocks or loose gravel
- Forgotten pet and kids’ toys
- Discarded nails, screws, or metal scraps
Pay extra attention near driveways, flower beds, patios, and fence lines. These are the areas where hardscaping meets landscaping, and they tend to collect the most debris. They’re also frequently close to buildings, cars, and other property, so when objects go flying, they often end up doing more damage.
For example:
- Driveways and walkways are heavily trafficked areas and often collect loose gravel, small stones, and construction scraps from the street, garage, walkways, or nearby paving. Because the surface is hard, anything a mower catches here ricochets faster and farther than it would off soft grass.
- Flower beds are often lined with mulch borders, decorative rock, edging stones, or landscape staples. These materials blend into the bed and are easy to miss, but can launch just as hard as other rocks when caught by a blade or trimmer line.
- Fence lines tend to accumulate objects like sticks and litter when the wind blows them against posts or railings. They’re also usually located around property boundaries, meaning any objects ejected here are closer to neighbors’ yards, cars, or windows.
Adjust Mowing Direction Away From Vehicles, Windows, and Structures
Most mowers eject debris from the back or one side, which means you have some control over where that debris goes. Know where your mowers’ discharge chutes are, and whenever possible, angle them to face inward toward the yard and away from structures and parked cars.
This strategy is one of the most effective ways to prevent incidents involving flying objects.
Additional tips for mowing directions:
- Plan your mowing pattern first to ensure the discharge chute faces away from the client’s property, even if it means adding an extra pass or two
- When mowing along roads or shared property lines, keep discharge chutes angled inward toward the client’s yard to avoid hitting a neighbor’s property, street-parked cars, or passing traffic
- Have a plan for tight spaces, especially when using zero-turn and riding mowers that turn quickly, because they can end up swinging the discharge path toward a window or car before you have time to react
Pro tip: Make planning mowing directions and patterns easier by using protective guards, chute blockers, or grass flaps.
Slow Down and Use Extra Caution Near Structures, Edging, and Hard Surfaces
Hardscaping, edges, fence lines, and similar areas often contain gravel, decorative stones, and other litter or debris. These types of objects usually launch harder and further than grass clippings when struck, so reduce your speed and widen your buffer when mowing near these areas.
The same caution applies when you switch to trimmers or edgers. Even though they’re smaller and less powerful than mowers, they can still send small rocks and metal fragments flying just as easily.
Pro tip: Reduce the chance of injury claims by always keeping people at a safe distance. Before you start mowing or trimming, make sure pets, children, and other people are clear of the work area.
Train Crews to Treat Flying Object Risk as a Normal Part of the Job
Make flying object prevention part of your regular safety training. Embed it into the standard routine, so it becomes a habit and not just an occasional reminder. Consistent habits across an entire crew are essential to reducing the risk of flying object claims.
What to Do if Your Lawn Mower Damages a Customer’s Property
Even when you’re following your prevention strategy, accidents can still happen. If an accident occurs and a client’s property is damaged, make sure a response plan is in place. A thorough response plan should include the following steps:
- Stop work immediately
- Ensure no one is hurt (have an additional response procedure in the event someone is injured)
- Document the incident and extent of the damage, take photos if possible, note what happened, and record the time and location
- Notify the property owner right away
- Remain calm, factual, and professional (without expressly admitting fault until you’ve talked to your insurance provider)
- Review insurance reporting expectations with the property owner
- Notify your insurance provider as soon as possible
How Liability Insurance for Landscaping May Help After Accidental Damage
Landscaping liability insurance is designed to help pay for accidental damage or injury caused by your business operations. Prevention is still the first line of defense against claims; liability insurance acts as your business’ financial safety net in case that defense fails.
Insurance Canopy’s lawn care insurance starts at just $33.75 a month or $375 a year, and offers a variety of optional coverages to tailor your policy to your business.
FAQs About Flying Object Landscaping Claims
What Causes Most Flying Object Landscaping Claims?
Most flying object claims are caused by a combination of loose landscaping or yard debris, proximity to property, and lack of directional control.
What Should I Do Right After Accidental Damage Happens?
If you accidentally damage, or suspect you may have caused damage to something, stop immediately.
- Turn equipment off immediately and check to ensure no person or animal was injured
- Inspect the area or item suspected of being damaged
- Document as much as you can about the incident and the damage
- Notify the customer right away
- Notify your insurance carrier as soon as possible
- Do not admit or accept fault before speaking to your insurance company, as this may compromise your claim
Can Landscaping Liability Insurance Help With Accidental Property Damage?
Yes. Landscaping liability insurance is designed to cover property damage you unintentionally cause as a result of your work. It does not cover damage or injury you cause intentionally.
How Can I Reduce the Risk Before Mowing or Trimming?
- Keep bystanders at a safe distance
- Slow down near hard surfaces and edges
- Take note of nearby windows and vehicles
- Switch tools as needed before trimming or edging tight areas
- Mow away from things like residences, glass windows, and parked cars
- Inspect the yard before starting to remove loose objects that could become projectiles
