If that was me I would ask a certified arborist that question. They are experts in trees and you'll get an accurate answer.

I did have one come by today. Apparently it's 4 trees growing together. The largest has the strongest roots so we might try chaining or cabling them. I'm going to have some tree companies give me estimates.

Agree with arborist idea.but,very expensive.If tree not in danger of falling on like your house.Or anyone elses.You like it?Right?I would leave.It just rotted out?Carpenter ants ate it?You don't know?Looking at picture it almost looks like other tree on left has a split coming up from ground?A opening for carpenter ants to get into soft wet wood.Probe around with a sharp pointy instrument.See if they come out.I have a tree with same thing.I treated yrs ago.Sprayed the he'll out of it.Tree still standing after 2 major hurricanes.Carpenter ants very large.

It looks like children play in the vicinity. I'm very troubled by the appearance of the tree and you should be, too. This could be multiple trees or one tree that formed multiple trunks at soil level; the latter occurs frequently with Live Oaks.

Either way, as the trunks grow, they begin to damage each other, creating the potential for decay.

I don't think that this cluster of trunks is a good candidate for cabling at all, but I'm judging solely on a photograph! And trees cannot be chained together for support.

Check the ISA credentials of your arborists, including any that come to bid on the job. A certified professional will happily proffer his/her ISA information and proof of insurance and licensing, hopefully without being asked.

Remember, the most important criterion here is if the tree is an eminent hazard should any part of it collapse. It doesn't need to fall on a structure to pose a hazard.....do people walk under the tree?

Yes people walk under the tree. I've had an arborist tell me that it's actually 4 trees growing together. We had a tire swing on the one that fell and it fell on my truck and wood fence. I'm starting to convince myself that the Oak needs to come down but it's hard because it provides shade to that entire area of the backyard. Thanks for your advice!

Here are some other pictures for reference.

This is before the tree fell on my truck.

Here is when it fell.

Here is after we cut up that tree a week ago.

Sorry about truck..ouch&fence.Still beautiful trees.I am with you on this one.Get a opinion. If you must.But you know they are like something else...everyone has one.Lol.I would go with your gut feeling.They are usually the best &you might save yourself a whole lot of money.

How is it that they always find a car or something to fall on?

Too funny.A friend of mine just drove all the way to alabama out of Florida to miss irma.Took his camper with wife's car.decided to move car away from camper for safe keeping....need I say more...lol

That's probably the first time I've ever parked there too. I had a plant sale on Saturday, was exhausted so I parked my truck there to unload on Sunday. Woke up to this Sunday morning.

We ended up having to cut down the rest of the tree/trees. There were 4 sections and 2 fell on their own, so we hire someone to cut down the rest. We are pretty bummed losing the shade and native tree. Trying to think of what to do with the area now.