How Do I File a Sinkhole Claim?
Sinkholes are common in many parts of Florida. Rainwater can dissolve the limestone underground. Over time, the dirt and sand begins to fall or "sink" into these gaps, resulting in varying degrees of property damage. If you believe your house or business property was damaged by sinkhole activity, you may file a claim with your insurance company.
At Corless Associates, we offer full-service sinkhole claim assistance to property owners in Tampa and the surrounding communities. Whether you want help filing a claim or are fighting a valid claim that was improperly denied, we are prepared to use our experience, knowledge and skill for you. Our law firm previously represented insurance companies throughout Florida and now uses that inside experience to help policyholders collect the financial assistance that is rightfully theirs.
Steps Involved in a Sinkhole Claim
If you wish, you may file a claim on your own by simply calling your insurance company and telling an agent about the damage to your property. The insurer will collect certain information from you such as:
- Name
- Address
- Policy number
- What kind of damage you are experiencing
- When you first noticed the damage
This will generally be a short phone call that sets the wheels of investigation in motion. If you are not comfortable calling your insurer yourself, our attorney will be happy to file the claim for you.
Under Florida law, insurance companies are obligated to cover damage related to sinkhole activity. Generally, after being put on notice, they will send an adjuster to your property who will determine whether there is reason to conduct further testing. If more testing is needed, the insurer will pay a geotechnical engineer to perform certain tests to see if sinkhole activity is present. These tests may include:
- Ground penetrating radar
- Electrical resistivity
- Standard penetration testing
A few weeks after the tests are complete, the engineering firm will send a sinkhole report. We can help you read through this report and help determine if it is accurate.
Legal Assistance With Any State of a Sinkhole Claim
Our Florida sinkhole claim legal team has helped hundreds of property owners successfully collect the financial assistance to which they were entitled. Contact us online or call 813-498-1623 or 877-517-5595 to arrange a free initial consultation. Phone calls are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Evening and weekend appointments are available by request.
We assist with sinkhole damage claims on a contingency fee basis. Therefore, you pay nothing until we recover compensation for you.
