Filing a Sinkhole Claim

If you feel you might have a sinkhole claim or if you are unsure about whether or not you have a sinkhole, call us for a free consultation. We can then assist you in the filing of your claim with your insurer.

Kim Wells and the Wells Law Group will represent you through the process of filing a sinkhole claim and make sure that the claim is filed properly and the proper testing is completed. After the engineering report is received by the insurance company our attorneys will work to obtain a successful resolution to your claim, helping you collect enough money to facilitate rehabilitation and repair of your home and foundation.

Sinkhole Damage

The appearance of a sinkhole can take many shapes or forms. Sometimes it is one or more hairline cracks in your ceiling, walls, floors or foundation. You may have trouble opening or closing windows or doors. You may see the floor seem to separate from the wall or ceiling. Cabinets may separate from the wall. Your pool deck may crack or your pool develop a leak. There may be a circular patch of wilting grass in your yard or in your neighbor's yard. Fence posts or trees may tilt to one side or the other. There could even be sediment in your water. If these signs aren't paid attention to you could soon have major damage on your hands.

The Wells Law Group has considerable experience facilitating sinkhole claims and will help you understand the confusing language of your sinkhole insurance policy. A sinkhole claim must be filed carefully and is best handled by an attorney. While you would like to think the insurance company is on your side and will do the right thing, that is not always so.

What Happens if I Submit a Sinkhole Claim Myself?

When you submit the sinkhole claim, your insurer will send a representative to your property to assess the damages. If the insurer believes the damages to your home may have been caused by a sinkhole, the insurance company will then hire a geotechnical engineer to do the tests needed to determine whether or not there is sinkhole activity on your property. Should sinkhole activity be found, the insurer will recommend a course of action needed for repair of sinkhole damages. Many times, even when there is potential evidence of a sinkhole present, the "expert" hired by the insurer will interpret the results improperly and claim there is no sinkhole and the damage is due to normal settlement or other causes. If the damage is due to settlement, material shrinkage or other problems, there is likely no coverage, and that is why an insurer’s "expert" will many times state this. That’s where we come in.

We will retain independent geologists and engineers to interpret the insurance company’s testing reports, and conduct our own testing when warranted. The experts we retain on your behalf will give us honest opinions regarding the insurer’s testing, and the results of their tests.

What if I've Already Filed the Sinkhole Claim Without an Attorney?

If you have already filed a sinkhole claim and you don't feel you are treated fairly or do not believe, or understand, the insurer’s test report, the Wells Law Group will be happy to review your case at no charge. Our experts will review the geotechnical report and recommend a course of action. Don't assume just because the insurer denied a sinkhole exists or offered you very little money to repair the damages that you will have to settle for that. The Wells Law Group will fight for what you are entitled to under the policy.

We serve most areas of Florida including Tampa, Clearwater, Brandon, St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs, Seminole, Pinellas Park, New Port Richey, Safety Harbor, Wesley Chapel, Bartow, Brooksville, Plant City, Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Starke, Holiday, Inverness, Wildwood, Lake Mary, Live Oak, Alachua, Leesburg, Lakeland, Winter Park, Winter Haven, Orlando, Sarasota, Ft. Myers, Bradenton, Palm Harbor, Spring Hill, Clermont, Haines City, Lake Wales, Ocoee, Deltona, Palatka, Sanford, Deland, Watertown, High Springs, Newberry, Waldo, Suwannee, Jasper, Homosassa Springs, Belleview, Crystal River, Auburndale, Avon Park, Chiefland, Flagler, Mulberry, Longwood, Hastings, Stuart, St. Augustine, Wauchula, Largo, Madeira, Indian Rocks, Dunedin, Riverview, Lithia, Apollo Beach, Lutz, Land O Lakes.

Serving: All of Florida, including Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Highlands, Hernando, Lake, Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Marion, Putnam, Flagler, St. Johns, Clay, Alachua, Union, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrest, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Taylor, Madison, Jefferson, Leon, Wakulla, Jackson, Washington, Holmes, Citrus, Manatee, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Osceola, Hardee, Sumter, Levy Counties.

See Service Areas for complete coverage.

Wells Law Group Frequently Asked Questions

For more Frequently Asked Questions about insurance sinkhole disputes visit our main Wells Law Group website.