Florida Sinkhole Attorneys

Unfortunately for many homeowners in the State of Florida, Florida is probably more prone to sinkhole activity than any other state in the country. Builders and homeowners do not typically take into account the potential a home has to be affected by sinkhole activity when they are buying and/or building a home. Insurance companies do take the risk of sinkhole activity into account when determining how much you pay for your premiums. However, when the time comes to report a claim, insurance companies typically will do anything they can to minimize the amount of benefits they have to pay out.

Affected Areas

Sinkhole activity is more prominent in certain regions and counties of the State. The State of Florida has published maps indicating that sinkholes are most numerous in the counties of 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 and Holmes. However, this does not mean that other regions can not be affected. In fact, every single county and city in Florida is at risk to be affected by sinkhole activity. The type and extent of the sinkhole activity varies from region to region. At The Barfield Law Group, we have the experience and knowledge to evaluate how your home is being affected and the interaction with the local soil conditions.

Sinkhole Damage

Evidence of sinkhole activity can typically be seen in the form of cracking in walls, ceilings or floors, cracking in a driveway or patio, floor coverings loosening or popping up, cabinets separating from walls, doors or windows not functioning properly, depressions or dips forming around the home, sudden loss of water in a pool, plumbing or electrical problems and many other types of damage around the home. Sinkholes can develop gradually or quickly but either way, the damage can be devastating and you rely on your insurance company to properly compensate you for your losses. The statutes and regulations governing how sinkhole claims are to be handled in Florida are extremely complex and ever-changing. At The Barfield Law Group we are experienced in interpreting these statutes and evaluating how they interact with your insurance policy. We are also experienced and educated in the scientific disciplines of geology and engineering which are always significant in sinkhole disputes.

Sinkhole Claims

When a homeowner files a sinkhole claim they likely only have one shot at ensuring their home is properly repaired as they will usually be precluded from obtaining sinkhole coverage in the future. Insurance companies can hire whoever they want to investigate the property and homeowners are stuck with the opinion of the insurance expert without contrary evidence. In such a situation every homeowner should consider getting a second opinion no matter what the insurance experts recommend.

Sinkhole disputes can take many forms. To begin with, filing a claim and traversing the claims process can be complicated and nerve racking for most homeowners. The claims process often requires you to submit to recorded statements and produce numerous documents. The homeowner does not typically get a choice in what expert comes out to investigate their property or how they perform their testing. These experts are hired by and work for the insurance company, not the homeowner. The insurance company’s expert may claim that sinkhole activity is not present at the insured property or some insurance companies may even tell you that even though they found sinkhole activity, they are still not going to pay you any benefits for some other reason. Even if the insurance company does confirm sinkhole activity at the property and agrees to cover the loss, the home or business owner is required to abide by the insurance companies recommendations for repairs. The Barfield Law Group can have the insurance company’s expert’s opinions reviewed by an engineer, geologist or contractor for you whether you want to second guess the opinions of sinkhole activity or how it should be repaired. There is no charge for fees or the costs associated with these second opinions unless our firm obtains benefits for you.

The Barfield Law Group is also experienced with commercial claims for sinkhole damage. These claims often involve different and more complex forms of damages. Whether you are a home or business owner and have filed a claim and are dissatisfied with the response you have received from your insurance company or if you think your home may be showing signs of sinkhole activity and you want to know how to proceed with filing your claim, our sinkhole attorneys at The Barfield Law Group can help you.

Contact Us

Contact the experienced sinkhole attorneys at The Barfield Law Group today.