Sinkhole Lawyer Florida

Symptoms of sinkhole activity may include:

Cracking of block foundations or separation of house from foundation

Cracking around the door and window frames

Large cracks in walls

Separation of walls from ceilings or floors


Stair-step cracking in a block wall

Also:

Windows or doors that do not close properly
Depressions in yard or driveway
Tilting or sinking of a section of a floor
Pipes breaking
Tree roots exposed that were not before
Fence posts that start sagging or slanting

Sinkholes are a naturally occurring geological condition and one of the most prevalent land forms in Florida. Many of the lakes in Central Florida are actually relic sinkholes, and cypress stands are often a signal of previous sinkhole activity. Sinkholes can be classified as geological hazards sometimes causing extensive damage to a home or business resulting in costly repairs. Due to the extreme weather conditions experienced in Central Florida over the past few years, sinkhole activity has increased and many areas are now being plagued with this natural disaster.

To read the Southwest Florida Water Management District brochure on Sinkholes in pdf format, click here:

See Resources section for additional information on sinkholes as well as many other useful links.

Many people do not realize that current Florida law requires that their insurance company offer coverage for damage due to a sinkhole activity. In addition, Florida law requires that once an insurer receives information regarding any damage to an insured's property as a result of settlement, the insurance company must hire a geotechnical engineering firm to perform an investigation sufficient to rule out sinkhole activity within a professional certainty, at no cost to the insured. This means that it is not necessary for property owners to prove that their structure is being damaged due to sinkhole activity. To the contrary, it is the burden of the insurer to prove that a structure is not being damaged as a result of sinkhole activity.

We know that often times your life savings are invested in your home and that you work hard to keep your home looking good to provide a safe and comfortable environment for your family. Many times clients will come to us prior to contacting their insurance company. The attorneys of LeValley & Napolitano, P.L. have more than ten (10) years experience working on sinkhole cases and we will work hard to protect your investment by representing you vigorously to the best of our abilities with regard to your claim with your insurance company for damages to your home.

LeValley & Napolitano, P.L. can assist you even if you have already filed a claim, whether or not the insurance company agrees you have a sinkhole. We also represent individuals in situations where their insurer agrees that their home is damaged due to sinkhole activity, but only offers to pay a portion of what it will cost to repair or replace the property. We can help people in this situation, often obtaining substantially more than the insurance company initially offered.

REPAIR OF SINKHOLE

If an insurance company confirms sinkhole activity as a cause of the damage at a property, they often recommend grouting (pumping a cement mixture under pressure under the house) as a means of repair. This alone may not be the correct method of repair, and there is always the risk of grout failure. Grout failure can be ruinous. For example: