Tampa Sinkhole Damage Insurance Lawyer
A recent sinkhole map of Tampa revealed 2,277 sinkhole incidents blanketing the city. Tampa lies in the heart of sinkhole alley, and no property owner is immune from the risk. To protect themselves, many homeowners purchase sinkhole insurance in addition to the catastrophic ground collapse coverage they already pay for in their homeowner’s policy. In either event, if you suffer a covered loss, you expect your insurance company to come to the rescue and help you recover from the enormous property damage you suffered. That’s the only reason you buy insurance. Too often, though, insurance companies prefer to give homeowners the runaround, telling them their damage is not covered or disputing the amount of damage incurred. This is no time to find out your insurance company doesn’t have your back. Thankfully, the Ruel Law Firm does. Our former insurance defense attorney has 15 years of experience dealing with property damage insurance claims and has extensive expertise when it comes to sinkhole claims in Central Florida. Contact our experienced Tampa sinkhole damage lawyer for a free consultation to find out how we can help you with your claim.
Sinkholes and Catastrophic Ground Collapse
All Florida homeowners have catastrophic ground collapse coverage included in their homeowner’s policy; it is required by law. Many homeowners think their policy covers them in case of property damage caused by a sinkhole, but this is not always the case. A “catastrophic ground collapse” is a specific event defined in the law that might or might not apply to a sinkhole. According to Florida law and the terms of your homeowner’s policy, the following criteria must be present to qualify as a catastrophic ground collapse:
- An abrupt collapse of the ground
- A depression that is clearly visible to the naked eye
- Structural damage to a building on the property
- An insured structure that is required to be vacated and condemned
The Ruel Law Firm can help you determine whether the loss you suffered constitutes a catastrophic ground collapse and should be covered under your policy. You don’t need to take the word of the insurance adjuster when they deny your claim. Let us investigate and give you an opinion on whether you should dispute the insurance company’s findings. If you have a claim, we’ll take over the job of making sure you get the coverage you paid for and are entitled to, including the full amount of benefits due to you under your policy. Our Tampa sinkholes lawyer has the experience and expertise you need to evaluate the damage you suffered, analyze the terms of your policy, and make sure you are being treated fairly.
Signs of Sinkhole Damage on Your Tampa Property
If you took the extra step and purchased a specific sinkhole insurance policy, you should be covered for all property damage caused by a sinkhole, whether or not your property suffered a catastrophic ground collapse. If the damage to your property points to a sinkhole but the insurance company denies your claim, we’ll get our own experts and conduct our own testing to see if they were right to reject your claim. If not, you can count on our experienced sinkhole legal team to pursue your claim with the skill and knowledge based on 15 years of handling sinkhole claims in Tampa and surrounding areas.
If you notice any of the following signs on your property, these are good indications that you might have a sinkhole causing the property damage you encounter. Call the Ruel Law Firm if you see any of these signs and have experienced a property loss that should be covered by your sinkhole insurance:
- Cracks in the foundation
- Cracks in the walls, exterior or exterior
- Cracks in the ceilings or floors of your house
- Cracks in swimming pool decks, driveways, porches, or the ground itself
- Unexplained water stains on your home or other structures
- Unexplained standing water
- Exposed tree roots that were formerly underground
- Vegetation is dying or drying out unexplainedly
- Leaning trees or fence posts
- Your house or other structures are slanting or sinking
- Ground depressions, including holes appearing in the ground
Contact the Ruel Law Firm Today
Insurance companies want to save money, and they are quick to deny sinkhole claims without conducting the proper ground testing or put a band-aid on the damage that doesn’t fully compensate you for your loss. If your Tampa sinkhole or ground collapse claim was denied, or if you think your claim is being underpaid, a skilled and knowledgeable sinkhole attorney at the Ruel Law Firm can look into your situation and let you know whether you have a case. Call our experienced Tampa sinkhole collapse lawyer today.
