What Florida law requires
Florida requires property insurers to cover catastrophic ground cover collapse, and insurers must offer sinkhole coverage on homeowners, condominium association and commercial property policies. Whether broader sinkhole loss is covered depends on what you purchased.
“Sinkhole activity” generally means settlement or systematic weakening of the earth supporting a building, caused by water acting on underground limestone or similar rock. The damage to a home, a condominium building or a commercial structure can be severe. Typical claims involve:
- An abrupt collapse of the ground that damages your structure
- A visible depression in the ground that damages your structure
- Structural damage, including to the foundation
- Condemnation of the building by a government agency
Contents coverage may also apply.
Signs of sinkhole damage
- Cracking around door and window frames
- Foundation and wall cracks
- Pool and pipe leaks
- Doors and windows that no longer close properly
Report early, and do not rely only on the insurer’s engineer
Florida law sets deadlines for reporting sinkhole losses, and those rules have changed over the years, so report suspected damage promptly and get advice early. The insurer must hire a geologist or engineer to investigate. It is often wise to retain your own expert too, so the company’s report is not the only voice on coverage.
Experience with sinkhole disputes
Mr. Sapourn has testified that unnecessary delays in settling a sinkhole claim amounted to a bad faith claims practice, and has written opinions on insurers attempting to void sinkhole claims over alleged application misrepresentations. If your sinkhole claim has been denied or stalled, call for a free consultation.