Insurance Claim
Florida residents are no strangers to sinkholes. Whether they are occurring on their property, their neighborhood, in public places, or are being highlighted on the news, sinkholes can cause serious damage. Without the proper tools to pursue their insurance coverage for damages that occur, Florida residents could be paying for those losses out of their own pockets.
When insurance companies do not fulfill their coverage obligations, we provide policyholders with the confidence and resources they need. We hold these companies accountable for the financial recovery that policyholders deserve.
At The Morgan Law Group P.A., our Florida insurance claims attorneys fight for our clients because we understand that insurance is designed to make you whole again, and that is exactly what it should do. We assist policyholders when they need help filing a new sinkhole claim, or after their previously submitted claim has been delayed, denied, or underpaid.
What Is A Sinkhole?
Sinkholes are areas of the landscape that have no natural surface drainage, which leads to the collection of water over time.
This water is produced from rain, flooding, and hurricanes, and remains inside the sinkhole before it drains into the subsurface, slowing eroding it away. Eventually, this erosion will form a hole and will collapse.
Unfortunately, sinkholes can naturally develop slowly over time, or they can form suddenly and collapse without notice, leaving residents in complete and utter shock.
Sinkholes can vary in size, ranging from a few feet to hundreds of acres, and from less than one foot to more than 100 feet deep.
Why Are There So Many Sinkholes in Florida?
Sinkholes are common in Florida because our landscape is comprised of two of the most common carbonate rocks: limestone and dolomite.
Both rocks are vulnerable to erosion from chemical weathering caused by exposure to acidic water, which includes rainwater.
Limestones in Florida are porous, which allows the acidic water to move through the rocks, dissolving some of the limestones and carrying it away in solution.
This persistent erosional process has created extensive underground voids and drainage systems causing a collapse of overlying sediments, which produces sinkholes.
What Are the Main Causes of Sinkholes in Florida?
According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, not all sinkholes are caused by natural erosion.
Other sinkhole causes can include:
- Broken septic tanks
- Buried trash, logs, and other debris
- Collapsed or broken sewer and drainpipes
- Construction and development practices
- Creation of industrial or runoff storage ponds
- Groundwater pumping
- Improperly compacted soil after excavation work
- Water-diversion systems
As our Florida neighborhoods continue to grow, construction projects can increase the number of sinkholes, as developers race to keep up with the demand for new homes.
If your home, condo, business, or property has been affected by sinkhole damage, contact our Florida insurance claims lawyers at the Morgan Law Group at (305) 569-9900 to discuss your financial recovery options today. You do not have to take on the insurance company alone. We are here to help you find success by pursuing your insurance policy for the damages you deserve.
