Sinkhole Claims Process - Part 3

After filing a sinkhole claim, and after the adjuster’s initial visit, the next step in the sinkhole claims process is for the insurance company to arrange to have your home tested for signs of sinkhole activity occurring below ground.

If you have not yet filed a claim, click here for more information.

If you have already filed a claim for sinkhole activity, but have not yet spoken to an adjuster, click here for more information on what to expect.

Sinkhole Testing

By law, the insurance company must send a professional geological or engineering company to your home, at the insurance company’s expense, to conduct testing to confirm or eliminate the possibility that sinkhole conditions may be impacting your home and causing damages.

For information about the types of sinkhole testing preformed, click here.

To learn more about the types of testing companies hired by insurance companies and who pays them, click here

Understanding The Testing Results

A few weeks after completion of the second stage of testing, involving the deep drilling, the insurance company will forward a copy of the sinkhole report to you. Often this is a fairly thick 30-80 page document containing many confusing terms, charts, graphs and confusing language. If you happen to have a degree or background in science, maybe you can make it out.

If you don’t understand what the report say (or even if you do), don’t put a lot of stock into it – almost all of the testing companies insurance companies choose to conduct testing use "stock" reports, or pre-written "templates." Sometimes the testing company will change parts of the template – for instance, they’ll insert your address and perhaps some location specific information. But generally speaking, the report you receive is likely almost exactly the same as other reports "written" for other homeowners. In fact, look carefully at the report – does it say it was written, or "prepared?"

There are a few key areas of a sinkhole report that are worth paying attention to. For more information about how to read a sinkhole report, click here.

Decision Time

Once the report is received by the insurance company receives the sinkhole report, they should make a determination to accept or deny coverage for the damages to your home. This should take a relatively short amount of time, perhaps a few days. If weeks or months have gone by without a decision being made, chances are your insurance company is stalling for some reason. Insurance companies in Florida have an obligation to evaluate and make a coverage determination within a reasonable amount of time. If too much time has gone by, it may be time to involve the experienced sinkhole attorneys at the Byrne Law Group. Call attorney John Byrne at 813-413-6565 today.

If you’ve received a sinkhole report back from your insurance company, call the Byrne Law Group today to discuss your findings and learn about options you have. Attorney John Byrne is \experienced in assisting homeowners though sinkhole claims, having represented hundreds of homeowners throughout the sinkhole process. Call John Byrne today at 813-413-6565 right now to arrange for a FREE consultation.