FAQs for Tampa Bay Sinkhole Lawyers
Hancock & Hancock, P.A.
Michael and Claire Hancock
- Does Hancock & Hancock, P.A. handle sinkhole damage claims where I live?
- What are sinkholes?
- What are some of the typical issues involved in a sinkhole damage claim?
- How are my lawyers paid?
Does the attorneys at Hancock & Hancock handle sinkhole damage claims where I live?
We represent clients in the following west and central Florida counties: Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Desoto, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota and Charlotte.
Sinkholes are a natural geologic feature, found commonly in north-central Florida. A sinkhole is formed when rain dissolves underground limestone, or when surface materials collapse into cavities in the underlying rock. When the weight of the overlying ground becomes too great, or the dissolved area too large, the surface collapses into the void. Sinkholes are usually cone or bowl shaped depressions in the land surface, although they vary in shape and size. Sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by ground water circulating through them. Abrupt collapse-type sinkholes have become more common over the past twenty-five years, primarily due to activities such as the withdrawal of groundwater, diversion of surface water, or the construction of ponds.
What are some of the typical issues involved in a sinkhole damage claim?
First, the insurance company will typically send someone to your home, usually an environmental engineer, to determine the cause of the damage to your home. These people are paid by the insurance company and know that damage due to "natural ground settling" is not covered by homeowners insurance. If, by chance, they agree that your damage was caused by a sinkhole, your insurance company will do everything they can to have you sign a release and have the "repairs" begin. The trouble is that they try to lay all the liability of what could go wrong back to you. The insurance company may also try to make the repairs in the cheapest, least effective way, even though they are required to do otherwise, pursuant to the terms of your homeowner's insurance policy.
How can I afford a sinkhole lawyer?
At Hancock & Hancock, we take all sinkhole damage cases on what is called a "contingency fee" basis. This means that no fees or costs are charged unless we collect money damages for you. All of the consultations with our office are absolutely free. When you receive compensation, meaning our sinkhole lawyers have successfully concluded your case, either by settlement or litigation, our fees are then a percentage of your settlement. This percentage is agreed upon before we begin work, in writing and signed by you, and is generally 33% prior to filing suit and 40% after the lawsuit is filed, up through the end of trial.
The sinkhole attorneys fee is separate from the "costs" that the firm advances on behalf of the client. "Costs" include expenses for obtaining records, filing fees at the courthouse, expert witness testimony, costs of taking depositions and so on. We advance all costs related to your case. Only when we obtain a recovery for you are we reimbursed the advanced costs.
