Hillsborough County Sinkhole Lawyer
Hancock Law Firm, P.A.
If you think your property has sinkhole damage, our advice is to talk to a lawyer before you talk to your insurance agent or file a claim. If you don't know and assert your rights, your insurer is more likely to deny or delay the claim or pay only for cosmetic or stopgap repairs that do not address the underlying problem.
Contact the Hancock Law Firm in Tampa for a free consultation. We have helped homeowners and other property owners in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Land O' Lakes, Lutz, Wesley Chapel, Lakeland, and throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties file claims, appeal denied claims and negotiate coverage for sinkhole solutions and damage to property.
Who Pays for Sinkhole Damage? What Is Covered?
A general contractor might be liable for severe structural collapse for building on unstable ground, but the vast majority of sinkhole damage cases are claims under your own homeowners insurance policy. If you have evidence of sinkholes such as visible cracking, tilted floors, sticky doors and depressions in the lawn, Florida law mandates that first-party insurers pay for your expenses and losses, including:
- Costs of grouting or underpinning to fill the sinkhole or prop up the house
- Costs of cosmetic repairs
- Costs of above-ground repairs (indoor and outdoor)
- Alternative living expenses (motel or apartment during repairs)
- Reasonable attorney fees
Any structural repairs may require the insurer to also pay to bring your house into compliance with current building code.
• Also see our Sinkhole Damage FAQ
How Do I File a Sinkhole Claim? Do I Need a Lawyer?
Attorney Mike Hancock has handled sinkhole insurance disputes since opening his practice in 1996 and formerly worked for the insurance industry. He will explain your rights and possible outcomes and provide advice on how to document the damage. In most cases, he will then recommend you file the claim yourself and see how the insurer responds.
If there are any problems — a rejected claim or a lowball offer — he will already be up to speed on your case and can intervene to assert your legal rights. We provide numerous services in helping you get a satisfactory solution to your sinkhole problems.
Free Consultation With a Tampa Sinkhole Attorney
Call 888-975-1110 (toll free) or 813-915-1110 to schedule a consultation with Mike Hancock. You can also reach us by e-mail for answers to your sinkhole insurance questions.
