Daytona Beach Sinkhole Lawyer
Sinkhole Claims Lawyer Helping Homeowners in Daytona Beach, Florida
If you own a home in Daytona Beach or have ever lived in a part of the state where a sinkhole occurred, you may be aware of the serious dangers posed by sinkhole activity. While sinkholes do often show signs before catastrophic damage occurs, it can be easy to miss these signs or symptoms. Moreover, many Florida homeowners have their sinkhole insurance claims denied after their property has experienced irreparable damage.
When you are filing a sinkhole claim or appealing a denial of benefits, it is essential to have an experienced Daytona Beach sinkhole lawyer on your side.
Learning More About Sinkhole Risks in Daytona Beach
According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the state of Florida’s geologic makeup means that sinkholes appear here more frequently than in other areas of the country. Although rapid land development in Florida may be responsible for some of the state’s sinkhole activity, the Florida DEP emphasizes that the state’s karst terrain also makes sinkholes much more likely.
Approximately 6,500 sinkhole claims are filed every year in Florida. While Florida’s “sinkhole alley” is located in the western and middle parts of the state, it is nonetheless important for residents of the Daytona Beach area to know about signs of sinkholes and to take appropriate steps.
Signs of Sinkhole Damage in Daytona Beach
If you believe you may have a sinkhole, it is important to take action as soon as possible. When a sinkhole is found early, it is possible to fill or remedy a sinkhole on your property before it does irreparable damage to your home or causes life-threatening injuries to your family.
Common signs of a sinkhole on your property may include one or more of the following:
- Depression anywhere on your property, meaning any ground-level area that has dropped down;
- Round, circular depression anywhere on or around your property;
- Large puddle or “lake” that has developed on your property;
- Cracking in the exterior or interior of your property’s foundation;
- Cracks in the road, driveway, or other pavement around your property;
- Windows or doors that become difficult to open or close;
- Drop in well water levels on your property; and/or
- Rainwater that begins “disappearing” into areas on your property.
Insurance Coverage Claims for Daytona Beach Sinkholes
It is important to know that there is a distinction between “catastrophic ground cover collapse” and “sinkhole” damage when it comes to insurance coverage. Under Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 627.706), homeowners’ insurance policies must provide coverage for catastrophic ground cover collapse, which includes the following according to the statute:
- Abrupt collapse of the ground cover;
- Depression in the ground cover clearly visible to the naked eye; and
- Structural damage to the covered building, including the foundation.
While some of these types of damage may look like sinkhole-related damage, coverage for sinkhole activity usually must be purchased separately as sinkhole loss coverage. It is important to know what your policy covers.
Contact a Sinkhole Lawyer in Daytona Beach
Do you need assistance filing a sinkhole claim? Or do you need help appealing a denial of insurance benefits after filing a claim? Sinkhole claims can be extremely complicated, and you should always work with an aggressive Daytona Beach sinkhole attorney. An advocate at our firm can discuss your case with you today. Contact The Pendas Law Firm to begin working with a lawyer on your sinkhole claim.
