It doesn’t happen as often as it does with personal injury claims but slowly we are starting to see insurance companies ask for releases from sinkhole claims directly from the homeowners. With personal injury cases it is not uncommon at all for the insurance adjusters to offer a minimal amount of money, usually $500 or [...]

New reports indicate that Citizens has started the slow decent into fewer policies and currently is down by 18. It doesn;t sound like a lot but Citizens is happy to actually be downsizing compared to upsizing for the first time in a long time. Currently Citizens insures nearly 1.5 million homeowners in Florida. The goal [...]

One, almost comical, issue that has arisen with many of my clients recently is that insurance companies are requiring homeowners to repair homes with denied sinkhole claims. Yes, you heard that right. Homeowners will file a claim for sinkhole related damages. The carrier will investigate. The engineer will determine that sinkhole activity does not exist [...]

This is a story that came out in December but for those that have not heard or read about it, it does show how scary and sudden sinkholes can be. A large sinkhole opened up at a rest stop near Polk City, on I4. The hole appeared in the morning of December 29, 2011 and [...]

Q: I have confirmed sinkhole activity in two areas of my yard. One is directly behind my pool and the other in my driveway close to the surface. My insurance company has offered repair money and structural repair money. If grouting can result in further damage to the soil increasing the likelihood of more sinkhole [...]

Q: I am in agreement that the “Sinkhole Survey” inspections are an underhanded (and illegal) tactic to reduce their liability. FS 627.706(1)(b) states that the “…insurer shall make available, for an appropriate additional premium, coverage for sinkhole losses on any structure…” It goes on to say that the insurer can inspect the property prior to [...]

I live in Tampa and found evidence of a sinkhole. I had it repaired in 2010. While the company seemed to do a conscientious job, the owner informed me that he could not lift the sagging kitchen floor without much damage. Repairing that floor wih cement has not restored the correct level. My insurance co [...]

Q: There has been considerable and alarming damage to my home and we have been relocated. Can you explain how temporary housing works? Is the cost of housing separate from the repair of the sinkhole? This is a common question with a very abstract answer. Generally, most homeowners insurance policies contain coverage for what we [...]

Q: I have a pending sinkhole claim with Homewise and now the Florida Gauranty association is on the job. Received a letter today confirming their involvement, and that any payments made on the claim will be paid directly to contractors performing the repairs. The insured will be resposible for the any amounts over the policy [...]

This office has been handling a travesty of a case for several years now. The factual scenario is that an insured who does not speak, read or write English was provided a Citizens policy after she was told it contained sinkhole coverage. Of course, not being able to read the policy she assumed she did [...]