Active problems from a repaired sinkhole – new claim or old?

The short answer: it depends.

You must first ask whether it is possible to do either or both. There are many questions to consider, for example:

• Has the five-year statute of limitations expired on your prior claim?
• Has your insurance policy changed so that you no longer have sinkhole coverage
• Do you have a new insurance carrier altogether?
• Are your policy limits higher now than what they were at the time the prior claim was filed?

That being said, you probably won’t find the answer to this question in a blog post – you’re better off contacting your insurance company or a lawyer. This can be a difficult situation, considering timing, your insurance company’s red tape, and how willing they are to remedy the problem.

Same sinkhole, same insurance

If you have been paying higher premiums than you were when the sinkhole was originally repaired, you probably want to ensure you have the higher coverage available to properly repair your home this time around.

Keep in mind that if the claim is filed simply as a failed repair under the prior date of loss, you may not have to have the home tested all over again, saving time and hassle. There is a difference as to how you report your property’s damage, so make sure you communicate with your sinkhole insurance provider regarding your best options.

Insurance is responsible for all repairs

Also, as we have discussed before, the insurance company should be responsible for any and all necessary repairs regardless of your policy limits, so even if you have higher limits now, it may not play a great factor in the claim. This is why it’s even more important that you retain sinkhole coverage after you repair your sinkhole!