Tag Archives: sinkholes in missouri

Finding Sinkholes, Sinkholes in the News

Sinkhole Swallows Horse and Rider in Missouri

Sinkhole swallows horse and rider in Missouri

Floridians are not the only ones with sinkhole concerns! In West Plains, Missouri, a 15-foot sinkhole swallowed a horse and its rider while out on a ride. The horse, named Big Boy, galloped around as though nothing happened after being pulled from the hole hours later. Fortunately, the rider was uninjured as well.

A horse named Little Big Man and his rider are doing well after falling into a sinkhole near West Plains. Sally Collins, who lives on a farm on County Road 8580, said her neighbor Mike Moore had some calves that got away from his property Friday. He rode over to her property to check for them.

“That’s when he rode across the sinkhole,” said Collins, who was unaware of the hole until the incident.

A happy ending

Collins said Moore was able to jump off the horse as Little Big Man was falling into the hole, which may have been more than 12 feet deep.

Shaken but not seriously hurt, he enlisted the help of another neighbor, who called the rural fire department to help rescue Little Big Man. About 15 people gathered to help or watch, Collins said. The hole was approximately four feet in diameter.

Crews got a backhoe and started digging trenches in hopes that Little Big Man could climb out, but eventually had to hoist him out with belts. When Little Big Man first made it out, he flopped on the ground, Collins said.

The rescue took about two hours.

“We were so afraid he was drastically hurt, at one point we thought his leg was broken,” she said.

But a farm hand pulled on Little Big Man’s reins, and he got right up. He only had a few cuts.

The News-Leader was unable to reach Moore. Collins said he was sore, but also doing well.

The sinkhole has been filled in, she said.

Insurance Policies and Coverage Issues

Failed Repairs – Continue the Old Claim or Open Another?

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!