Sinkhole Claims Handled By A Public Adjuster

For a Florida homeowner, few things are more anxiety-inducing than the sight of a sinkhole. Florida has had more sinkhole incidents than any other state in the United States, leading to a rise in sinkhole claims being filed with insurance companies in recent years. Sinkholes occur naturally but they can be triggered by outside events like heavy rainfall, tropical storms, hurricanes, droughts, and human activity. Sinkhole season is typically March through September because that’s when that state receives most of its rainfall.

Florida’s sinkhole claims problem is mostly due to the limestone base that is beneath the ground’s surface which dissolves relatively easily by natural acidic groundwater and rainwater. This results in terrain called “karst” which looks like a honeycomb with cavities. When a cavity becomes too big to support its ceiling, it suddenly gives way, collapsing the clay and sand above it to leave a large gaping hole at the surface, swallowing anything in its path. Sinkholes can cause severe damage to a home or building’s foundation or even cause total destruction in the event that the underlying soil collapses.

Three counties, in particular, Hernando, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties are known as “sinkhole alley” because a majority of sinkhole damage claims from 2006-2010 came from that area. It’s important for property owners to be diligent and watch out for any warning signs of possible sinkholes. If left untreated, a sinkhole will keep growing and could possibly intersect and join with nearby sinkholes to form into a mega-sinkhole. Signs of a possible sinkhole issue can include:

• Doors and windows not closing properly


• Cracks in the pavement, floors, ground surfaces or walls


• Previously unexposed area of property’s foundation is now exposed


• Exposed tree roots, spongy or soft areas in the lawn, or depressions in the ground

Hire A Florida Public Adjuster

Sinkhole claims require extensive knowledge and usually require inspections from outside engineering firms. An insurance company will use its own engineering firm, which represents their best interests. Oftentimes, these firms may conclude that property damage is not due to a sinkhole in order to benefit the insurance carrier. That is why it is crucial for property owners to hire a Florida public adjuster that will send an engineer that represents your best interests and who may conclude that your claim is in fact due to a sinkhole.

At The People’s Choice Public Adjuster, if there is a suspected sinkhole, we will provide the appropriate services to examine and correct the issue. Our team of Florida public adjusters works with professional companies that specialize in assessing sinkhole claims. An engineer will survey the site using ground penetrating radar (GPR), which is the best way to detect cavities. They will also evaluate any property damage caused by a sinkhole in order to secure a comprehensive and objective damage assessment report for your sinkhole damage claim. If a sinkhole is detected, then it will be remediated. If you feel you might have a sinkhole underneath your property, then immediately call the public adjusters at The People’s Choice Public Adjuster at 888-416-8227.