Have You or a Loved One Experienced Damage Due to Sinkholes?

Many people may have started to notice cracks, or breaking to the foundation of your home or on your floors or walls, and may not know why it is happening. This may be caused by sinkhole activity and can severely damage your home if it is not taken care of. Also, if you have experienced this type of damage to your home, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages that have occurred. Problems such as these can happen anywhere, even right here in Tennessee.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A SINKHOLE?

Many people may not even know what a sinkhole is but it is formed when rain dissolves underground limestone or when surface materials collapse into cavities in rock. These may happen suddenly and have been more common in the last 25 years because of withdrawing so much groundwater and the construction of more ponds. They can happen anywhere but they are most common in Florida and eastern Tennessee.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY HOME DAMAGE HAS BEEN CAUSED BY A SINKHOLE?

Some sinkholes may be more obvious the others so it may be hard to tell in many cases what actually caused the damage to your home or property. Some common signs of sinkhole damage include but are not limited to:

• Cracks in floors, walls, pavement or decks
• Slanting or slumping fences, trees, and other objects
• Experiencing difficulty in closing doors or windows
• Patches of dying plants or trees
• Water forming ponds after it rains where it usually does not

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY DAMAGE MAY BE FROM A SINKHOLE?

The first thing you should do is contact your insurance company so that they can come investigate the damage and determine if it was caused by a sinkhole. If so, your insurance company should pay for experts to look at the damage and given written certification if they believe the damage was really caused by a sinkhole.

Many insurance companies may try to deny your sinkhole claim because they may say that their expert believed the damage was caused by something other than a sinkhole or their experts may have done a poor job of investigating the actual damage, therefore, the insurance company may claim they do not have enough evidence of the sinkhole activity. If your claim of sinkhole damage is denied, it is important to contact an attorney for help.

HOW CAN AN ATTORNEY HELP WITH MY SINKHOLE DAMAGE CLAIM?

Many people may not have experience with sinkhole damages or going up against an insurance company to get the compensation you need. If your insurance company will only pay for some repairs or if they deny your sinkhole claim, one of our experienced and caring Tennessee sinkhole claim attorneys at the Higgins Firm can help to make sure you get the compensation you deserve. Our lawyers will hear your case, work with experts, and even help you to appeal your denied claim if needed. We will help make sure the insurance company gives you the compensation you need and deserve.

At the Higgins Firm, we understand that your home is very important to you and that any damage to it can hurt you and your way of life. We will work with you to get your case heard and make sure you and your loved ones get the compensation you deserve for your sinkhole damage.

Contact us online or call us at 800.705.2121 to set up a FREE consultation to discuss your legal options.