Damages Which Are Not Sinkhole Associated - By: Aaron Durrett

Two of the common damages of sinkhole activity are settling and cracking. Nevertheless, it should be noted that these two damages might or might not have been caused by a sinkhole activity. Testing and insurance companies often incorrectly blame the damages to non-sinkhole activities. A property owner can challenge the insurance company’s choice not to process the claim by hiring a lawyer and/or a qualified and experienced engineering business to test the area for sinkhole activity. Also, the homeowner may also find relevant info on how to tell if the cracking and settling are sinkhole associated or not.

In Florida, you will find laws which need insurers to consist of sinkhole damage coverage. A crack which happens on the insured property could be covered by insurance if it has been proven that such crack was caused by a sinkhole event. Tests have to be performed to be able to determine if a sinkhole is creating on the property or not. If test outcomes reveal non-existence of sinkhole activity then the property owner should shoulder the repair of the damage.

Cracking and settling can also be brought on by shrink swell clays. You will find some kinds of clay which can swell and shrink. The clay swells when it is drenched with water which causes the homes and soils to move slightly upward. When the clay is dry, it shrinks which causes the soils and houses to move downward slightly. Like a sinkhole, shrink swell clay may also cause serious damage to properties but in contrast to sinkhole, it is not covered by numerous home insurance policies. However, there are also cases when shrink swell clay is detected with a sinkhole activity. In this case, the insurer must pay for the insurance claim. Therefore, especially for Florida residents, a property owner should seek a second opinion when the insurer denies the insurance claim by claiming that it's caused by shrink swell clay and not by sinkhole.

Compaction and settlement of loose surface soils may also cause settling and cracking. Due to the heaviness of concrete slab and also the home, the soil can compact and compress causing the house to sink or settle particularly when the soil exactly where the home is built is not properly and previously compacted. Consequently, an insurance claim could be denied if it has been found out that the settling and cracking was caused not by a sinkhole activity.

An insurance business can also deny a claim if tests reveal that the cracking and settling is caused by material shrinkage. Really, it is probably the most typical excuse by insurers who don’t want to pay insurance claims. Well-liked reasons consist of thermal contraction and expansion, and drying of concrete. Even though such factors are plausible, some insurance companies don't conduct testing to determine if material shrinkage is the real cause of settling and cracking. They only suggest such factors as reasonable alternatives to sinkhole development. Organic soils or organics may also cause settling and cracking. Wood, mulch, leaves, dead tree roots, and the likes can decompose which can cause the soil to move slightly downward. This really is also an additional typical cause insurers make use of in order not pay insurance claims.

About the Author

is a large law firm masters in post-damage sinkhole insurance claims and it has the top Tampa sinkhole attorney and Sarasota Sinkhole attorney.

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