Don’t Get Caught in the Sinkhole Scam

Posted By Nadine Diaz

As Floridians, we are all at a higher risk for experiencing sinkholes. It’s the limestone and carbonate in our beautiful landscape that makes the incidence higher. So what exactly is a sinkhole? It occurs when ground material collapses either suddenly or gradually, causing property damage. And sometimes the severity can be even more extreme, bringing personal injury to the owner. In fact, earlier in the year one of our neighbors in Lutz tragically fell victim to a sinkhole that swallowed him in his sleep.

The real danger is that most people don’t know what to do when dealing with this problem. The knee-jerk reaction is to call your insurance company and immediately file a claim, but this is a wrong decision! Insurance companies will protect their own interests before yours, often times neglecting to tell you of your rights under your policy. A lot of legal professionals that you might think to seek out aren’t much better; they’re often unqualified and only enter the field for the financial benefits.

At Darrigo & Diaz, we want to help make sure you fully understand this scary situation and all of the compensation that you are entitled to. From the terms of your insurance policy, to the engineering report that comes with property inspection, we’re here to translate every step that comes with filing a proper claim. You deserve to know your rights and be protected.

To help you spot the problem before things escalate, we’re sharing these common signs of sinkhole activity:

• “Stair step” type cracking in exterior walls
• Cracking in walls, floors, ceiling, driveway, and pool deck
• Separation of walls from floors and/or ceiling
• Windows and/or doors sticking or jamming
• Sinking or slanting fence post or trees
• Plumbing problems and high water bills

If you spot any of these signs, have been a victim of sinkholes, or have any questions, please call us to schedule a complimentary appointment with our attorneys.