At this stage, you’ve already filed a claim for sinkhole damage to your home, your insurance company has conducted an investigation, and they’ve denied your claim.

If your claim is denied for any reason, you have few options left. You should immediately speak with an experienced sinkhole expert, like SinkTeam, to learn about your options. Depending on the data from the test results, SinkTeam may be able to convince the insurance company to accept liability and pay damages on them.

At this stage, the homeowner has filed a claim for sinkhole damage, and the insurance company denied it.


Real Life Testimonial

Chris and Sara, Plant City Homeowners
“Our insurance company hired SDII to conduct sinkhole testing at our home. SDII told us we didn’t have any sinkhole activity at our home. We talked to John Byrne at the SinkTeam. He reviewed the SDII report, and he told us the SDII data showed a 25 foot void under our home and that SDII may have committed malpractice.

After hiring John Byrne, he quickly convinced our insurance company to accept coverage for our claim, and they paid us a fair and honest settlement amount. Don’t believe what the insurance companies and test companies tell you - you need to talk to someone with experience like John Byrne.”




John Byrne, founder of SinkTeam has worked with almost FOUR HUNDRED homeowners in helping to resolve their sinkhole damage issues - call him for a FREE Home Evaluation to learn about your options at 813-435-1616. SinkTeam can arrange for an independent expert geologist or geotechnical engineer to review the findings prepared by the testing company the insurance company hired, put you in touch with experts, and even connect you with lawyers who will consult with you for free.

Remember - the insurance company is the one who chooses the geologist or geotechnical firm who does the testing - do you really think that testing company is independent? They’re PAID by the insurance company and they probably aren’t too likely bite the hand that feeds them! Often a review by an independent expert, not paid by the insurance company, can reveal startling information the insurance company’s expert "overlooked.


Was Proper Testing Conducted?
Chapter 627.707, Florida Statutes, requires insurance companies to engage expert geological or engineering companies to conduct testing to confirm or eliminate the presence of sinkhole activity. When a homeowner files a claim that may involve sinkhole damage to a home, proper sinkhole testing must be conducted.



Type Of Testing
Sinkhole testing should involve two phases:
The first phase involves a detailed inspection of your home, from top to bottom, inside and out. The testing company should conduct a survey of your home, dig a number of shallow "hand auger" holes, dig a test pit along the foundation, and conduct geophysical tests such as Ground Penetrating Radar or Electrical Resistivity.

A few weeks later the testing company will come back with a large drill rig for the second phase of testing. They should drill Standard Penetration Test ("SPT") bore holes in at least three locations around your home, ranging from five feet deep to over a hundred feet deep, drilling until the drill rig reaches extremely dense bedrock.


Denied Without Drilling?
Did your insurance company deny your claim for damage without doing any drilling? Sometimes insurance companies will try to save money by not conducting the full range of tests required under Florida law. Often when they do, the insurance company will send an adjuster or an engineer out one time to your home, but they will not send a large drill rig and drill deep bore holes. Most of the time when this happens, the engineer will write a three or four page report, and the insurance company will take that report and use it as an excuse to deny your claim. This behavior - the refusal to conduct testing required by Florida Statute - is known as a Drive By Denial because the insurance company failed to perform deep drill borings. If your insurance company has denied your claim without conducting a full multi-part investigation, including deep drilling, contact the Byrne Law Group immediately at 813-413-6565 to discuss your rights and options.


Talk To An Experienced Sinkhole Adjuster Today!

Call and talk to SinkTeam personally today. During a FREE telephone or in-person consultation, SinkTeam will discuss your sinkhole claim and describe various options you might have available to you. Don't go through the sinkhole process alone - call 813-435-1616 right now to learn more.