Delayed Sinkhole Claim

Learn how long a Florida sinkhole claim is likely to take when you file it with your Florida insurance company.  Most Florida insurance policies cover damage caused by sinkholes, but the process of filing a claim, testing, and repairing the sink hole damage can take a while.  Know what to expect with this timeline of a sinkhole claim.

Sinkhole claims are not processed overnight – but they shouldn’t take forever, either. A sinkhole investigation is a complex process, and sinkhole delays do legitimately occur. The question is, however, how long is too long for a sinkhole claim to be processed? Let’s look at what needs to happen.

An examination under oath (also known as an EUO) is a formal question and answer session between the insurance policy holder, usually the homeowner, and the insurance company's hired lawyers. Virtually all insurance policies contain a provision requiring a homeowner submit to an examination under oath if the insurance company so requests it.

Florida law mandates that homeowners receive sinkhole testing results immediately, at the same time the insurance company receives them. This mandate is clearly spelled out in section 627.7073, Florida Statutes Click Here for Statute. It states,....

Some geotechnical testing companies are very fast, some are very slow, and some are in between. Other sections of the SinkTeam website discuss the aspects of the geotechnical testing process; this section talks about delays and how to overcome them.