WHAT IS A SINKHOLE?
While this web site deals with sinkholes in general, most of the legal discussion is based on Florida law. Basically, sinkholes are formed where the rock below the land surface is limestone or other carbonate rock whose minerals are naturally dissolved by water. As the rock dissolves, the ceiling of the cavern becomes thinner as it decays. When the land above the cavern becomes too heavy for the ceiling to support, the soil and sub-surface above starts to ravel downward to it. A depression or even a complete collapse of the land above can occur. Water flow also forces more sub-surface particles downward.
Florida is the most vulnerable state for sinkhole development, especially along the northwest Gulf Coast. In fact, the majority of lakes in Florida are believed to have been caused by sinkhole activity. Sinkholes are also common in Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania, although Florida Public Adjusting specializes and works in the State of Florida only.
Florida Law requires insurance companies to provide coverage for damage caused by sinkholes. Florida Statute 627.706 defines a “sinkhole loss” as being “actual physical damage to the property covered arising out of or caused by sudden settlement or collapse of the earth supporting such property only when such settlement or collapse results from subterranean voids created by the action of water on a limestone or similar rock formation.”
In other words, not all direct causes of collapses from settlement problems fall within the sinkhole coverage. More about this is discussed elsewhere on this web site, but suffice it for now, it can be said the word “sudden” has been interpreted by Courts not to require the damage to occur “overnight” and damage caused by phenomenon that does not fall within the legal definition of “sinkhole loss” may possibly be covered elsewhere in your policy, depending upon the specific policy you have and the exact cause of damage.
