Sinkholes come in many different sizes - some small and others that grow up to 40 to 60 feet deep and wide. When a sinkhole develops on your property in Texas, no matter the size, it can be dangerous. Not only can a sinkhole disrupt your life, but it could also damage your home and property and injure people you love.
Even if the sinkhole is small, damages can still be catastrophic. When the ground you live upon sinks and gives way, it can leave you with damage and destruction, and in a state of fear and emotional distress. If you were a victim of a sinkhole in Texas, you probably have many questions that you need answered.
What is a sinkhole?
A sinkhole is a natural event, considered a natural disaster, which occurs when a layer of soil actually sinks and fills with water. A sinkhole can form when water is pumped out of one area and into another. This can make the ground in the area that the water was taken from susceptible to a sinkhole. A sinkhole can also happen when limestone is hollowed out below the surface. This generally occurs due to water erosion leaving the area unable to bear the weight of the top layer of earth.
What do you do if you believe you have a sinkhole on your property?
Typically sinkholes get worse and need to be treated as a very serious matter. There is no time to waste in these situations.
- If you are not sure it is a sinkhole, it is better to be safe than sorry. Contact your insurance company and have an inspector come to your home to determine if it is actually a sinkhole. You can also contact a geological surveyor on your own to look at your property.
- If your insurance company agrees that there is sinkhole activity on your property, they will have an engineering firm come out to your home to evaluate it further and conduct tests.
- If you do have a ground area that has opened up, contact your local emergency department immediately, so they can rope off the land and take necessary safety measures.
- Vacate your property if you and your family are in danger.
- Contact a lawyer who specializes in natural disaster insurance claims. Insurance companies may deny your claim or pay you less than what is fair, and an attorney who is skilled in this area of law can help you get what you truly deserve.
A qualified Texas insurance litigation lawyer will be able to bring in expert engineers and geologists to identify the cause of your property damage, take proper steps to file a residential sinkhole claim with your insurance company, appeal the insurance denial or pursue litigation against the insurance company. Call the Voss Law Firm today at 888-614-7730 for a free legal consultation.
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