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Florida Personal Injury Lawyers
$3,830,000

Catastrophic motorcycle accident resulted in a jury verdict.

$1,748,000

Auto accident, multi-car crash

$1,035,000

Auto accident involving defective airbag

$600,000

Death resulting from hospital turning away patient

$550,000

Auto accident involving tractor trailer

$345,000

Auto accident involving a work vehicle

$340,000

Slip and fall at a hotel bathroom

$115,000

Auto accident involving pedestrian. $115,000 in litigation instead of $15k presuit offer

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Tampa Sinkhole Lawyer

Tampa, like most of the southeast, is prone to sinkholes that can cause catastrophic damage and even swallow an entire house in the blink of an eye. There is no warning with a sinkhole, as the building, pavement, or other type of structure will often give no signs before the event. While some sinkholes cause slower-forming depressions, many open up in a matter of seconds, leaving no time for prevention or evacuation. Contact our Tampa sinkhole lawyers today, we have years of experience in this field.

In Florida, sinkholes are often referred to as “catastrophic ground cover collapse,” which, geologically, is the same thing as a sinkhole. However, the law and insurance providers do not see the two as one and the same. While catastrophic ground cover collapse is covered by all homeowner’s insurance policies as a mandatory by Florida law, sinkholes are not. To understand the difference, legally speaking, catastrophic ground cover collapse is defined as all of the four following (all four criteria must be met in order for an insurance provider to cover the damage):

  • The abrupt collapse of the ground cover;
  • A depression in the ground cover clearly visible to the naked eye;
  • Structural damage to the covered building, including the foundation; and
  • The insured structure being condemned and ordered to be vacated by the governmental agency authorized by law to issue such an order for that structure.

A sinkhole is defined as “a landform created by subsidence of soil, sediment, or rock as underlying strata are dissolved by groundwater. A sinkhole forms by collapse into subterranean voids created by dissolution of limestone or dolostone or by subsidence as these strata are dissolved.” Insurance companies never like paying out to their customers during their times of need, which is why it is so common to initially be denied by your insurer when you file a claim. However, from 2006 to 2010 insurance companies paid out $1.4 billion in sinkhole claims, according to the Insurance Journal. Call an experienced Tampa sinkhole lawyer today if you are the victim of a sinkhole or collapse.

Sinkholes Form In Karst Topography Due to Nature and Human Activity

Sinkholes form due to human-induced reasons as well as naturally. Tampa’s bedrock is karst. Karst is a geological term used to describe rock that can be dissolved and carried away by rainwater, which is slightly acidic in nature. With time, rainwater pools and seeps through the bedrock, slowly eating away and dissolving it. Cracks form. Then tiny tunnels. Then small voids and caves. Eventually the cavern becomes so large that the groundcover can no longer hold itself up, and the collapse or sinkhole occurs. Heavy rainfall may bring about a sinkhole collapse, as well as heavy rain following a drought. Additionally, human activity and overdevelopment can cause sinkholes. These human-caused sinkholes arise from salt mining, excessive groundwater withdrawal for irrigation, and cover collapses along roadways where water is frequently flushed into the soil, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. No matter the cause, if you have experienced home damage due to a sinkhole, contact The Pendas Law Firm today at 1-844-200-0000. Our Tampa sinkhole lawyers will help you throughout each step of your case.

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  • “I can’t express how much I appreciate this law firm. I had the honor to deal with attorney Daniel. He kept me updated on my case. I couldn’t ask for a better law firm. Daniel fought for me til the end and got me what I deserved. Thanks Daniel and your team for always being there to answer any of my questions. If I ever need a law firm again...”

    Terry Mcphillips
  • “Speedy & superb handling of clients & cases, kind & caring. Highly recommended professionals. They made everything very easy for us, were outgoing & polite. I would call them again if ever in need, rather than call the larger firms that need to advertise & brag about winnings…Pendas was a pleasant & more personal approach instead of...”

    Joseph Kestell
  • “Wow I called Pendas Law Firm the other day at their main intake line it was around 11 o’clock at night and I’ve got this wonderful representative his name was Jeffrey Alvarez. This guy was very professional and his compassion was out of this world I don’t know what I would do if I could not have got a hold of him...”

    Luis Sanchez
  • “Thank you for helping us in our time of need. This firm handled my father’s workers comp case, and helped us with every question we had, and we had a plenty. Thankful for the entire legal team!”

    Enilno Resu
  • “I just concluded a case with attorney Michael Sanchez and paralegal Camilo Lopez. I can only say they are exceptional. The customer service is unique, they have been battling alongside me since day 1. They are not only courteous and professional, but they also are amazing at their job. Thanks to them I got a great deal. I am glad I decided to use their services...”

    Israel Garcia
  • “Their attorneys are absolutely someone you want handling your car accident claim. They communicated with us promptly and thoroughly. I was very happy with our recovery. Already recommended them to others in the same circumstances, their staff speaks Spanish and you feel like in family.”

    Ian Brito
  • “Very Professional law firm. They explained to you every detail what to do according to the laws (worker’s compensation). Mr. Danilo Cruz is the best Lawyer and his team. They are very kind, friendly, responsible, I love this firm. They fight for their clients. AwesomeTeam!”

    Lau Rod