Compensation for Florida Commerical Sinkhole Damage
Case Result: Williams Law, P.A. Secures Settlement for Commercial Property Owner After Sinkhole Damage Claim Denial
At Williams Law, P.A., we recently secured a significant settlement for a Florida commercial property owner after their sinkhole damage insurance claim was wrongfully denied. Despite clear evidence of substantial structural damage and multiple expert reports confirming the presence of sinkhole activity, the insurance company initially refused to honor the policyholder’s legitimate claim.
Case Overview
- Location: Florida
- Incident: Significant structural damage due to sinkhole activity
- Initial Insurance Response: Claim denied, attributing damage to natural settling
- Final Settlement: $1,600,000
Insurance Company’s Denial: Ignoring Expert Evidence
Shockingly, the client’s insurance carrier denied the claim, arguing that the visible damages were allegedly caused by natural settling or other non-covered causes, not sinkhole activity. This denial came despite conclusive expert findings directly contradicting the insurer’s position.
The insurance company:
- Dismissed the validity of the client’s expert reports
- Downplayed the severity of the property damage
- Ignored the need for urgent structural stabilization
- Left the client vulnerable to escalating repair costs and potential business interruption
This bad-faith denial forced the client into a precarious situation, with mounting safety concerns and significant financial exposure.
Legal Strategy and Outcome
Upon engagement, Williams Law, P.A. took immediate and decisive action:
- Policy Analysis: Reviewed the insurance policy to confirm sinkhole damage coverage.
- Expert Collaboration: Engaged independent geotechnical and structural engineers to provide unbiased evaluations and detailed technical reports.
- Aggressive Negotiation: Presented compelling evidence of bad faith handling and policy violations to the insurer.
- Litigation Preparedness: Demonstrated readiness to take the case to court if necessary.
Through relentless advocacy, we compelled the insurance carrier to acknowledge the legitimate sinkhole claim and agree to a favorable settlement that fully compensated our client for structural repairs, remediation, and related losses.
Protecting the Property and Business
Thanks to the aggressive legal action taken by Williams Law, P.A., our client was able to:
- Fully stabilize and repair their commercial property
- Safeguard the safety of tenants and employees
- Avoid further business interruption and financial losses
- Hold their insurance company accountable for unfair claim practices
This case underscores the importance of working with an expert Florida property insurance claim lawyer when facing denied or underpaid claims, especially complex issues like sinkhole damage.