Personal Injury Law

Sinkhole Damage for Tennessee Residents: What to Do Now?

Many of us across the country and even right here in Tennessee have been experiencing sinkholes and sinkhole damage due to recent storms and flooding. This has left many residents of Tennessee sad, scared, and confused not knowing where to turn or what to do next. Well, if you have sinkhole damage, you may be entitled to compensation if your case is heard by an experienced and caring sinkhole damage attorney at the Higgins Firm, but first there are some steps that needed to be taken before a case can be made.

First, it is important to know what sinkhole damage looks like because many other things can cause soil and structure damage besides just sinkholes. The most common signs of sinkhole damage include but are not limited to:
? Cracks in windows or doors
? Cracks in exterior blocks or to the foundation
? Windows and doors are harder to close
? Depressions or soft spots in your yard or nearby yards
? Deep cracks in the pavement
? Dying plants in circular patterns
? Actual signs of a cavity opening in the ground

Once you have determined that you most likely are suffering from damages due to a sinkhole, you should contact your insurance company and they will see if further investigation is needed. If an actual sinkhole starts to form, it is recommended that you close off the area with rope and contact your insurance company right away. After your insurance company determines that you do have sinkhole damage, a professional will be called to do testing for the sinkhole and its damage. This may take a few days to complete. After the testing is completed, your insurance company will provide you with a report about the findings. If this is sinkhole activity, then it is the insurance company?s job to determine what they will do and how they will handle your claim. Finally, if you do not agree with the report or the insurance company about your sinkhole claim, then you can hire an experienced and caring Tennessee sinkhole damage attorney to help you.

Full post as published by Tennessee Law Blog on June 07, 2010 (boomark / email).