Foundation Damage Insurance Claims in Fort Lauderdale

Foundation damage is one of the most serious and costly property issues a Florida homeowner can face. In Fort Lauderdale, where the subtropical climate, high water table, and sandy soil create unique structural challenges, foundation problems are far more common than in other parts of the country. When your foundation fails, the damage extends throughout the entire structure — doors won't close properly, walls crack, floors slope, and the long-term integrity of your home is at risk. Understanding your rights under your homeowner's insurance policy is critical to recovering the compensation you deserve.

Why Foundation Damage Is Common in Fort Lauderdale

Broward County's geography creates conditions that accelerate foundation deterioration. Fort Lauderdale sits on porous limestone and sandy soil with a water table that frequently rises within just a few feet of the surface. This environment places unusual stress on residential and commercial foundations year-round.

• Soil erosion and settlement: Heavy rainfall from tropical storms washes away the soil supporting your slab, causing uneven settling and cracking.
• Hydrostatic pressure: Rising groundwater pushes against foundation walls and slabs, causing heaving, cracking, and water intrusion.
• Tree root intrusion: South Florida's aggressive root systems from palms, ficus, and oak trees frequently compromise slabs and footings.
• Sinkhole activity: Florida leads the nation in sinkhole occurrences. Broward County properties are not immune, particularly those near areas with karst limestone geology.
• Hurricane and storm surge damage: High winds and flooding from storms like Ian and Irma have caused significant foundation displacement throughout South Florida.

What Florida Homeowner's Insurance Typically Covers

Most standard homeowner's insurance policies issued in Florida are governed by Florida Statute § 627.706 through § 627.7074, which specifically addresses sinkhole coverage and catastrophic ground cover collapse. However, foundation damage coverage depends heavily on the cause of the damage, not merely the damage itself.

Florida policies generally cover foundation damage when it results from a sudden and accidental covered peril. This includes damage caused by fire, lightning, explosion, or the weight of ice and snow (rare in Fort Lauderdale, but relevant to policy language). More commonly in this region, coverage may apply when a hurricane, windstorm, or named storm directly causes structural displacement.

Florida law requires insurers to offer sinkhole coverage as an endorsement on residential policies. If you purchased this endorsement and your foundation damage is related to sinkhole activity — including compaction and raveling of soils — your insurer is obligated to conduct a professional geological investigation before denying your claim. Many insurers attempt to categorize sinkhole-related foundation damage as mere "settlement," which is typically excluded. This misclassification is one of the most common bad faith tactics used against policyholders in Broward County.

Common Reasons Insurance Companies Deny Foundation Claims

Insurers routinely deny foundation damage claims, and Fort Lauderdale homeowners are frequently on the receiving end of these denials. Understanding the most common denial justifications helps you challenge them effectively.

• Wear and tear exclusion: Insurers claim the damage accumulated over time through normal deterioration, rather than from a discrete covered event.
• Earth movement exclusion: Many policies exclude damage from soil expansion, contraction, or settling — even when those conditions were triggered by a covered storm event.
• Lack of sudden and accidental cause: Adjusters argue that visible foundation cracking developed gradually, placing the loss outside covered perils.
• Inadequate maintenance: Insurers allege that the homeowner failed to maintain proper drainage or address earlier warning signs, voiding coverage.
• Concurrent causation disputes: When both covered and excluded perils contribute to the damage, Florida's concurrent causation doctrine can support policyholder claims — but insurers frequently misapply anti-concurrent causation clauses to avoid payment.

A denial letter is not the end of the road. Under Florida law, you have specific rights to challenge a claim denial, including the right to invoke the appraisal process under Florida Statute § 627.7015 and to file a complaint with the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Steps to Take After Discovering Foundation Damage in Fort Lauderdale

Acting quickly and strategically after discovering foundation damage can significantly impact the outcome of your insurance claim. The steps you take in the first days matter enormously.

Document everything immediately. Take extensive photographs and video of all visible damage — cracks in walls, uneven flooring, sticking doors, gaps around window frames, and any exterior cracking at the foundation line. Timestamp your documentation and store copies in a secure location separate from your home.

Notify your insurer promptly. Florida policies require timely notice of loss. Delays in reporting can be used against you. Call your insurer and follow up in writing, creating a paper trail from the beginning.

Hire an independent engineer. Your insurer will send their own adjuster, whose interests are aligned with minimizing your payout. Retaining a licensed structural engineer or geotechnical expert independently ensures you have unbiased findings to counter low-ball assessments.

Request a complete copy of your policy. Review the declarations page, all endorsements, and the exclusions section carefully. Florida law entitles you to this documentation. Pay close attention to sinkhole coverage riders, anti-concurrent causation language, and any coverage limitations specific to your policy year.

Do not authorize permanent repairs before the claim is resolved. Emergency stabilization is appropriate to prevent further damage, and you should document this work thoroughly. However, permanent repairs made before the insurer inspects the damage can complicate or undermine your claim.

When to Involve a Property Insurance Attorney

Foundation claims are among the most technically complex and aggressively contested claims in Florida property insurance. Insurers invest heavily in engineers, adjusters, and legal teams whose job is to minimize payouts. Policyholders who attempt to navigate these disputes alone frequently accept far less than they are owed — or receive nothing at all.

An experienced property insurance attorney can conduct a full review of your policy and denial, retain qualified experts to challenge the insurer's findings, and, if necessary, pursue litigation or invoke the appraisal process on your behalf. Under Florida Statute § 627.428, if your insurer wrongfully denies or underpays your claim, you may be entitled to recover attorney's fees and costs in addition to your covered damages. This provision is a powerful tool that levels the playing field for Fort Lauderdale homeowners.

If your insurer is engaging in unreasonable claim delays, misrepresenting policy provisions, or refusing to conduct the sinkhole investigation required by law, these actions may constitute insurance bad faith under Florida Statute § 624.155, exposing the insurer to additional damages beyond the policy limits.

Foundation damage does not resolve itself, and neither do disputed insurance claims. The sooner you understand your legal options, the better positioned you are to protect your property and your financial recovery.

Need Help? If you have questions about your case, call or text 833-657-4812 for a free consultation with an experienced attorney.

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