Jeff Bush was asleep in his Florida home when a giant sinkhole opened under his bedroom. The 37-year-old man is presumed dead in this very unfortunate accident, Reuters reports. But can anyone sue over this sinkhole? Or was it simply a freak accident for which no one is to blame?

It doesn’t happen often, but sinkholes have been known to form and cause massive damage. This is especially true in parts of Florida. (In fact, another sinkhole has now opened up just two miles from Bush’s home, Tampa’s WTSP-TV reports.)

When sinkholes form, property owners and injured victims can potentially file lawsuits under several theories of liability. Depending on the circumstances, these can include:

Deaths caused by sinkholes are rare. It is much more common to experience property damage or monetary loss when sinkholes form. If that happens to you, you may want to contact an experienced attorney to learn about your options for collecting damages.

Related Resources:

  • Homeowners responsible for property damages if sinkholes occur (Tampa Bay Online)
  • What Do State Laws Say About Sinkholes? (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life)
  • Sinkhole opens up in Florida front yard (FindLaw’s KnowledgeBase)

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