What Are the Most Common Legal Construction Disputes?

It’s probably not surprising that there are a lot of legal disputes surrounding the construction industry. Whether it’s a contract issue, or a problem with the quality of the work, the issues can sometimes feel endless when you’re dealing with work in the construction field. In this post, we will share the most common legal disputes and offer guidance as to when it might be a good idea to hire a construction dispute lawyer in Stuart, Fl .

1 .  Contract Disputes

Contract disputes are quite prevalent in the construction industry. Many potential issues can arise in terms of contract breaches. One of the most frequent contract disputes is when a client believes that the builder hasn’t finished the work on time. Despite a contract that spells out clearly an agreed-upon timeline, the work goes on well past that deadline. This can be problematic for many reasons. 

Other than the fact that there is an agreement that isn’t being adhered to, it might cause serious issues with a person’s housing. Suppose someone has found accommodations for housing during the time of the construction. In that case, they might end up not having a stable place to live if the contractor doesn’t finish on time. 

On the other hand, if a builder rushes a project simply to meet a deadline, that also isn’t ideal either. When work is rushed, it’s much more likely that mistakes will be made. It’s also possible that you hired someone to do work for your business that can’t open until the work is complete. 

When a contract is breached and the contractor doesn’t complete the work on time, this can create huge problems, including significant stress and substantial financial loss.

2 .  Construction Defect Claims

This claim arises when the work completed is not satisfactory and the quality is not what was agreed to or expected. There are two types of common construction defect claims, patent and latent. 

A patent issue is one that is obvious and readily apparent. A latent issue is something less obvious that the client may not be aware of right away. 

The latent matters can be especially problematic because they usually become an issue after the work is already completed. Trying to get a contractor to fix something once they’ve already moved onto another project can be very difficult. 

Some of the most common latent issues include insufficient foundation, using under-strength materials, and defective water proofing, which often leads to serious water damage and mold. If something like that arises, it’s probably your best bet to get help from a professional. If you’re looking for a construction dispute lawyer in Stuart, Fl, Crary Buchanan is always available to help.   

3 .  Code Violations

Code violations are in a category similar to construction defect claims. When you hire a contractor, it’s his or her job to make sure that everything he does follows the proper code regulations. If they’ve spent time building or installing something and it doesn’t pass an inspection, problems can arise. Sometimes contractors don’t want to spend the extra time and money fixing the mistake even though they’re the ones who caused it. 

Code violations are some of the most serious issues a building contractor has to deal with, so it’s crucial to make sure you have an experienced lawyer on your side if this type of problem occurs.

4 .  Design Negligence

When hiring a contractor, it’s important to be very detailed about your expectations regarding design. If the design isn’t up to par, then it is inevitable that you will be unhappy with the final product, especially if there was an explicit agreement about a particular plan. If the final result is wrong, it can lead to severe problems and defects in the construction, not just a dislike of how the project turned out.

5 .  Disputes Over Payment 

No matter how detailed your contract is, it’s always possible that there will be disputes over payments. This can occur if you end up with a dishonest contractor or if there is more work needed than initially thought.

Some professionals are better than others, but it’s likely that no matter how good and honest they are, some type of dispute will come up. Having a legal professional to talk to before it gets out of hand can be very beneficial. 

Construction disputes can take a long time to resolve, and there can be significant costs, especially if the situation needs to be resolved in court. If you’re in a dispute that can’t be resolved without outside help, or you think a conflict may spiral out of control in the near future, you will want to find a construction dispute lawyer in Stuart, FL. If you’re not sure what to do, please reach out to us at Crary Buchanan.

Crary Buchanan is a general practice law firm dedicated to providing quality legal services in the state of Florida. Our lawyers have significant legal experience in practically every major area of law, and most of our associates are Board Certified by the Florida Bar in their areas of expertise. That breadth of legal experience, coupled with years of history in our community, means Crary Buchanan attorneys are miles above the rest. 

 If you have more questions or want a dedicated construction dispute lawyer in Stuart, FL, to help you, call 772-287-2600 or schedule a free consultation online with our  easy to use contact form  . We have successfully resolved hundreds of disagreements involving legal construction disputes over the years and can boast of many satisfied clients. You can always depend on Crary Buchanan for our honesty, hard work, experience, and trust. Call today. 

The information in this blog post is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal advice. You should not decide whether or not to contact an attorney based upon the information in this blog post. No attorney-client relationship is formed, nor should any such relationship be implied. If you require legal advice, please consult with an attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.

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