Experienced Litigators. Dedicated Advocates.

Experienced Litigators.
Dedicated Advocates.

Pursing compensation when construction defects occur

On Behalf of | Jun 16, 2017 | Civil Litigation

You paid good money to have an addition added on to your home. Now, you have noticed mold, bugs and other things that make you feel that the job was done improperly. In fact, the damage may be widespread enough to affect how much your home is worth.

Construction defects like this can happen for a number of reasons. For instance, the construction company may have been negligent or the building materials may have been defective. With obvious defects like yours, it’s easier to show what went wrong to the contractors to try to get it repaired or to recover your losses.

What can you do to prove a construction defect in court?

In your case, the mold, bugs and other signs of a defect are out in the open. You can take photographs or videos of the damage. These damages are called patent damages because they are obvious. If there are other hidden damages, they are called latent. The difference is that you may not know about latent defects for many years, since they’re hidden inside the walls of the home.

To win a case like yours, it’s a good idea to call experts who can testify on your behalf. Try to work with someone who specializes in the type of construction you had done on your home. This person should come to you home to investigate and then tell you what kinds of things can be done to repair or replace what has been damaged.

Do you have to go to court over a construction defect?

Not always. Some companies will settle quickly out of court given the opportunity. It is possible you may need to go to court if it’s not clear who is responsible for the defects or if the company does not want to settle.

Your attorney can help you understand more about construction defects and the process you’ll need to follow to recover damages. Your home is an important investment, and it is your right to pursue compensation.

Photo of Attorney Phillip A. Geigle

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