Construction Defects In Los Angeles
The construction defect attorneys practicing at the Los Angeles law firm of Hamrick & Evans LLP litigate construction defect cases on behalf of general contractors, subcontractors and developers. Construction is ongoing on the West coast so oftentimes manufacturers are quick to mass produce or architects are sloppy in their blueprints and that can result in defects in materials and design, respectively. We are well versed in this particular area of law and will fight to protect your legal rights.
What is a Construction Defect?
A construction defect occurs when there is a defect in the physical shape of a building. The value of the building can decrease not to mention the risk of injury or accident to the dwellers of a building sustaining a construction defect. There are two types of construction defects and they are:
- Patent – these defects are immediately obvious such as protruding nails or peeling/chipping paint.
- Latent – these defects usually don’t show up until years after the structure has been build; include cracking, excessive pests/insects or mold.
Construction defects are classified by the courts to fall into four deficiency categories and they are:
- Design - related to the architectural or basic engineering design of the structure; occur if designed outside of code; can result in leaking water, insufficient drainage or subpar structural support.
- Material – use of substandard building materials; could be manufacturer’s negligence; can result in mold.
- Construction – inferior craftsmanship on behalf of laborers; includes electrical and plumbing problems.
- Subsurface – issues resulting from soil conditions; can lead to excessive shifting, flooding, cracking or landslides.
The process of constructing a building of any size, either a single family home or a large commercial structure, entails a vast amount of planning and designing and the inclusion of construction professionals from many parts of the industry. The old saying “too many cooks in the kitchen” may very well apply when a subcontractor is utilizing building materials from a manufacturer that may be of substandard quality or is building the structure from an architect’s design that didn’t follow code.
The experienced Los Angeles construction attorneys practicing at Hamrick & Evans understand the intricacies of construction defects and will represent you if you have been accused of negligence in a lawsuit. The defect, whether it’s subsurface, design, material or construction based, may not have been your fault. You deserve to have your legal rights and your professional reputation protected.
We welcome the opportunity to offer you the legal options relative to your construction defect suit. Additionally, we can be contacted via email or by completing our quick web form.
