The Advantages of Using a Los Angeles Construction Defect Lawyer
If you live in one of the five counties that make up the Greater Los Angeles Area, and you have discovered faults in your property which may be attributable to the negligence of the constructor who built it, it is advisable that you discuss your entitlement to compensation with a construction defect lawyer in Los Angeles.
There are many providers of legal advice advertising their services throughout California, but few will have the experience of historical LA building codes – the codes that were in force at the time your property was constructed – and this could make the difference between successfully claiming compensation – or not.
A Los Angeles construction defect lawyer will be able to establish whether you have a claim for compensation for property faults which is worth your while to pursue and, if so, the procedures that have to be completed before litigation can commence.
Construction defect laws in Los Angeles are far from straightforward. In order for your claim to be settled for the maximum amount possible – and to get you back in your home in the shortest time possible – it is always recommended that you speak with a construction defect lawyer in Los Angeles as soon as possible.
A Brief Guide to Construction Defect Laws in Los Angeles
The current Building Code and construction defect laws in Los Angeles are based upon the Californian process for claiming compensation for property faults, and claims for compensation follow the same requirements and processes – most notably the “Right to Repair Act” (SB 800) and the “Calderon Process” (officially known as the “Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act”)
The difference between the two pieces of legislation is that the “Right to Repair Act” is most usually used when claiming compensation for property faults in an individual dwelling, while the “Calderon Process” applies to claims for compensation made by a Property Owners Association when homes in the same development have developed the same or similar faults.
The construction defect laws in Los Angeles clearly define what constitutes a construction defect – categorizing the forty-five “functionality standards” into seven groups for ease of reference. These seven categories are:
- Construction defects which result in water intrusion
- Properties that suffer from structural issues
- Homes or common areas that suffer damage due to badly prepared soil
- Plumbing, sewerage and drainage defects
- Inadequate firewall protection in properties
- Faults due to deficiencies in the electrical system
- Other, non-categorized construction defects
If you have suffered a personal injury, if your property has been damaged or has lost some of its value due to a construction defect, you may be entitled to recover compensation for the property faults against the developer or builder of your home, the manufacturer of a faulty component of your home or the company that provided the building materials.
Claiming Compensation for Property Faults in Los Angeles
Depending on the nature of the damage to your property and its cause, a construction defect lawyer in Los Angeles will be able to guide you on the most appropriate process for claiming compensation for property faults; although it should be noted that the success of your claim may depend on whether there is an insurance policy against which to claim, and whether or not your claim falls within the relevant Statute of Limitations.
Insurance policies are usually put in place to protect homeowners from poor workmanship, faulty components and construction defects due to sub-standard design. There is usually a “time on risk” that the insurance policy covers construction defaults and insurance carriers often include exclusions in their policies to prevent paying compensation when a construction defect could not have been foreseen.
There may also be problems with the recovery of compensation if the insurance carrier of the general constructor (against whom claims are most frequently made) is unable to recover funds from the insurance company of a negligent sub-contractor who was responsible for the construction defect. A construction defect lawyer in Los Angeles will be able to ascertain if there is likely to be an insurance issue with the recovery of compensation for property faults.
A Los Angeles construction defects lawyer will also be able to advise you on the time limits that exist in which to make your claim. These vary according to the nature of the damage and whether they could have been reasonably spotted at the time the license of habitation was issued. For guidance purposes only, these Statutes of Limitations are as follow:
Noise transmission and irrigation system claims – 1 year
Claims for defective wood posts and wooden framing – 2 years
Defective steel fences and claims for other exterior metalwork – 4 years
Claims for certain types of painting (subject to normal wear and tear) – 5 years
According to the construction defect laws in Los Angeles most other types of property damage have a ten-year Statute of Limitations. However, it is always in your best interests to discuss the current construction defect laws in Los Angeles with a construction defect lawyer to make sure you have the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Speak with a Construction Defect Lawyer in Los Angeles
To enable homeowners who discover construction defects to claim compensation for compensation for property faults, we have set up a claims assessment hotline which you are invited to call and speak directly to a construction defect lawyer in Los Angeles.
Our claims assessment hotline enables you to receive practical advice about claiming compensation for property faults and whether you qualify for compensation under the construction defect laws in Los Angeles. Irrespective of whether you are enquiring on your own behalf, or on behalf of a Property Owners Association, our Los Angeles construction defect lawyer will be able to expertly guide you through the complexity of claiming compensation for property faults in Los Angeles.
Disclaimer: Please note that the content of this article has been compiled as a guide only. It is not intended to replace the services of a construction defect lawyer in Los Angeles, and nothing in this article should be interpreted as legal advice or a plaintiff-lawyer relationship. Always get legal advice about construction defect laws in Los Angeles from a construction defect lawyer.