Construction Law Attorney Rockville, MD

Construction Law Attorney

When a property owner in Maryland hires a contractor to perform work – whether that work involves remodeling an existing structure or building a new one – the property owner has a reasonable expectation that the work that the contractor will be doing is up to building code standards. The owner should also be able to have the reasonable expectation that the materials the contractor uses are also up to standard. Unfortunately, that is not always the case and many property owners find the need to turn to a construction law attorney in Rockville, MD.

Construction Law Attorney Rockville, MD

• Construction Law Attorney
• Common Construction Work Defects
• Rockville Construction Law Attorney Infographic
• Recovering Damages
• If a Contractor Breaks Your Home
• When Problems Occur on the Job
• Understanding Home Construction Contracts
• The Basics of Getting Compensation From a Contractor or Subcontractor
• Practical Issues in Construction Law – The Maryland State Bar Association
• Contact Rockville Construction Law Firm
• FAQ: Why You Need a Construction Law Attorney
• Contact Our Law Firm Today
• Law Office Of Daniel Wright
• Rockville Construction Law Attorney Google Reviews

Common Construction Work Defects

When a building contractor cuts corners by not following building code requirements or using sub-par materials, the results can be catastrophic, often causing safety hazards for the property owner, leaving their home a living nightmare unsuitable to occupy.

• Broken or cracked concrete walls, foundations, walkways, etc.
• Building code violations
• Damaged, failing, or sub-par foundation
• Defective or faulty electrical wiring
• Defective or faulty plumbing
• Doors not properly installed or damaged/defective
• Mold
• Roofs that leak and/or materials that blow off
• Siding that is broken, inferior quality, or does not meet building code requirements
• Significant number of cosmetic defects in wood trimming (window trim, door trim, baseboards, etc.)
• Sub-par materials used for a driveway or failing to meet code with grading
• Use of synthetic stucco
• Warranty violations
• Windows and/or window trim not properly installed or lesser quality windows than what the property owner paid for

Rockville Construction Law Attorney Infographic

Recovering Damages

If the issues are significant and dangerous, the property owner may not be able to live in the home until repairs are made. This can take months, if not even longer, depending on the damage done and the willingness of the contractor to address the problems. At our law firm, we know that far too many contractors fail to own up to their failures, making it necessary for the property owner to hire a Rockville, MD construction law attorney and take legal action.

There are a number of damages a property owner may be able to pursue against the contractor, including the cost of repairs if the owner had to hire someone else to make the repairs because the contractor was unwilling or unable to address the defects, as well as any expenses the property incurred if they had to live somewhere else while all these repairs were being made.

If a Contractor Breaks Your Home

It can be a nightmare for homeowners when work that’s supposed to fix or improve their home instead damages it. If you believe you’re a victim of contractor fraud, don’t hesitate to take action against him or her. It’s very important to understand your legal rights and to know exactly what type of compensation is available to you. Take steps immediately to protect yourself from further damage and make sure your family has a safe place to live. Don’t suffer in silence: Have a construction law attorney evaluate your claim today!

When Problems Occur on the Job

When problems occur on a construction job, you must know your rights and how to work with contractors. Contractors should be willing to fix any construction issues that arise but may not always fulfill their end of the contract. If something happens on your job that is not up to code or fails to meet certain criteria, you can file a lawsuit against those responsible for damages. Know when it’s time to take legal action and how an attorney can help protect your rights during construction litigation. When hiring a contractor, make sure they’re registered with local authorities. Insist on seeing documentation proving they have insurance coverage before signing any contracts or paying any deposits.

Understanding Home Construction Contracts

The first step is to understand construction contracts. When you hire a contractor, they will present you with a contract that details their duties, what materials and equipment they’ll use and how much time it will take to complete work. Even if you have hired contractors in the past, double-check what you’re signing; nothing is worse than being saddled with a half-finished project or having one that doesn’t meet your vision. Once you’ve read through your contract and checked off all of its provisions, don’t sign without getting answers to any questions or concerns. This can save you from costly headaches later on down the road.  If you are still unsure about your contract, consult an attorney before proceeding. If you’re worried about missing out on any information while going over paperwork, remember that many companies offer online versions of their contracts so that clients can review them at home. That way, when you do sit down for a face-to-face meeting with your contractor, there won’t be any confusion over terms or surprises when it comes time to sign. It also makes sure there aren’t last minute changes made once everything has been agreed upon.

The Basics of Getting Compensation From a Contractor or Subcontractor

If a subcontractor damaged your property or failed to complete a project as promised, you should contact an attorney. Contractors and subcontractors are liable for damages caused by their own negligence. As in any other case involving negligence, there are two ways that you can get compensation for damages: (1) breach of contract or (2) tort law. In most cases, it is easier to prove breach of contract than it is to prove liability under tort law. To recover money from a contractor or subcontractor who has breached his/her contract with you, you must show that he/she failed to perform according to what was agreed upon in writing. To recover money from a contractor or subcontractor under tort law, you must show that he/she was negligent when performing his/her work on your property and as a result, caused damage. The elements of proof required under each theory will be different depending on whether it is an oral agreement between parties or whether it is written down in contracts and sub-contracts. If you are facing these issues, contact us today!

Practical Issues in Construction Law – The Maryland State Bar Association

• “Before a trier of fact may consider the merits of a construction claim, a defendant may raise threshold technical and/or procedural defenses”
• “Such defenses typically allege that a plaintiff has failed to fulfill a legal or contractual prerequisite to proceeding with its claim.”
• “Alternatively, a defendant may assert that a plaintiff has somehow waived its right to an adjudication of its claim on the merits.”

Read more on the Practical Issues in Construction Law from The Maryland State Bar Association

4 Steps To Take After An Unfinished Construction Job

When you hire a contractor or company to do construction work on your property and they do not finish the job, this can be, at best, annoying. At worst, it can be devastating, completely throw off the timeline of your project, and waste thousands of dollars. When you are dealing with a construction company that is not fulfilling its end of the bargain, what can you do? 

Top 4 Steps To Take When Dealing With Unfinished Work

If there is unfinished contracted work and you are looking for reasonable steps to take with your contractor, read on. 

• Speak with your contractor. Does this seem like an obvious step? Perhaps. However, one of the best things you can do is have an open conversation with your contractor. Maybe they did not understand the same scope of work that you were planning on. Maybe there was a delay in receiving items on their end. There are certain cases where this may be the only step you need to take. 

• Be persistent. If it seems intentional that they are not fixing their work, a Rockville construction law attorney recommends you continue to reach out to them and gather your evidence. This may include signed contracts, emails, text messages, and receipts. Take pictures of the job site and jot down what they were supposed to complete and what is still left for them to finish. 

• Make your decision. This may be best to do with the help of your lawyer. There are a few things you could do at this point if the contractor has not finished the job. You could work with them to have the job completed and successfully end your contract with them. You could have them repay you a certain amount of the money and mutually leave the contract. Or, you could work with your lawyer to draft a new contract with different terms that you both agree on. 
• File a lawsuit against them. If you have gone through all of the above steps and none of them are getting you to an appropriate resolution, it is time to speak with your lawyer about taking the contractor to court. While mediation is often a solid tactic, sometimes going to court is the best way to get your money back. This is typically a solid option if your contracting work is especially expensive and the project is large. 

Get Legal Help When Your Construction Contractor Won’t Finish the Job

Working with a construction contractor who is not willing to complete the job can be extremely frustrating, especially when you are ready to move on. You should not let this get in the way of your project. For more information on what steps to take when you are dealing with a construction contractor who will not finish your project, reach out to a trusted Rockville construction law attorney now from The Law Office of Daniel J. Wright. 

Contact Rockville Construction Law Firm

FAQ: Why You Need a Construction Law Attorney

Have you ever wondered whether or not you need an attorney to help with issues that come up in your construction project? The answer to this question will depend on the complexity of your project, the state that you’re in, and whether or not your contract has a dispute resolution clause within it. If you want to know more about why you might want to hire an attorney, check out our FAQ below.

Do I even need an attorney?

Of course, you can always handle your own legal issues. However, there are plenty of situations where hiring an attorney is vital to protecting your rights and business. For example, if you’re being sued by a subcontractor for nonpayment on services or products, you may need to hire an attorney who can make sure that all of your legal bases are covered. After all, if you’re just not familiar with construction law, chances are good that many other details will be overlooked and ultimately hurt your case or project down the road. With that in mind, it’s often best to take advantage of attorneys who have experience in construction law and know how to present your case effectively with little effort on your part.

What can they do for me?

It is often easy to find yourself in a situation where you are having trouble with your subcontractors or with others involved in your project. For starters, construction law attorneys can help you avoid some of those issues. Having an attorney there for you as early as possible can save you from running into trouble down the road. In addition, if you do end up getting into any legal disputes, it’s helpful to have someone on your side who is well-versed in dealing with them and knows how to protect your interests while keeping costs down.

How much experience do they have?

Experience matters with every construction attorney. Every case is different, and you want an attorney who knows how to handle your situation with both experience and nuance. Hiring a seasoned lawyer is important for keeping costs down and for minimizing risks on all sides of any dispute. It also means that they’ll be able to handle more complex situations as they arise, because they’ve seen everything before — it’s just a matter of applying what they already know to your unique case. Remember, too, that experience means their staff has more cases under their belt. And that can spell the difference between having your questions answered right away or having to wait through multiple layers of screening before finally getting in touch with someone knowledgeable enough to answer your questions fully and accurately.

What if I never want to build again?

It’s important to have some understanding of construction law. Even if you never plan on building anything again, knowing construction law will allow you to evaluate what other people are doing and spot potential issues. It also means that if you do decide to build something in the future, you’ll be more aware of potential legal problems (and how to avoid them). And that can save both time and money in unexpected ways. We handle construction-related matters all day long — for builders and contractors, vendors, and homeowners alike. Just because we don’t build houses doesn’t mean we’re not capable of helping with construction law issues! Contact us today for more information.

What Do I Need to Bring to My First Meeting?

If you have problems after starting the construction of your new business or home, it’s important to bring along all the information you can to your first meeting with a Rockville, MD construction law attorney in your area. With so many different laws involved in this process and such massive amounts of paperwork, it can be difficult to know what you need to bring along and what you don’t need to worry about yet. Here are five things you should always bring with you to your first meeting with an attorney specializing in construction law; once you have these items together, contact the Law Office of Daniel J. Wright for help.

1) A List of All the People Involved in the Project

If you are working on a project with a lot of people, it is important to let the attorney know who all the players are. Bring a list of everyone involved in the project so that you can protect yourself and your interests. Even if you know that not everyone on that list caused issues with your project, their information will still be pertinent to the case, and your attorney may choose to contact them for more information. It’s a good idea to also separate your list to show who you know caused the problems versus who did not.

2) Do You Have The Contract for the Project?

This is a very important document that outlines the general terms of the project. The contract should include what work is to be done, how it will be completed, the duration of the project, and any other details agreed upon by both parties. After negotiating these details, you should have an agreement in writing to review with your attorney before signing. If you feel that any point of this contract has been violated, it’s important to contact a Rockville construction law attorney immediately for help.

3) Do You Have All Communications Related to the Project?

Gather together all the communications you have had related to your construction project — if you have text messages, bring your phone but also bring screenshots to give to your attorney. If you have voicemails, it is helpful to transcribe them and create a log to show their timeline. Even if you spoke with someone on the phone briefly, it’s helpful to have a list of all the times you spoke with your contractor. Beyond that, bring copies of any emails or receipts you have received.

4) Do You Have Photos or Videos of the Project?

If you have been taking consistent videos and photos of the construction as it has progressed, bring those images to your meeting. If you do not have those, that is fine. Take photos and videos of the parts of the project that have gone wrong so you can show your attorney what the problem is. Construction law attorneys are typically good at explaining legal jargon in a way that is easy to understand, so don’t be afraid to ask questions!

5) Do You Have Any Other Relevant Documentation?

The most important thing you need to bring to a meeting with an attorney is your personal information and documentation. Bring your driver’s license, social security card, birth certificate, marriage license, divorce decree, military discharge papers and any other pertinent information (the types of papers you bring will depend upon your case — this list is not comprehensive nor will it apply to each person with a construction case). You will also want to bring any paperwork related to the case or legal issue at hand that you can provide to the attorney. This may include contracts, financial records, receipts or anything else that is relevant. If you have photos of property damage or injuries then be sure to bring those as well. Finally make sure you have money for retainer fees on hand in order to begin working with the attorney.

If you have encountered an issue, contact a Rockville construction law attorney at the Law Office of Daniel J. Wright for help today.

Contact Our Law Firm Today

If you have been the victim of a shady or incompetent contractor who failed to meet the obligations he or she had with you, you may be able to take legal action against that contractor. Call The Law Office of Daniel J. Wright today to schedule a free and confidential consultation with a dedicated Rockville, MD construction law attorney and find out what legal recourse you may have. Do not delay since there is a statute of limitations that is imposed in these types of cases.

Law Office Of Daniel Wright

20 Courthouse Sq UNIT 212, Rockville, MD 20850

Rockville Construction Law Attorney Google Reviews

“Mr. Wright is the best lawyer. He is very polite, professional and down to earth. He goes above and beyoned for his clients. When you have a case, please don’t hire other lawyers without talking to Mr. Wright. He’s available 24 hrs. 7 days week to answer your questions. I would recommend him to family and friends.” – Aem T.