Doing construction in a tight urban space can be tough, with very little space for moving people and heavy equipment around. It’s also tricky because demolition, digging, wrecking, and other jobs are all happening in close proximity to existing structures.

These situations carry the potential to cause serious damage to neighboring buildings and properties. That’s why most building departments require developers and construction companies to submit plans for how they intend to work without causing damage.

When these plans go awry, and you suffer damage from adjacent construction, you may want to contact an attorney to see if you are owed money.

What To Do When Your Property Is Damaged

Not all developers and construction crews are careful about protecting neighboring property, and even the best and most scrupulous of them will sometimes make mistakes. These mistakes can have serious consequences. Poorly handled demolition, excavation, and underpinning activity can cause neighboring buildings to shift, crack, lean, or even collapse.

When a neighboring property is damaged, the building codes are very clear about who is responsible in most cases. The developer bears the burden of making sure that their work doesn’t damage neighboring properties, and they are required to compensate the owners of neighboring properties if damage does occur.

If your property is damaged by adjacent construction, you should immediately take steps to strengthen a case for compensation:

• Notify the owner and developer of the site where construction is taking place, along with their insurance company.
• Document damage to the building from adjacent construction by taking pictures.
• Hire a qualified engineer to inspect your property and properly assess the damage. (Ideally, you will be able to compare this assessment to a pre-construction survey.)
• Have a copy of your building's preconstruction survey and license agreement on hand.
• Contact an attorney and explain the situation.

Don’t Let Them Get Away With It

Property owners and developers often have tight budgets and ambitious timelines, so many of them won’t be motivated to compensate you for damages quickly. Some may even try to get out of paying you entirely.

Morgan & Morgan has been representing people whose property was damaged by adjacent construction for decades. We have recovered more than $9 billion for our clients, so our track record speaks for itself.

Our call center is open 24/7, and consultations are free. Call today to see if we can help you.