Construction law covers legal issues related to construction, including building codes, contracts, liability, and litigation. It is a civil law area, and attorneys can assist with contract management and dispute resolution. Building codes increase safety and standardize construction practices, while contractors may need bonds or insurance to cover them in case of lawsuits. Government officials can issue fines for safety violations.
Construction law is an area of law that discusses the legal issues that arise in association with construction, ranging from contracting for building services to recovering debts owed to contractors. It’s an area of civil law, which means that lawbreakers can face lawsuits and fines, but not criminal penalties. There may be instances where civil and criminal law intersect on construction sites, such as when activities such as theft occur during construction.
This area of law is very large and many nations have a plethora of laws that discuss building issues. One area of building law is the building code, which sets legal requirements and standards for builders. Building codes increase safety by making sure people install plumbing, electrical, and other fixtures consistently and safely. It also standardizes construction practices, making it easier to build and repair. Government inspectors can enforce building codes and obtain permits for many types of construction.
Construction law also includes contract law. Construction workers are often in a unique position when it comes to the products and services they provide. Unlike other companies, they can’t seize property for non-payment, as it’s difficult to do something like tear down a building when the landlord doesn’t pay the contract. Contractors resort to liens like they can put on real estate to force people to pay their bills.
There are also substantial liability issues in construction, including site liability, as well as legal liability for substandard work. Contractors usually need bonds or insurance to cover them in the event of a lawsuit being brought against them and can be taken to court for anything from failing to perform a contract as required to negligent behavior and endangering health and safety of the workers. Government officials can also issue fines for safety violations such as workers not wearing aerial work harnesses or maintaining unsafe working conditions.
Construction law attorneys can assist people in litigation related to construction matters. Some firms may maintain a permanent legal team on staff to assist in contract management and dispute resolution before they reach court. Others may need to periodically hire an attorney to provide legal advice, assistance, and representation in court. Attorneys practicing construction law must be familiar with a range of legal topics to work effectively and can be highly paid when representing large companies, especially those with substantial contracts with large corporations and government agencies.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
