When you hire an individual contractor or a construction company for a building or to repair your property, you expect them to do high-quality work. Also, you want the construction company to respect your property.
However, sometimes, a construction company might do shoddy work that causes immediate and long-term damage to your property. Even if you hired a construction company with an excellent reputation, accidents happen.
So what happens when a contractor or a construction company damages your property? Will they pay for repairs? Does your home insurance cover those repairs? Or will you pay for these repairs out of pocket?
Construction delays are another concern when people hire a contractor or construction company. If that happens to be on your mind these days, click this link to learn more about suing my contractor for delays.
Who Covers Repair Expenses?
If a construction company damages your property, first raise the issue with them and inquire how they would like to rectify the situation. They just might handle the problem to your satisfaction without being pushed to do so.
Assuming you hired a licensed construction company or contractor, under Virginia state law, they must have insurance. A reputable construction company will either pay for the damage themselves or file a claim with their insurance provider. This means you need not worry about additional expenses.
However, if the construction company refuses to address the issue, you might have to resolve the matter in small claims court. Most cases can be resolved in small claims court without legal representation.
You may only need to hire an attorney if the property damage is higher than the limit for small claims cases in Virginia, which is $5,000. Click this link to learn more about the options you have when your contractor steals property.
What Insurance Coverage Pays For Damages To My Property?
Which insurance coverage pays for the damage to your property largely depends on the type of damages, your homeowners’ insurance policy, and what caused the damages. For instance, damages from an actual accident, such as a fire or water damage, caused by a construction company or contractor are covered while poor workmanship might not be.
Your homeowners’ insurance provider could pay for property damage in the following instances:
- Accident coverage: This is part of most homeowners’ insurance policies, and it normally kicks in when a construction company damages a home. This coverage pays for the exact damages caused by accidents, including water damage, fires, and structural damages.
- Property damage coverage: It’s essential to note that there’s a difference between shoddy or unsightly work and actual damage to your property caused by that work; your insurance provider only covers the damage caused by the work. For example, if your wall is built poorly and is cracking, your homeowners’ insurer won’t pay for that damage unless there’s resulting damage to the structure or property. Therefore, you don’t have a valid claim for property damage if that cracked wall caused no damage.
- The damages are within your insurance policy limits: It’s essential to be familiar with your homeowners’ insurance coverage before hiring a construction company to do any work on your property. That’s because many homeowners’ insurance policies cover damages during a property remodel, but don’t cover damages that occur from an additional or an individual project. Consider increasing your coverage before construction starts if that would give you greater peace of mind.
Why You Should Hire An Experienced Lawyer
Suing a contractor can help you get the compensation you deserve to cover damages to your property. Unfortunately, insurance providers are often hesitant to pay claimants anything, and they may pay you far less than you deserve. They may even deny your property damage claim outright.
When there are two insurance providers involved—your homeowners’ insurance and the construction company’s insurance, recovering financial damages may be delayed because these insurance companies may engage in a back-and-forth dispute about who owes what.
When you hire a Virginia construction fraud attorney who has extensive experience in insurance law and contractor and homeowners’ insurance claims, you increase the chances of recovering fair compensation.
Your lawyer will know which insurance company to file a claim against for the losses incurred. Also, your attorney will know how much your insurance claim is worth, and will advise you on the legal options available. Furthermore, an experienced attorney can help you negotiate for fair compensation.
Contact Our Virginia Law Offices Today For Legal Advice!
Our Virginia construction fraud lawyers are well-versed in construction defects claims and have decades of experience successfully pursuing financial damages on behalf of our clients. For a free case review, contact our Virginia law office today at 888-402-7117.