Burned By a contractor in arkansas? CALL LITTLE ROCK TRIAL LAWYERS
Dealing with a bad contractor can be overwhelming for any residential or commercial property owner, leading to unfinished work, poor craftsmanship, contract breaches, or property damage. As Arkansas' leading construction law attorneys, Little Rock Trial Lawyers fight to protect your rights, hold negligent contractors accountable, and recover the compensation you deserve. If a contractor damaged your property, contact us today for a consultation.
Get In Touch With Our Construction Defects Attorneys Today!
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How a Construction Negligence Lawyer Can Help Protect Your Property in Arkansas
When a contractor fails to deliver on their promises, leaving you with unfinished work, defects, or financial losses, Little Rock Trial Lawyers are here to fight for your rights. Our experienced construction litigation attorneys help residential and commercial property owners recover damages, enforce contracts, and hold negligent contractors accountable. We handle cases involving breach of contract, construction defects, fraud, and property damage, ensuring you get the justice and compensation you deserve.
A Good Contractor's Construction Checklist
Contractors must take affirmative steps to protect themselves from unreasonable expectations from owners.
The following are some basic tips:
Insist on written plans and specifications.
You are not a mind reader. Never take on an owner’s “vision” of what the project should look like upon completion. If your project does not merit an architectural drawing, draw out your plans including dimensions, types of materials to be used, etc. Make the owner authenticate the plans with a signature.
Insist and require a written contract.
At a minimum, your written contract should include warranties, notices required to file liens, payment information, dates for completion and the total cost of the project with clear monetary allowances and descriptions for items such as flooring, appliances, paint, etc.
Document any and all change orders.
Owners often see the progression of the project and request changes. Any changes should be in writing that describe the change and document any increased costs to the overall contract price. All change orders should reflect the owners’ signature prior to implementation.
Photo Document Your Daily Progress.
Alleged defects may be covered by sheetrock, etc. Be able to prove the quality of your work without costly tear outs.
Timely Respond to Owner Inquiries.
Uninformed owners are unhappy owners.
Keep Your Owner Informed.
Uninformed owners are unhappy owners. Make certain they understand problems incurred, delays and other issues you face with project completion.
Request a Punchlist.
After the project is completed, request, as your contract should require, a list of problems the owner has with the completed project. Make timely reparations.
Obtain Insurance.
Always have a policy of insurance that insures you for workers compensation and overall liability for job performance.
Sub Contractor Insurance.
Make sure your sub contractors produce proof of liability and worker’s compensation BEFORE they start the job.
Insist on a Written Contract With Sub Contractors.
Your sub contractors should guarantee their work in writing. They should sign a lien waiver before they are paid for their work.
Insist on Sub Contractors with appropriate licensing.
If you engage an unlicensed and uninsured sub contractor, you are probably liable for their conduct.
Know the Codes Applicable to Your Project.
Arkansas has adopted the International Residential Code and the International Building Code known as the Arkansas Fire Prevention Code. The international codes in turn adopt by reference many other specifications authored by other building trade entities. Arkansas also has a state plumbing and electrical code. Many local jurisdictions have adopted other uniform codes or specific ordinances that may apply to your project. As a general contractor, you are responsible for the proper code compliance of any sub contractors you employ on the Project.
The above is provided as general information and is not intended to be all inclusive of the laws that apply, or legal advice we would provide, to contractors. This information in no manner is intended to create an attorney client relationship by and between the readers of this material and Little Rock Trial Attorneys, PLLC or any of its employees. Contact our office for complete information and guidance for your business.
Understanding Construction Defects: Your Legal Rights as a Property Owner
As a residential or commercial property owner, you have the legal right to hold contractors accountable for breach of contract, negligence, or defective work. If you’ve been burned by a contractor, you may be entitled to repairs, financial compensation, or contract termination. Contractors must follow building codes, licensing laws, and warranties, and failure to do so can lead to legal action. Don’t let poor workmanship or unfinished projects cost you—protect your investment by consulting a construction litigation attorney today.
Get in touch with our Little Rock, Arkansas Construction Dispute Law Firm today at (501)239-5979.
Construction Cases in Arkansas
Checklist for Construction Cases
- Date construction began
- Name and address of the general contractor and all sub contractors
- Location of construction
- Alleged defects
- Name and address of architect or engineer
- Copy of any inspections by public agencies
- Total cash outlay on project to date
- Total contract price
- Is there any punch list to date
- Is the structure secure from theft, damage, etc.?
- Does general or sub contractors have insurance and if so, does the owner have copies of policies or dec pages?
- Is construction ongoing currently?
Document List to Provide
- Written contracts.
- Any and all invoices of any kind or nature.
- List of outstanding invoices, if any.
- Any and all photos or videos of the construction.
- List of all defects.
- Any and all texts, emails or written communications about the project between owner and any contractor or sub contractor.
- Copy of plans and specifications.
- Copies of any RFIs and/or ASI in response.
- Copies of all change orders, if any.
New 2025 Laws That Impact Residential Construction
Arkansas Code Annotated Title 4, Chapter 75, Subchapter 13 places an additional burden upon residence owners prior to initiating litigation against a contractor or material supplier.
Residence owners must provide 28 days written notice to any home improvement contractor, residential building contractor or supplier. The notice must contain sufficient detail that describes the construction defect claimed by the owner. The construction defect must have been found within one year of the project completion.
The contractor has 14 days after receipt of the notice to:
a) Accept the owner’s claim and offer a plan to remedy the defect;
b) Demand an inspection of the premises within a specified time frame;
c) Reject the claim
After an inspection, the contractor may:
a) Accept the owner’s claim and offer a plan to remedy the defect;
b) Reject the claim.
The owner may accept or reject the contractor’s plan to remedy the defect.
The following conditions must be met prior to filing litigation:
a) The contractor fails to respond to the owner’s notice;
b) The contractor fails to complete an accepted remedial plan accepted by the owner;
c) The contractor rejects the claim after receipt of the Notice;
d) The owner rejects the contractor’s remedial plan.
The above is provided as general information and is not intended to be all inclusive of the laws that apply, or legal advice we would provide, to contractors or owners. This information in no manner is intended to create an attorney client relationship by and between the readers of this material and Little Rock Trial Attorneys, PLLC or any of its employees. Contact our office for complete information and guidance for your business or construction project.
Get In Touch With Our Construction Defects Attorneys in Arkansas
Please understand that any submission by you coupled with our response does not form an attorney client relationship with Little Rock Trial Attorneys. com or any of its attorneys. We only recognize attorney client relationships that are formalized by written contracts.
