You might think that if soil movement caused damage to your home or building that you are out of luck with reparations. How could anyone be liable for the movement of the earth? The truth is, though, that developers can sometimes be held responsible for damage to your building if they allowed the building to be placed on soil that later moved or shifted.
Whether or not a claim of this type is successful depends on a variety of factors, which is why it’s important to work with someone who has a good understanding of construction law. Our firm works closely with clients who are dealing with expensive foundational and structural damage because of shifting soils, and we can help you understand what your options are and how your case might best proceed.
Soil can shift for any number of reasons, but often, development experts should be able to predict some risk factors. If a building is put onto a hill without the property considerations, for example, it’s likely that heavy water flow could move soil down the hill. If a home is built on earth that is not properly packed down, then the dirt is going to eventually pack down more and shift.
These are just two of the more obvious factors developers might consider when placing a building somewhere. If your home or building is damaged because of shifting soil, you might first want to find out whether that shift could have been predicted by the developer. Even in cases where a shift might not have been predictable, you could have legal rights to compensation for your losses.