Getting a house built is one of the most exciting processes that you can go through in life, and you may find that you're frequently visiting the construction site to see the progress. At certain points during the build, you might be eager to show off your home to friends, and arrange a visit for a weekend in which no work is taking place. If you're thinking this way, you need to remember that a building site is full of risks. Even if you're close with the person you want to show the house, he or she could get injured and take legal action against you. If this were to happen, you'd definitely want to hire a personal injury attorney to defend yourself. To avoid legal issues, here are some dangers about which you should especially be cognizant.
Incomplete Landscaping
During the construction process, it's common for the builder to perform some basic landscaping tasks early on, and then leave the more delicate work toward the end. There's little point in a yard looking picture perfect if trucks are driving around it daily. This can mean that if you want to visit the property with friends early in the construction process, the yard may be precarious. There may be holes, sudden elevation changes, and plenty of obstacles underfoot — each of which could cause the person to fall and sustain a serious injury, potentially leading to legal action that requires you to hire a personal injury attorney.
Unprotected Stairs
Stairs go up fairly early inside a home when it's being built, but they're extremely rudimentary. Generally, the stair treads and perhaps the risers will be in place, but nothing around them will be done yet. This can mean that there's not only no baluster running up the side of the stairs, but there's also no railing at the top of the stairs to separate the stairs from a hallway. This is one of the most serious dangers in any under-construction home, as someone walking down the hall could make an errant step and essentially fall down to the floor below, leading to a lawsuit.
Unfinished Flooring
Homes that are under construction can also be risky to enter because of unfinished flooring. While some areas may have the subfloors installed, other areas may be only made up of floor joists. This can make walking around the house dangerous. Someone could trip over a joist and fall, potentially landing in a hole surrounded by other joists — which could result in a serious injury and legal action. When you assess these risks and the potential for legal action following an injury, you may find that it's better to take friends to the property closer toward the end of the build.
For more information, reach out to law firms like Goble & Yow PLLC.
