Sometimes construction and architectural negligence does not become apparent until some kind of cataclysmic event uncovers the truth of shoddy or substandard work.
The gale-force winds which hit much of the UK a couple of weeks ago, causing widespread damage and disruption, if not devastation, to many areas of the country can be considered to be one such cataclysmic event.
From areas as far south as Sussex, Hampshire and London to many Northern parts of the country such as Cumbria and Scotland, newspaper headlines were quickly filled with alarming Wizard of Oz-esque stories of roofs and buildings being swept up and carried by dangerous swirling winds.
Whether it was beach huts lifted and destroyed in Hayling Island, Hampshire, racecourse roofs being flung and crushed in Epsom, Surrey, Maypoles being flung and mangled in Lewis, East Sussex or wind turbines being ripped and wrecked in Holmesfield, Derbyshire, the gales certainly made their presence felt.
One thing is for sure – although the winds may have died down and most of the necessary repair work already begun, the effects of the winds will be felt for some time to come, particularly in the offices of insurance companies and construction and architectural negligence solicitors.
However, whether professional negligence solicitors will be able to help obtain settlements in any of the above examples of damage and disruption is a moot question. After all, damage caused by a cataclysmic event may, far from being proof of construction or architectural negligence, be only an unavoidable consequence of freak events.
As such, although those who have suffered damage to their property as a result of the recent gale-force winds should look to contact their insurance companies and professional negligence solicitors for advice, they should do so without expectation and with the knowledge that every individual case is different.
