Proactive Legal Advice And Representation from Construction Attorneys in St. Louis
Whether you are a construction business owner or contractor, it can be difficult to keep up with the ever-changing laws and regulations that govern the construction industry.
Legal disputes and liabilities may seem like an unavoidable part of your work, but with the help of a skilled construction law attorney, you can save invaluable time, money, and headaches in the long run.
Skilled legal representation can make all the difference in your construction law matter. Attorney David M. Duree is a Registered Professional Engineer with more than 40 years experience handling Construction claims. From offices in St. Louis, MO and O’Fallon, IL, David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. successfully handles construction law cases throughout the nation as a premier St. Louis construction law firm.
Representing Your Legal Interests At Every Stage Of Construction
The law office of David M. Duree and Associates, P.C., represents clients in construction disputes and transactions and can help advise you on compliance with construction regulations.
Construction bonds
We assist your business in achieving clarity, resolution, and compliance on bid performance, and payment bonds.
Construction accidents
If you’ve been injured in a construction area and need skilled representation, our construction law attorneys can help. As a leading St. Louis construction accident attorney, David M. Duree & Associates, P.C. are among the top construction accident law firms, providing expert legal counsel. Whether you need a lawyer to sue a contractor or a dedicated St. Louis construction accident lawyer, our team is committed to helping you. When you require a St. Louis crane accident lawyer or a crane accident law firm in St. Louis, we have the experience to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Common Construction Accident Types & Catastrophic Injuries
Construction sites are inherently dangerous, often resulting in serious and life-altering injuries. Our experience as a top-tier construction accident law firm allows us to deeply investigate the common causes of injury on job sites, including:
- Falls from Heights: Accidents involving scaffolding, ladders, or unprotected ledges, which often lead to head trauma or spinal cord injury.
- Electrocution: Contact with exposed wiring or faulty power lines resulting in severe burns or wrongful death.
- Struck-By Incidents: Injuries caused by falling objects, unsecured equipment, or swinging loads from cranes.
- Machinery & Equipment Malfunction: Accidents involving bulldozers, forklifts, or defective power tools that can cause crush injuries or amputations.
We fight for clients who have sustained devastating injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI), spinal cord damage, severe fractures, and wrongful death. We investigate both workers’ compensation eligibility and third-party liability to secure the maximum compensation you are entitled to.
Experienced Construction Contract Attorney in Illinois
Contract law is one of the most important areas of construction law. Construction contracts are complex documents that detail the rights and obligations of the parties involved in a construction project. Construction law attorney David M. Duree can help you draft, review, and negotiate construction contracts.
Commercial Construction Disputes
Construction disputes related to the construction of contracts, obligations, defects, delays in construction, terms, or payments from third parties.
Franchising Construction Disputes
We help with franchising construction disagreements. Our construction attorneys ensure legal compliance with property, lease, and construction aspects of franchise locations.
Arbitration
Resolving construction-related issues and matters outside the court system.
Other areas of construction law
Our construction lawyers can also help with the following areas:
- Banking
- Internet
- Intellectual property
- Fidelity and surety
- Construction and engineering claims
- Crane Accidents
David M. Duree and Associates, P.C. will not back down until you have been granted the maximum compensation you are entitled to. David maintains a vibrant national practice, focusing in particular on serving clients in his home-base states of Missouri and Illinois. Since beginning his own firm, David has represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases.
Experienced Construction Contract Attorney in Illinois
Contract law is one of the most important areas of construction law. Construction contracts are complex documents that detail the rights and obligations of the parties involved in a construction project. Construction law attorney David M. Duree can help you draft, review, and negotiate construction contracts.
St. Louis Construction Dispute Lawyer
A construction dispute lawyer specializes in resolving legal issues as they relate to construction projects. Our lawyers assist clients in St. Louis, Missouri, and Illinois in a manner of cases—ranging from property owners, contractors, and developers to subcontractors, architects, and engineers. We provide a legal perspective in addressing issues that arise during or after the construction process, including complex construction accident claims. Our firm, a top St. Louis construction accident attorney, is dedicated to helping individuals who have been injured on the job.
The law office of David M. Duree and Associates, P.C., represents clients who have been injured by defective products or negligent workmanship. We also represent clients who have been sued for wrongful death or personal injury arising from a construction accident. Whether you need a lawyer to sue contractors for negligence or an experienced St. Louis crane accident lawyer, our team has the skills to help.
Keeping Current With Environmental Rules And Regulations In The Construction Industry
Construction activities can potentially pollute the environment and damage natural resources. Environmental laws place restrictions on how construction projects can be conducted in order to protect the environment. Our attorneys stay up-to-date with environmental laws and regulations to ensure that our clients’ interests are protected during construction projects.
When can a material breach of contract occur in a St. Louis, MI construction project?
Material breaches of construction contracts and subcontracts occur when:
- A contractor is not paid
- The contractor walks off the job
- The contractor’s performance is defective and
- When a contractor is wrongfully terminated.
As a general rule, the first breach of a construction contract relieves the opposing party from further performance of that contract. Who breached first frequently determines the outcome.
Decisions to terminate, to not pay, and to walk off the job are major decisions for owners and for contractors. In 2018, The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a case which applied these principles and awarded a subcontractor $215,578.00, finding that the general contractor had breached the subcontract first by its delays, by wrongfully terminating the subcontractor and by failing to pay the subcontractor. Randy Kinder Excavating, Inc. vs. JA Manning Construction Company, Inc. (Decided August 7, 2018)
Contact A Skilled Construction Attorney With Over 40 Years Experience Advising Individuals, Contractors, And Businesses
For experienced legal advice concerning your construction law matter, call our attorneys for construction at David M. Duree and Associates, P.C., at 618-628-0186. You can also schedule a completely confidential and entirely discreet initial consultation with David by contacting us online. As a leading Construction Accident Law Firm, we are here to provide the expert legal guidance you need for any construction-related issue.
Frequently Asked Questions for Construction Lawyers in Missouri and Illinois
What is the statute of limitations for construction defects in Missouri and Illinois?
In Missouri, claims involving a defective or unsafe improvement to real property must generally be filed within 10 years of the improvement’s completion (or the date an occupancy permit is issued), under Missouri’s statute of repose, RSMo § 516.097. In Illinois, you generally have 4 years from when you knew or reasonably should have known about the defect to file a claim, but no action can be brought more than 10 years after the construction work occurred, under 735 ILCS 5/13-214. Because these deadlines run differently depending on which state your project is in, it’s worth having an attorney confirm your timeline as soon as you suspect a problem.
How can I protect my right to payment through a mechanic’s lien?
A mechanic’s lien is a powerful tool, but it requires strict adherence to notice requirements. For most subcontractors and suppliers, the process begins with serving a 20-Day Preliminary Notice. If you are not paid, you must record the lien within a specific window (usually 90 days after completion of the work, or sooner if a Notice of Completion was filed) and initiate a lawsuit to foreclose on the lien shortly thereafter.
What should I look for before signing a construction contract?
A well-drafted contract is your first line of defense. Key provisions to review include:
- Scope of Work: Ensuring every detail is explicitly defined to avoid “scope creep.”
- Payment Schedule: Aligning payments with verifiable milestones.
- Indemnity Clauses: Understanding who is responsible for third-party damages or injuries.
- Dispute Resolution: Determining whether you are required to go to arbitration or if you have the right to a jury trial.
Can a contractor stop work if they haven’t been paid?
While it may seem intuitive to stop working when payments dry up, doing so without following the proper legal steps can leave a contractor liable for breach of contract or abandonment. Most jurisdictions require a specific “Notice of Intent to Stop Work.” We recommend reviewing your contract’s “Stop Work” provisions and state prompt payment statutes before walking off a job site.
How are construction disputes typically resolved?
While many people envision a courtroom, most construction disputes are resolved through Mediation (a neutral third party helping both sides reach a settlement) or Binding Arbitration (a private hearing often required by the contract). We prioritize strategies that minimize “burn rate” on legal fees, aiming for a resolution that keeps the project moving or recovers your losses efficiently.
Who is liable if I’m injured in a scaffolding or crane accident on a Missouri or Illinois job site?
Liability depends on what caused the accident — it could fall on the general contractor, a subcontractor, the property owner, or the manufacturer of defective equipment, and more than one party is often responsible. We investigate both your workers’ compensation eligibility and any third-party liability claims, since a third-party claim can often recover damages that workers’ comp alone does not cover.
Can I sue a general contractor if I was injured on a construction site I don’t work for directly?
In many cases, yes. Even if you’re employed by a subcontractor, a general contractor that controls site safety can be held liable for injuries caused by unsafe conditions they created or failed to correct. We review the site’s safety records, contracts, and chain of responsibility to identify every party who may be liable for your injuries.