Engineers work in many different sectors and their expertise often underpins the success of a project, such as a residential or commercial construction project or a commercial engineering project.
Negligence by an engineer in calculations, errors in drawings or plans, or wrong advice on materials can mean that a project ends in structural failure –which may be potentially catastrophic – or has to be paused. Negligent engineer’s advice can also mean a project is scrapped, all of which can lead to financial loss to both private clients building a home and commercial clients.
Construction and engineering claims may involve:
Duncan Lewis professional negligence solicitors advise both private individuals and commercial companies on making compensation claims for engineer’s negligence or wrong advice by an engineer, leading to financial loss.
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Clients who suffer financial loss as a result of negligent engineer’s advice should first make a complaint to the firm in question through its own complaints handling procedure (CHP).
Clients considering suing an engineer for professional misconduct or professional negligence have six years from the date of the event constituting negligence – or three years from the date they first realised negligence had occurred – in which to make a claim.
Claims against negligent engineers can be brought under the Defective Premises Act 1972. The courts require a protocol to be followed in claims involving engineers and construction firms, with early disclosure of full information in the hope a settlement can be reached out-of-court.
Claims against negligent engineers can also be brought under the Contractual (Design and Management) Regulations 1994. If a claim against a negligent engineer does go to court, the hearing will most likely take place in a specialist Technology and Construction Court.
Because of the complexity of suing engineers – and proving that they acted negligently towards a client – Duncan Lewis professional negligence solicitors advise clients whose engineering contractor has let them down to get in touch as soon as possible for an assessment of their case.
Duncan Lewis offers Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) funding to clients making professional negligence claims, with a fixed fee for the initial client meeting and assessment of the claim, so our clients know in advance what they will be paying.
If an engineer has given wrong advice or acted negligently leading to financial loss, call Duncan Lewis Professional Negligence Solicitors for more information about making a compensation claim on 020 7923 4020