As 2023 comes to a close, the Forum Forensic team is preparing for future demands. This year, our team provided several types of structural inspections throughout the Southeast region. In 2024, Forum Forensics anticipates an influx of required inspections due to regulatory statutes and increased construction and insurance litigation. Read more about what we expect to trend in these industries regarding structural inspections below.
Milestone Inspections
Florida mandated structural inspections for aging buildings over 25 years after the devastating collapse of Champlain Towers in Miami in2022. Building owners and property managers have since begun implementing structural inspection services to maintain compliance and reduce liability. To learn more about the newly imposed statute, click here. (https://www.forumforensics.com/blog/aging-building-inspections)
Another inspection requirement that will remain is the inspection of balconies every three years in Florida's public lodging establishments. To learn more about balcony inspection requirements, click here. (https://www.forumforensics.com/blog/balcony-failures-inspection-requirements) If you are unsure if your property requires milestone inspections or if you are in compliance, contact our team of experts today for assistance.
Natural Disasters
The outcome of natural disaster inspections depends on weather activity, which is difficult to predict. Often, weather predictions are based on historical data. When considering the latest patterns of natural disasters in the southeast, the primary concern is the frequency and intensity of hurricanes.
In 2023, there were 20 named storms, ranking fourth for most named storms in a year. One alarming trend we have witnessed throughout the last decade is the rapid intensification of hurricanes before landfall. Rapid intensification occurs when a hurricane system increases wind speed over 30miles per hour in less than 24 hours. The southeast and other parts of the world have witnessed increased occurrences and dramatic swings in the storm system size and strength in shorter periods. Scientists anticipate the phenomenon will continue due to warm ocean waters and climate change.
The combination of a growing population and intensifying storms will lead to increased structural damage and the need for inspections. The Forum Forensics team thoroughly understands a hurricane's destructive characteristics, the damage they leave behind, and what our friends and neighbors can do to protect themselves and their families, as detailed in this article. (https://www.forumforensics.com/blog/damage-report-hurricanes)
Litigation
At the beginning of 2023, Florida accounted for 80% of the nation's insurance lawsuits. Since January 1, regulations prohibit AOB's and limit legal counsel fees. These changes were necessary after Florida experienced net claims losses of over $1 Billion for two years in a row, and many insurance providers became insolvent and pulled out of the market altogether. Although the new regulations were implemented to curb homeowners' insurance crises, they are not retroactive for past weather events. Forum Forensics anticipates the continuation of insurance litigation over the next year.
Another form of litigation impacting Florida is construction litigation. Florida ranks number four nationwide for construction litigation, mainly due to construction defect cases. Statutory changes were made as of April 2023 that now reduce the statute of limitation to file a claim from 10years to 7 years and start the clock at the first notice of commencement. With the statute of limitations decreasing, it is anticipated there will be a higher amount of cases over the next 2-3years of claimants trying to meet the new deadline. Find out more about the statute here. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0500-0599/0558/0558.html
Forum Forensics
Being headquartered in Central Florida, we understand the increasing demand for structural inspection regarding milestone inspections, insurance claims, and expert witness services. The Forum Forensics team is ready to respond with timely reporting and conclusive results. If you have questions about whether or not you will need a structural inspection in 2024, contact our team today. We are here to help!
