What the Disputes Numbers Are Really Telling Us

By Rhonda Huismann, Co-Founder, First Rule Contract Manager. Published October 5, 2026.

What is the top cause of construction disputes in 2026?

According to Arcadis' 16th Annual Construction Disputes Report (United States, 2026), the number one cause is parties failing to understand or comply with their contractual obligations, followed by errors and omissions in the contract documents, then delays and time extensions.

Key numbers

• Average dispute value: $56.0M
• Average time to resolve: 12.2 months
• 75% of respondents expect dispute volumes to rise in 2026
• Highest single dispute reported: $100M

What prevents construction disputes?

Arcadis lists good communications, contract and specification reviews, and risk management as the most effective claims avoidance techniques — project management disciplines, not legal interventions.

First Rule addresses the contract knowledge gap with AI contract review for construction, Marten (First Rule's AI assistant) for in-field contract questions, and contract training.