Steps To Take If Bitten By Bed Bugs In A Hotel
Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures that feast on human blood. They are small and move by crawling; their bites have anti-coagulant and anesthetic qualities that prevent victims from feeling the incisions. The bugs are very hardy and may survive for months without feeding. This trait allows them to lay dormant in any location; they can be found in hotel rooms months after being initially transported there. It is very likely that many rooms in a hotel will be infested if only one is found to have bed bugs. If you were in a hotel and you were bitten by bed bugs, we can help you understand the steps to take to stay safe and to file a claim. Our hotel bed bug lawyers at the Downtown LA Law Group will gladly assist you with your lawsuit.
Hotel LiabilityA hotel must provide all of its customers and tenants with sanitary and safe living spaces. A violation of this can lead to hefty fines and violations. However, if there are bed bugs present in a hotel, you may be able to take legal action, as the creatures fall under contamination. You may be bitten, which can be the basis for your lawsuit.
A hotel can be found liable if it knew about the bed bug issue and chose not to fix it (such as refusing to clean the rooms after numerous reports from other guests), caused the infestation (by purchasing new sheets or used furniture and failing to inspect it or clean it), or was unaware of the issue yet should have been reasonably aware of it (as most hotel owners will have cleaning staff inspect each room to see if there are any signs of infestations or other vermin.
Therefore, if there are bed bugs in your room, the hotel can be sued if they were negligent and knew or did not know about the problem. If you were owed a duty of care that was breached by the hotel, and that breach led to an incident that resulted in physical harm, you could file a premises liability claim and pursue legal compensation.
Our team of bed bug attorneys can ensure that you are properly compensated for your damages.
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As soon as you discover that you were bitten by bed bugs in a hotel, it is extremely important that you go to the doctor or hospital to get medical treatment. The bugs could be carrying a disease (although it is not likely); it is always better to err on the side of safety. Some victims of bed bug bites report intense itching and subsequent infections, while others suffer intense allergic reactions. In the worst cases, bed bug bite victims have slipped into shock and have had to get emergency treatment at the hospital. Many victims, though, report mild itching and no lasting effects.
Regardless, it is crucial that you go to the doctor quickly to get treated. If you intend to file a claim, you should have evidence that you were seen by a healthcare professional and that you received some kind of help. The medical notes, medication information, hospital bill, insurance payment, and more can all be used as evidence for when you file a claim. You should hold on to any documents and notes that you can so that your lawsuit will have adequate evidence. It is also important that you take ample photos of your bed bug bites and treatment.
Next, you should gather as much proof of the bed bugs as you can. You should take pictures and videos of the creatures and signs of them. You can find bed bugs in many places, given that they enjoy damp, dark areas that are close to sleeping spaces of victims. The most common areas to find bed bugs include behind picture frames and electrical outlets, inside upholstery and cushions, underneath bed frames and couches, behind baseboards and headboards, inside mattress folds and pillows, and more.
The telltale signs of bed bugs include small, white, oval-shaped eggs that are located I bunches in their nests; brown mounds that are droppings from the bugs; brown or black bloodstains on mattresses that show up after the bed bug has been drinking blood and has spilled some; and the shed exoskeletons of bed bugs that have reached maturity.
If anyone else can be located to confirm the existence of the bed bugs, you can ask them for their testimonies or statements. You may be staying with a family member or friend, and he or she can verify that you were afflicted by the creatures.
Once you have gathered all of your evidence, you may wish to remove all of your belongings to reduce the risk of bed bugs latching on and contaminating your home. You may need to take them to a cleaner immediately.
It is crucial that you do not alert the hotel to the presence of bed bugs until you have gathered as much evidence as you can. Often, the hotel manager will profusely apologize and offer you a new or upgraded room. He will deploy the cleaning staff to the room where it will be quarantined and no new guests will be allowed in. You will thus be unable to take pictures and videos, and the hotel can claim that there were no bed bugs at all. Without ample proof, your lawsuit will likely fail, or you will have a difficult time succeeding. You should file an incident report only after you have gotten all your proof.
You should hold on to any payment, bank statement, credit card record, or other indication that you were a patron of the hotel. It will come in handy when you file your claim.
Further, it is extremely important that you do not accept any compensation from the hotel during the discussion of the bed bugs. The manager will likely offer you many perks, such as a free additional stay, a highly upgraded room, travel points, a rewards card, money, a refund, and more. If you accept any compensation, the hotel can claim that you were properly paid and that your pursuit of additional restitution is wrong. Do not sign any documents with the hotel after your stay.
Lastly, you should reach out to a qualified and skilled lawyer with experience in suing a hotel for a bed bug infestation. We can ensure that you get all the help you need and that you are on the right track for your lawsuit. We will prevent you from falling into common traps with respect to your claim and we will negotiate the fairest deal from the insurance agent.
Compensation for a Bed Bug LawsuitVictims of bed bug bites can sue the hotel for ample compensation for their damages. You may be able to receive coverage for the following:
- Medical expenses from the past and future
- Property damage for anything that was lost or needed to be repaired if the infestation spread to your home
- Lost wages from missed work due to lack of transportation or recovery from injuries
- Pain and suffering for your mental anguish, emotional scarring, PTS, fear, anxiety, and more
- Extermination fees for your home
- Reimbursement of fees spent on vacation and hospitality
You should not be expected to cover these costs if you were victimized by a bed bug infestation in a hotel. The business should be held accountable and you should be given full coverage for the damages.
If you wish to file a lawsuit against the hotel for bites from bed bugs, you must take action within 2 years of the injury. Waiting too long will prevent you from being able to secure any compensation at all, and you will have to suffer with no restitution.
There is the chance that your claim will be temporarily extended and the statute would run longer than the initial time. This can happen if you were underage at the time of the incident or if the defendant left the state for any time.
We will make sure that your claim is filed on time and that you do not miss any important deadlines with your bed bug lawsuit.
The Right Firm for YouThe Downtown LA Law Group has handled dozens of bed bug lawsuits over the years. We can help you sue a hotel for bed bugs and will be glad to walk you through the steps to take if you were bitten by bed bugs in a hotel or motel. Our lawyers are aggressive, knowledgeable, and empathetic, and you will be in the care of the most highly qualified and top-rated attorneys in the city when you come to our firm for representation.
Call us to set up a free legal consultation during which you can ask us anything you like. We will look over your case and tell you what we believe we can secure you from the hotel’s insurance company. If you want to hire us, we’ll give you our zero fee guarantee, which will allow us to proceed as normal and not get paid until and unless we win your claim. If we lose, we do not get paid anything at all. Either way, your finances will not be touched for legal services.
If you were hurt in a bed bug infestation in a hotel and need to know what to do, get in touch with the Downtown LA Law Group at once.
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