Econo Lodge bed bugs | Econo Lodge Nightmare

The Econo Lodge is a motel chain that spans the country. It offers economic and affordable rooms to those on the road, and like most motels, is often found near highways, freeways, and interstate roads. The chain has over 50,000 rooms in its locations, so it is no surprise that some of them are not as well kept as others are. One of the major issues is bed bugs – an infestation can spread from one room in an Econo Lodge to the rest of the motel. Those staying at the motel can be bitten and carry the bugs home with them. If you were a visitor at an Econo Lodge and you were bitten by bed bugs, you can sue the motel for bed bugs. Our team of attorneys at the Downtown LA Law Group can assist you with your claim against the motel.

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are small creatures that create nests and feed on human blood. They are sometimes mistaken for ticks and fleas, but they have notably different qualities. For instance, ticks burrow under the skin, and fleas can jump long distances and are usually near animal beds. Bed bugs are seldom seen during the day and on your body, and they can only move by crawling. They re nocturnal and tend to make their nests near where their victims sleep so they can make their way to them during the night and feast. Bed bugs have a special kind of saliva that has properties that aid them in drinking blood. They have an anesthetic in it, so you do not feel the bite, and an anti-coagulant, so your blood does not stop flowing. This allows them to drink for minutes at a time before being satiated. Interestingly, bed bugs can go months without drinking any blood, which may cause people to think rooms are safe when they are simply surrounded by dormant bed bugs. This is but one reason the creatures are difficult to kill. The effects of bed bugs are usually not apparent until a few hours or days after the incident. The bites may not show up immediately and when they do, they will be small, red, raised welts. They do not itch as heavily as other bites, but they can provoke heavy reactions if the victim is allergic. The bites may also turn into open sores if scratched.

What are the laws regarding bed bugs?

In most states, there are habitability laws that determine how clean a room must be in order for it to be rented out or be a part of a service package. Hotels and motels must provide safe quarters to individuals, and these quarters must be free from infestations and must be sanitary. There must be no rats, vermin, filth, bed bugs, or other pests present. If there are, the guest can refuse and be transferred to another room.

Learn more about your legal options: call (855) 339-8879 to speak with a representative now.

These habitability laws and standards make it so that individuals can take legal action if they are exposed to bed bugs, and the motels will have to pay hefty fines and may be marked as unclean or in violation of various health codes.

How can I file a bed bug lawsuit?

If you wish to file a bed bug lawsuit, you will need to establish that the motel owed you a duty of care that was breached in some way, resulting in the accident and injuries. For a bed bug infestation, you will likely file a premises liability lawsuit, which must contain one of the following points:

• The motel owner knew about the infestation and took no action to remove it
• The motel owner caused the infestation by bringing in dirty sheets or used bedding
• The motel owner did not know that there was an infestation, but he reasonably should have if he had been more attentive or had his staff do deeper cleaning

Once you are suspicious of bed bugs, or once you have been bitten, you should collect as much evidence as possible. This evidence should include the following:

• Pictures and videos of the bed bugs themselves, as they like to nest in damp, dark areas; signs of them include small exoskeletons, cream colored eggs, bloodstains on sheets, droppings, and more
• Photos of your bites
• Medical proof and receipts from the hospital after you got treatment
• A copy of your receipt, credit card statement, or anything else used to pay for the room
• Statements from other guests or workers who saw the infestation or who were staying at the Econo Lodge and were also bitten
• A copy of the incident report you filed with the motel

It is important that you do not file an incident report with Econo Lodge until you have already gathered all of your other evidence. If you try to file this report as soon as you see the bugs, the manager may quarantine the room and move you, thus preventing you from getting all the evidence you need. He will then have plausible deniability and you will not have proof for your lawsuit. It will be important for you to contact a skilled bed bug injury lawyer to help with your case. You may not have any experience handling such claims, and if you try to deal with it yourself, you may be left unable to collect any compensation at all. If you have no legal experience, defer to our firm for more assistance. You should focus on treating the bites and removing the infestation if it travelled home with you.

What kind of compensation can I get if I sue for bed bugs?

In filing a lawsuit against Econo Lodge for bed bugs, you have the ability to receive various kinds of compensation. We will fight to win you the maximum restitution available under the law. Our lawyers will work to bring you the following:

• Medical expenses related to the bites, including any medication and stays you had during and after the trip
• Lost or damaged property that was broken or needed to be thrown out after the infestation
• Lost income from the time you could not return to work if you needed to take care of other necessities
• Pain and suffering damages for any emotional anguish, PTSD, anxiety, fear, mental trauma, and more
• Reimbursement for the trip, vacation, motel fees, and more

You should not be required to pay for any of these damages if there were bed bugs in your motel at Econo Lodge. Speak with our lawyers for more help moving forward with your claim.

How long do I have to file a bed bug claim?

In California, the statute of limitations on premises liability claims is 2 years from the date of the injury. If you do not file a lawsuit within this time period, you will not be able to collect any compensation at all and your claim will be void. You should always try to file a lawsuit as quickly as you can so that your evidence does not get lost and so that the defendant does not try to evade the claim.

Find out more about how we can help you. Call (855) 339-8879 to speak with a representative now.

There are a few exceptions to the statute of limitations, though. For one, if you were underage at the time of the incident, you will not have to follow the statute of limitations until you turn 18 years old. You also do not have to follow it if the defendant leaves the state for a period of time; you can wait until he returns to adhere to the 2-year limit. The main reason that many claims do not go through is because the individuals forget that they have to adhere to a time limit. Our lawyers will ensure that you do not miss any deadlines and that you will have everything filed well ahead of schedule and on time.

The Best Firm in Town

The Downtown LA Law Group in Los Angeles is one of the premier law firms in the city. We have a long list of reputable cases we’ve resolved and our reviews speak for themselves. Our lawyers have decades of combine experience, and we have perfected the arts and strategies involving in getting you what you need. Our lawyers are aggressive and will not stop pursuing what you deserve, even if it means going to court for your case. For a free legal consultation, you can contact our law offices today. All consultations are totally confidential, so none of your details will be shared elsewhere. We will discuss your case with you and help you understand how the legal process works. You can ask us any questions you wish. If you want to hire us to represent you, we will give you our zero fee guarantee. This is a promise that you won’t have to pay a dime of out of pocket fees. We will only get paid if we win, and if we lose, we do not take any of your money. You can walk away without owing us anything. Let the Downtown LA Law Group help you if you want to sue Econo Lodge for Bed Bugs.