If you have been afflicted by a bed bug infestation while out at an AirBNB, hotel, motel, newly rented apartment, or other location, you may be able to file a bed bug lawsuit in Iowa. As a customer or tenant, you are owed a certain duty of care that should not be violated. Property owners have a responsibility to keep you safe and to not allow such creatures like bed bugs to infest your location and bite you. If you have been injured because of bed bites, you can take legal action with the assistance of a bed bug lawyer in Iowa. The Bed Bug Legal Group will sue a motel or hotel for bed bugs in Iowa or sue your landlord in Iowa for bed bugs. You are our highest priority, and we will not hesitate to bring you the compensation you need if you were hurt by a bed bug infestation and suffered various damages.
What are bed bugs?
Bed bugs are small insects that feast on human blood. They are small, only about a quarter-inch in size, and are difficult to spot due to their hiding places and the fact that they are nocturnal. They are reddish-brown in color and their bodies round-shaped, yet flat. However, they do engorge and swell up once they have feasted on a meal of blood. Sometimes, people confuse them with fleas; they both bite and their bites leave red marks that may itch. However, bed bugs differ in numerous ways; the most important distinction is the type of motion they need to get around. Fleas can jump extremely far distances, and bed bugs can only crawl. Further, fleas prefer animals and tend to stick near dog kennels and cat beds, or wherever other pets stay.
Here is what you need to know about bed bugs:
- Their saliva has an anesthetic in it to prevent you from feeling the pain of the bites
- Their saliva also has an anti-coagulant, which prevents your blood from clotting; bed bugs can thus feast for up to 10 minutes at a time on one flowing bite
- The bites have a noticeable and distinct zigzag pattern and generally appear on exposed flesh
- The bugs can be identified by their odor, which has been described as musty and slightly sweet
- Bed bugs are very difficult to kill and can survive in various temperatures and climates
- After a meal of blood, the bed bugs do not need to feed for some weeks, which can cause victims to believe that the infestation has ended
- Although they are not known to transmit diseases, their bites can still cause allergic reactions and force you to require additional medical treatment; the bites can also leave raised scars, known as keloid scars, in their wake
- They are usually in upholstery, beneath cushions, underneath bed springs and mattresses, behind base boards and headboards, in drawers, in electrical outlets, behind pictures frames, and anywhere else that is damp and dark
If you need more information, feel free to contact one of our bed bug attorneys in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Des Moine, Iowa City, Sioux City.
Can I file a lawsuit for bed bug bites?
Yes, you can file a lawsuit for bed bug bites. If you were bitten by bed bugs while out at a hotel, or if a landlord did not properly clean the apartment before you moved in, you could take legal action. One of our bed bug attorneys in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Des Moine, Iowa City, Sioux City will fight for your case. You are owed a duty of care at an establishment like a hotel, and if that duty is breached and an incident with physical harm happens as a result, the hotel can be held responsible. Landlords have similar duties, especially in preparing for tenants to rent their properties.
Can you sue your landlord for bed bugs? Can I sue my landlord for bed bugs in Iowa?
Yes, you can sue your landlord for bed bugs. Landlords must properly clean the apartment prior to any tenants moving in, and if they do not complete this duty, they can be held responsible for ensuing damages from bed bugs. The bed bugs may have been left behind by previous renters or the landlord may have brought them in when he brought new furnishings for the home.
Landlords must fix hazards or contamination like bed bug infestations within a reasonable amount of time. The landlord can be sued if he knew about the infestation and did nothing to fix it, caused the problem in the first place, or should have reasonably been aware of the issue but did not notice it.
If there is a contamination in your apartment, your landlord should be made to cover the expenses. A bed bug lawyer for apartment bed bug infestations in Iowa can help you. You should not try to handle your case alone; it can be very difficult to file a lawsuit if you have little to no legal experience or ability to negotiate. If you wish to file an apartment bed bug infestation lawsuit for apartment buildings in Sioux City, Davenport, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, speak to one of our qualified attorneys.
Can I sue a hotel in Iowa for bed bugs or bites?
Yes, you can sue a hotel for bed bugs if you were bitten while staying in a room. A bed bug lawsuit attorney in Iowa for bed bug bites in a hotel can be filed if you can prove that you were injured from the bugs. Hotel owners cannot let their customers stay in places that are infested or place them at risk of harm. They have a duty of care to all visitors, and if that duty of care is breached by not properly cleaning a bed bug infestation or not knowing one existed (thus leading to bed bug bites and physical harm), the hotel can be sued.
Some of the hotels that have been hit with bed bug lawsuits include:
- Courtyard Marriott
- Days Inn
- Fairfield Inn
- Hilton Hotel
- Holiday Inn
- Marriott Hotel
- Motel 6
- Quality Inn
- Red Roof Inn
- Super 8
- Best Western
- Choice Hotels
- Extended Stay America
- Hampton Inn
- La Quinta Inn
- MGM
- Howard Johnson
- Red Lion Hotel
You should make sure that you have enough evidence to file a claim against the hotel. An attorney for bed bug infestations in Iowa and cities like Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Iowa City can walk you through the process.
If you detect that you were bitten by bed bugs, you should follow these steps to ensure that your claim has a greater chance of success:
- Go get medical treatment to prevent further damages or injuries
- Take photos of the bites
- Take pictures of the nests
- Keep your receipt from the hotel or the credit card statement showing you rented a room there
- File an incident report with the manager
It is important that you do not go to the hotel staff first. They will likely try to rush in and clean the room and escort you to another one, which will destroy your chance to get evidence. Further, you should not accept anything from the hotel manager that could count as compensation, such as a free room or extended stay, a gift card, a discount, or similar offer.
Call a lawyer for bed bugs in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Sioux City, Iowa City for more assistance taking legal action against a hotel.
Case Value
The settlement amount for a bed bug lawsuit claim against your landlord or a hotel will vary depending on the amount of amount of damages you suffered. If you underwent a few medical treatments because of allergic reactions and had permanent scarring, and if you were forced to throw away numerous personal items because the infestation was brought to your home, then you could receive a fair amount of money, perhaps even over $300,000. If you only suffered a few injuries and you did not have to throw anything away, the average value of a bed bug lawsuit case would decrease.
Our goal is to bring you coverage for any and all damages you suffered including:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost income at work
- Fumigation and extermination fees
- Pain and suffering damages
Call our law firm for more assistance.
Our Firm and You
The Bed Bug Legal Group can provide you with a team of attorneys who will happily take your case and fight for your rightful restitution. We will aggressively pursue your damages and will not stop until we feel you have earned the maximum offer under the law. We have years of experience and have specialized in bed bug lawsuits for decades.
Call our offices today to set up a free legal consultation with an Iowa bed bug attorney. You can ask us anything you wish and we’ll help you understand the legal process as well as the nuances of your case. If you want to know more about the value of your case, we will tell you what we think we can earn for you.
If you hire us, we’ll give you our zero fee guarantee. This is a promise that throughout the case, you won’t spend a single dime of your own money. We will cover all the costs and will only be compensated with our fees if we win, and the money will come out of the settlement we win for you. If we lose, you don’t have to pay us a single penny.
Get in touch with the Bed Bug Legal Group if you wish to file a claim against your landlord or a hotel for injuries from bed bugs.
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