Bed bugs have a penchant for being frustrating pests that seemingly never go away. They can take refuge in places and not come out for weeks at a time, leading you to believe the infestation is over or that you have eradicated all of them. You may even be enjoying a stay at a resort or hotel for a few days when, all of a sudden, the bugs start to bite. Although a bed bug incident can wreak havoc on you and your family, you should be aware that you can take legal action against the responsible party. Our team of attorneys at the Bed Bug Legal Group has litigated hundreds of bed bug lawsuits throughout the years and we consider ourselves experts in the area of law. With the help of a bed bug attorney in Stockton / Turlock / Tracy / Antioch, you can receive fair compensation for your damages.
Bed Bug Information and Details
You should know as much as you can about bed bugs so you are certain that you were bitten by the pests and not by other creatures. Sometimes, people mistake bites as occurring by fleas or other insects, or they believe the bugs themselves are something else. Fleas, for example, are dark brown and skinny, and their bites yield quick reactions. Bed bugs are visibly different, lighter in color and round and flat, sometimes engorging with blood after a meal. Fleas, of course, primarily feast on animals and can be found on their fur and near their beds. Bed bugs are not readily apparent and try to stay as invisible as they can; they make their homes in damp, dark places that are located near beds and sofas so they can quickly find their hosts. The biggest difference may be in the movement of the two creatures; fleas are capable of jumping great distances and the motion is their main form of movement, while bed bugs are only able to crawl.
One of the key traits of bed bugs is their bite qualities; their saliva has an anesthetic in it that allows them to bite without triggering any pain response in their hosts. They can then feast on freely flowing blood for minutes at a time because of the anticoagulant in the saliva. Once they’ve finish with one section, they can move to another, often in a zigzag manner, to resume feasting. After becoming engorged, they retreat to their nests, where they can remain for weeks or months. They are very hardy creatures, and you may not be aware of an infestation for some time.
Further, bites do not show up immediately; they usually take a few hours or even a day or two to pop up as inflamed sections of the skin that can itch and become irritated. Fortunately, the bugs do not transmit diseases with their bites, despite feasting on blood.
For more help identifying the pests and learning about the differences, talk to an expert bed bug attorney in Stockton / Turlock / Tracy / Antioch.
Finding Nests
If you want to look for bed bugs, you should not merely examine the bed itself to determine if the creatures are present. You will need to look close by in areas that are not easily accessible or even visible. For example, if you have a bed with a headboard, baseboard, and box spring, there are numerous places for the bed bugs to hide: behind the headboard and underneath the box spring are popular spots. They can also maneuver in between the creases of mattresses.
Additionally, they like to stay just away from the bed, such as behind electrical outlets and picture frames, as well as near molding and loose carpeting. If you spend time on sofas and couches, the bed bugs may be beneath the cushions or inside the material. Essentially, they position themselves close by their victims so when night time emerges, they do not need to travel far.
If you see any of the following, you may be near an infestation and nests:
- Eggs: Bed bug eggs are small, cream-colored, and oval shaped. They are usually found in bunches, but females do not lay more than a few eggs per day, and less than a few hundred in a lifetime. This is a low number when compared to other insects’ egg laying amounts.
- Blood stains: If there are dark stains on sheets, blankets, or cushions, there is a chance that bed bugs are nearby. The stains occur because the bugs feast on blood, which then dribbles or spills.
- Exoskeletons: Juvenile bed bugs shed their skins when they reach maturity, so if you detect discarded skins, a nest is likely nearby.
- Droppings: Bed bug droppings are small black or brown mounds that can leave a trail from the bed to a nest. They are very tiny, considering that bed bugs are usually no larger than 5mm.
- Odor: The odor of bed bugs has been described as slightly sweet and musty. If you smell something that seems odd or out of place, you should search the area for an infestation.
Of course, the most obvious sign of bed bugs is the creatures themselves, but as they are generally nocturnal, you may not be awake to spot them. Call a bed bug attorney in Stockton / Turlock / Tracy / Antioch for more help.
Places You May Find Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can be found in your home for any number of reasons. They may have latched onto your luggage and been taken in when you were traveling, or they may have been present on a piece of used furniture that you purchased. If you did buy a couch, mattress, or other piece of furniture from a store and you detected that it has bed bugs, you should immediately take pictures of the infestation, procure your receipts and bill of sale, and contact a lawyer. Do not reach out to the store for a refund or a return; if you give up the furniture, you will lose your crucial piece of evidence that shows the cause of the incident.
More commonly, bed bugs are found in hotels, motels, resorts, lodges, sleeper cars, hostels, and other places meant for travelers. They can wreak havoc on guests, especially if those guests are only present for one night; they may not notice the bites until they have already left the city or the state, and trying to pursue legal action and acquire evidence can be extremely difficult.
No matter where you find the bed bugs, you should take photos of the nests and of your injuries and keep any documents showing that you had a connection with the defendant. A bed bug attorney in Stockton / Turlock / Tracy / Antioch can assemble your evidence and file your lawsuit.
Lawsuit Information
If you suffer bed bug bites, you could sue for any number of reasons, including breach of warranty or contract, violation of health codes, and personal injury. A personal injury claim is based on negligence; in order to successfully win, you must be able to prove that you were owed a duty of care that was breached by the responsible party, which led to an incident resulting in physical harm.
Keep in mind that you only have a certain amount of time to take legal action before you won’t be able to seek compensation. The statute of limitations on personal injury claims, for instance, is two years from the date of the injury. If you were underage at the time of the incident or if the defendant left the state or the country, the statute would not resume until you turned legal age or the defendant returns. There are numerous other possible exceptions that your attorney can help you with.
When filing a claim, you can have various damages recovered. Our lawyers can help you receive coverage for:
- Medical expenses relating to the bed bug bites
- Lost wages at work because of time spent away due to dealing with the infestation
- Property damage for any items you had to throw away or replace, as well as reimbursement for exterminator costs
- Emotional pain and suffering that causes anxiety, fear, PTSD, and other mental issues. You may not be able to stay in new places, for example, without suffering a panic attack.
A bed bug attorney in Stockton / Turlock / Tracy / Antioch can bring you the fairest compensation available under the law.
Our Firm: Here for You
Our team of expert attorneys at the Bed Bug Legal Group promises that we will bring you the maximum settlement we can under the law. We have handled numerous bed bug lawsuits and believe there is no better firm around than ours. We will tirelessly negotiate with the insurance agency and will aggressively work towards your best settlement, and if we are not satisfied, we will go to court.
Call our law group today for a free consultation. You can ask us questions about your claim and we will tell you what we believe it is worth. If you sign up for our services, we will give you our zero fee guarantee, which promises that you will not have to spend any of your own money during the claim. We will cover all costs, and if we win, the money owed to us will be extracted from the settlement we bring you. If we lose, you won’t have to pay us a single cent.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to a bed bug attorney in Stockton / Turlock / Tracy / Antioch for more assistance.
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