Were you or your family exposed to a bed bug infestation anywhere in Killeen, Texas or Temple, Texas? If so, you likely suffered significant harm and/or damages associated with the exposure to the bed bug infestation. Depending on how you and your family were affected and the details surrounding the bed bug exposure, you might have grounds to pursue a claim. If you are interested in learning more about your right to sue, you should seek legal assistance immediately.
If you are in need of legal assistance in Killeen or Temple, Texas, you can trust the experts at Bed Bug Legal Group to provide you with the guidance that you need to sue the party or entity liable for your exposure to the bed bug infestation. Our bed bug lawyers have many years of experience handling a variety of bed bug claims and are ready to handle your claim as well. If you are ready to discuss your bed bug claim with the experts at our firm, do not hesitate to contact our experts immediately.
About Bed Bugs and the Harm Resulting from Exposure to Infestations
Bed bugs are tiny insects that feed on human blood. They are nocturnal creatures and, like obvious with their names, they are often found in beds. However, bed bugs can be found hiding in many other places, including but not limited to the following: bedding, bed frames, mattresses, clothing, luggage, carpets, rugs, chairs, couches, sofas, picture frames, and floorboards, for instance. As already mentioned, bed bugs are nocturnal, so they come out to eat when unsuspecting victims are asleep – this is why they prefer to hide in some of the places listed above (as they allow for quick access to sleeping victims).
Bed bugs are typically very difficult to spot, so they cannot be found unless someone is looking for them thoroughly. Because of this, bed bug infestations typically cannot be found until someone has already suffered harm as a result of the exposure. Although every situation is different, it is important to note that exposure to bed bug infestations could result in the following:
- Bed bug bites
- Allergic reactions
- Skin infections
- Scarring
- Mental and emotional harm
- Property damage
- Expensive extermination costs
Without a doubt, exposure to a bed bug infestation could significantly affect you and your family.
Bed Bugs are Common in Certain Places
Unfortunately, bed bug infestations are relatively common in a number of places – including hotels, motels, rental apartments, and even certain stores. This is because these places provide bed bugs with a number of convenient places to hide as well as easy access to their preferred food source. Let’s consider the different types of common locations below:
- Motels and hotels – in motels and hotels, people are constantly coming and going. Rooms are constantly filled with guests (which provide a great food source for bed bugs). Unfortunately, complaints of bed bugs often go ignored, which means that bed bug infestations can continue growing, often spreading between guest rooms with the help of staff (during cleaning, typically).
- Rental apartments – in rental apartments, even a few bed bugs can result in a bed bug infestation just a few months later. If one tenant unknowingly brings in bed bugs into the apartment, the infestation could spread to other apartments relatively quickly (again, there is a constant source of food always present). The issue arises when landlords fail to inform new tenants of existing bed bug infestations.
- Stores (furniture stores and clothing stores) – stores that handle furniture and clothing, for instance, are prone to bed bug infestations. Infestations start typically with returned items and the failure to sanitize the items properly before storing them with the rest of the merchandise. In addition, something as miniscule as someone sitting on a piece of furniture or returning a piece of clothing could also contribute to infestations. Infestations in stores can result in customers unknowingly bringing infestations into their homes.
In addition to these places, bed bug infestations are also somewhat common in hospitals, nursing homes, and a number of other locations. In fact, infestations can be found anywhere where there are plenty of hiding places and a steady source of food.
Can You Sue?
Were you harmed after you or your family were negligently exposed to a bed bug infestation? Based on the details surrounding the incident and the harm that you or your family suffered, you might have the right to sue. Your right to sue will be strictly based on the duty of care owed to you and your family – it is important to note that the duty of care will vary based on the location. For instance, motel and hotel owners have a duty to ensure that their premises are safe for their guests, meaning that their premises must be free of hazards, including vermin. Likewise, landlords have the duty to ensure that their apartments are habitable for their tenants; since vermin make apartments inhabitable, they must ensure that they are free of any infestations. What about stores? Stores also have a duty to ensure that their premises are safe, as well as a duty to ensure that their products are sanitary (and free of unsanitary pests). What does this all mean? If you were exposed to a bed bug infestation and suffered harm, you could sue.
If you are interested in learning more about your right to sue after your exposure to a bed bug infestation, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm as soon as possible.
Your Right to Compensation
If your Killeen or Temple bed bug claim is successful, you could be eligible to recover monetary compensation for the harm that you or your family suffered as a direct result of the exposure. What could you recover? Although every bed bug claim is different, you could be eligible to recover compensation for some of the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Extermination costs
- Punitive damage
- Legal fees
Are you interested in learning more about the type and amount of compensation that you could recover if your bed bug claim is successful? If so, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm immediately. Our lawyers are ready to help you recover the highest amount of compensation available for your claim. You can trust that our bed bug experts will not rest until you recover the compensation that you are owed.
What Should You Do?
If you and your family were negligently exposed to a bed bug infestation, there are a number of things that you can do to prepare to take legal action. Consider some of the recommendations listed below:
- Take photos of your bed bug bites
- Take photos of the bed bugs
- Collect a sample of the bed bug infestation (if you can do so safely)
- Report the bed bug bites and exposure to the appropriate party (make a written report and request a copy of the report)
- Report the incident to the local health department
- Seek medical care for your bites and other complications
- Gather all relevant medical records
- Gather all relevant records of property damage
- Gather all records associated with extermination costs
- Seek legal assistance immediately
The Texan Statute of Limitations
In Texas, bed bug claims are subject to the same statute of limitations to which all other personal injury claims are subject – two-years. This means that claimants will only have two years to file their claims. If claimants fail to file their claims within the allowed time, they could lose their right to sue entirely. So, you will have two years to file your bed bug claim with the help of our Killeen lawyers or Temple lawyers. However, you should know that – based on the details surrounding the claim – the applicable statute of limitations could be subject to exceptions (which could pause the deadline). To ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the total length of time that you have to sue, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm as soon as possible to ensure that you file your claim on time.
Contact Bed Bug Legal Group Today
Are you in need of a bed bug lawyer in Killeen, Texas after you suffered bed bug bites or were negligently exposed to a bed bug infestation? Are you in need of a Temple, Texas bed bug lawyer for help with your bed bug lawsuit? Regardless of how or where you were exposed to an infestation, you can trust the Texas bed bug lawyers at our firm to provide you with the guidance that you need to win. At Bed Bug Legal Group, our lawyers are committed to helping you win.
Our firm offers free legal services, which include free consultations and free second opinions. During these free legal services, our bed bug lawyers will answer all your questions and address all your concerns. You can trust that our bed bug lawyers will provide you with the guidance that you need to pursue your claim. If you are ready to benefit from our free legal services, contact us today.
We offer a Zero-Fee guarantee, which means that our clients will never have to pay upfront legal fees to speak with our experts. Our firm also offers a contingency structure, meaning that our clients will only be responsible for paying legal expenses after they win their claims.
Are you ready to discuss your bed bug claim with the experts at Bed Bug Legal Group? If so, contact us today.
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