The presence of bed bugs is enough to make anyone feel uncomfortable, and suffering through an infestation can be a frightening and irritating experience, especially if you were bitten by the creatures. Although the majority of bite victims are healthy, some suffer adverse reactions and can get more injured than others. Bed bugs can be found anywhere, but they are most commonly seen in hotels, motels, and apartments. You could find some at an acquaintance’s home or an AirBNB space, but not as often. Bed bug bites at an apartment or hotel could push you to file a bed bug lawsuit in Maine, and the Bed Bug Legal Group can help. We can provide you with a bed bug lawyer for apartment bed bug infestations in Maine or a bed bug lawsuit attorney in Maine for bed bug bites in a hotel. Contact our firm for more assistance.
Identifying Bed Bugs
Some people wake up with bites from an unknown source and may try to pinpoint different creatures. Often, people will think of fleas, ticks, ants, and other insects, but bed bugs are different from all of these. Bed bugs are small bugs that are red-brown in color; they are round and flat and move by crawling. They are incapable of jumping, darting, or flying.
Bed bugs feast on human blood when they nocturnally emerge from their nests and make their way to where their victims sleep. They are attracted to body heat and will bite on exposed parts of the flesh; you will not feel that bites because of the anesthetic present in their saliva. Once they have latched on, they can freely drink for up to 10 minutes at a time (they also have an anti-coagulant that prevents your blood from clotting too quickly).
Bites from bed bugs have a few distinguishing traits. They are usually present in a zigzag formation and do not show up immediately after the attack. It can take a few hours or days for the markings to show up. They are red raised welts that are slightly itchy. If you find yourself scratching at them, the bites could open and fester, leading to infection and sickness.
To find bed bugs, you should be on the lookout for a musky scent, small oval eggs colored like cream, droppings, bloodstains on the sheets, exoskeletons of mature bed bugs, and the tiny creatures themselves.
Speak with a bed bug lawyer in Maine if you need more assistance.
Can I File A Lawsuit For Bed Bug Bites?
Yes, you can file a lawsuit for bed bug bites. You must be able to prove that you were the victim of negligent action and that another entity was responsible for the infestation and for keeping you safe from harm. It may be difficult for you to file a claim by yourself, though. There are many nuances in lawsuits and you will need to communicate with numerous different parties, as well as negotiate fair deals and operate according to the law.
There are various laws pertaining to bed bug bites, and they are largely classified as serious injuries. Hotel owners and landlords especially must protect individuals as best they can according to the law.
Call one of our bed bug attorneys in West Scarborough, Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland for more assistance.
Can I Sue My Landlord For Bed Bugs In Maine? Can You Sue Your Landlord For Bed Bugs?
Yes, you can sue your landlord for bed bugs, but only if he were responsible for the infestation in some way. This means that if you brought the bed bugs home and caused an infestation in your apartment, you would not be able to sue your landlord in Maine for bed bugs.
You can file an apartment bed bug infestation lawsuit for apartment buildings in Portland, West Scarborough, South Portland, Lewiston, Bangor if your landlord caused he infestation to happen in some way. He may have brought the bugs in while hiring crews to refurnish the home or he may have provided previously-owned furniture that had bed bugs on it. He can also be sued if he knew there was an infestation and opted to not correct it or clean it, or to not give you ample warning and set up an appointment for an exterminator.
Additionally, the landlord may have been largely negligent in his duties. If he did not notice an infestation but reasonably should have, as other landlords who would have, he can be sued. If he lacked the diligence to detect a bed bug infestation, a tenant could sue for damages stemming from the incident.
The issue is proving that the bed bugs were present prior to you moving in. If you discovered bed bugs after you’ve been in the apartment for some months, proving that the landlord was responsible can be difficult. It is especially hard because bed bugs can hide for weeks at a time without needing to come out to feast, thus remaining undiscovered.
It is very likely that the landlord will fight you and try to claim that if you did not notice the bed bugs on your inspection prior to moving in, they were not there to begin with, and you were the cause of the incident.
If you need an experienced lawyer for bed bugs in Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, West Scarborough, South Portland, call our firm – we’ll help you get started on your lawsuit.
Can I Sue A Motel Or Hotel For Bed Bugs In Maine?
Yes, you can sue a hotel in Maine for bed bugs. Individuals on property can be categorized into either invitees, licensees, or trespassers. Customers in hotels are considered invitees and must be given the highest level of care. As such, hotel owners must have clean rooms that are free from vermin and contamination, and if there are any incidents that contribute to the sickness or injuries of guests, the hotel can be held responsible.
A personal injury lawsuit is based on negligence and operates according to the proving of these four points: that you were owed a duty of care, the duty of care was breached, the breach led to an incident, and the incident resulted in physical injuries.
It is important that you do not go to the hotel staff to file an incident report until you have gathered evidence to file your lawsuit. If you do so beforehand, they can bar you from the room and clean it, thus preventing you from having proof that you were bitten. You should also not accept any compensation from the hotel; the staff may try to give you free or discounted rooms, promotional codes, or other gifts to prevent you from suing. Accepting anything could damage the potential success of your lawsuit, as it can be claimed that you were already compensated.
Some of the hotels we have handled claims against include:
- Choice Hotels
- Extended Stay America
- Hampton Inn
- La Quinta Inn
- Courtyard Marriott
- Days Inn
- Fairfield Inn
- Red Roof Inn
- Super 8
- Best Western
- MGM
- Howard Johnson
- Red Lion Hotel
- Hilton Hotel
- Holiday Inn
- Marriott Hotel
- Motel 6
- Quality Inn
Contact a skilled attorney for bed bug infestations in Maine and cities like Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, West Scarborough, South Portland if you wish to take legal action against a hotel.
Steps to Take for a Bed Bug Lawsuit
It is crucial that you follow these steps to gather enough evidence to sue the responsible party for your damages stemming from bed bugs. The steps are:
- Get medical attention as quickly as possible
- Hold on to your medical bills and doctor’s notes
- Snap photos of the bugs and their nests, which may be underneath upholstery, inside drawers, behind carpets, underneath box springs and more
- Remove all luggage from the room or contain the furniture
- Report the incident to the hotel staff or alert your landlord to the incident
- Make copies of your lease agreement, credit card statement, hotel room receipt, and more
- Gather all of your evidence together to send to a qualified bed bug attorney in Maine
How Much Can I Earn From A Bed Bug Lawsuit?
The average value of a bed bug lawsuit case depends on the extent of your injuries and how much property damage you accrued. The insurance agent will weigh all the factors of the case and then will make an offer. If you suffered adverse health effects from the bites, you would face a larger amount than someone who was only partially hurt.
The settlement amount for a bed bug lawsuit claim against your landlord or a hotel can be well over $300,000 if you were in need of lengthy medical treatments, if you had to refurnish your home, if you could not go to work or some time, and more. Our attorneys will strive to bring you the maximum compensation available under the law and will not stop pursuing your rightful restitution until we are satisfied with the result.
You may be able to earn the following forms of coverage:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
Our Firm: The Right Choice for You
The Bed Bug Legal Group has years of experience handling bed bug lawsuits against various parties. We have the best methods for winning your case and will aggressively work around the clock to negotiate the best deal. Call our firm for a free legal consultation with a Maine bed bug attorney to learn more about the legal process and how we can help. We will give you our zero fee guarantee if you hire us, which promises that you won’t have to pay any out of pocket expenses throughout your case. We’ll get paid only if we win, and if we lose, we earn nothing at all.
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