Suffering through a bed bug infestation can be a traumatizing experience that leaves you financially wounded. The effects of bed bugs can last long after the infestation ends, and if you had no hand in the cause, you may be able to file a lawsuit for financial compensation. The responsible party should be made to cover your expenses, whether that party is a hotel or landlord. You would be best off securing the representation of an accomplished bed bug lawyer in the Tennessee area, whether in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, or Chattanooga. Our team of expert attorneys at the Bed Bug Legal Group has years of experience specializing in bed bug lawsuits, and we have earned millions for our clients.
Identifying Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are small pests that feast on human blood. They are oval shaped and reddish-brown in color, only about 1 to 1.5mm large. Some people confuse them with fleas because of the bites that both insects inflict, but a key difference is in maneuverability: fleas can jump many times their own body sizes and are usually present on animals, while bed bugs can only crawl and make nests in which to stay.
One of the most frustrating traits of bed bugs is their hardiness, which contributes to the difficulty of eradicating them. Bed bugs can go weeks or months without feasting on any blood, and in that time, they do not need to leave their nests. This means that an infestation could be present right under your nose and you would not know it.
In order to identify the presence of bed bugs, you should be on the lookout for a few different indicators. They may leave behind exoskeletons and skins as they mature, as well as droppings in the form of small mounds. Their eggs are small, oval, and cream colored, and they are usually present near the nests. Spots of blood on the sheets and bites on your body likely also indicate an infestation.
To learn more about the creatures, call a bed bug lawyer in Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, or Chattanooga.
Location of Nests
Bed bugs can be in any establishment or property if they latched onto someone’s luggage, bagging, or clothing and were transported to a new location. They have put entire hotels out of commission and have made property owners pay high settlements in court. A common misconception is that they are only found in dirty spaces, but this is not true; bed bugs are perfectly comfortable anywhere and have been found in some of the most upscale and high maintenance hotels in the world. All they care about is the proximity to a meal.
Bed bugs like to nest in dark and damp places, usually near their victims, so you can expect to find nests behind the headboard of the bed, under the mattress, behind the baseboard and molding, behind electrical outlets and picture frames, and beneath couch and sofa cushions. Some of these areas may never be cleaned, which can make it extremely difficult to find out if the bugs have been vanquished after a treatment.
They are usually present in places that have numerous visitors and travelers passing through, like hotels, motels, motor lodges and resorts, buses, trains, and more. In each of these places, the owners have a responsibility to protect those who use the vicinity; this includes keeping people safe from danger and harm, which covers bed bugs.
What to Do after Discovering Bed Bugs
At nighttime, bed bugs will emerge from their nests and find their victims. They will bite into the skin and suck blood, becoming engorged over the night, moving to different spots to bite and resume feasting, before returning to their nests. Their bites will not wake you up because they have anesthetic qualities in their saliva, and the blood can continuously flow due to the presence of an anticoagulant. You may wake up after a stay in a hotel and detect blood and bites (although the bites may sometimes take a few days to show up).
Immediately after seeing bed bugs or the indication of bed bugs, you should hunt for the nests and take photos and videos of what you find. The more evidence you have, the more solid your claim will be. You should not alert the property owner or manager to the presence of the creatures until you have documented the infestation. In hotels, for instance, the manager may relocate you to another room while the cleaning team fixes the room you were just in, thus preventing you from getting your evidence. They will be able to deny that you suffered bed bug bites at the premises. In apartment buildings, your landlord has a responsibility to provide you with a clean dwelling; the presence of bed bugs is a clear violation of that duty and a violation of the health code. However, if the creatures appeared after you moved on, you will likely be unable to take legal action against your landlord.
When you’ve been bitten, you should go to the doctor to get medical treatment. Bed bug bites can be spots for infections because of their irritation and likelihood of opening and festering. Although bed bugs do not transmit diseases, it is still a good idea to get checked out and have a blood test conducted.
You should file a complaint with the property owner, but the most important step is finding a bed bug lawyer in Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville, or Chattanooga to help you litigate your claim.
Basis of a Lawsuit
A personal injury lawsuit against a property owner for bed bug bites can be won by proving negligence. The responsible party must have acted negligently and directly or indirectly caused you harm. The first point involves a duty of care, and all property owners, whether hotel managers, motel supervisors, or landlords, must protect visitors and provide safe spaces. A breach of that duty results when the owner does not require cleaning crews to deeply clean the location or if he does not take the necessary action to exterminate the pests.
As a result of that breach of duty, the infestation and ensuing bed bug attacks could occur, resulting in physical harm to you and numerous other damages. Our bed bug lawyers in Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga can help you prove these points of negligence and file your claim.
Statute of Limitations
Personal injury lawsuits have a statute of limitations of two years from the date of the injury or discovery of the injury to take action. It can be difficult to retroactively seek compensation in bed bug lawsuits because you may not be able to pinpoint where the bed bugs came from if you suffered bites or if an infestation rose up in your home. The parties could easily deny responsibility; for this reason, it is crucial that you document the evidence as soon as it happens if you notice any indication of bed bugs and file a claim as quickly as possible. Waiting too long will result in you not being able to receive any compensation for your damages.
Compensation from a Claim
A bed bug lawsuit can result in numerous types of compensation for your damages. You may be able to have your medical bills covered, including coverage of hospital visits and future procedures. You may need to spend time away from work because of your injuries or because you cannot stay at your house or use your vehicle; the extermination may force you to rent a room somewhere while your home and transportation method get cleaned. You can thus receive reimbursement for your lost income.
Additionally, the amount of property that you own that is damaged because of the bed bugs can be reimbursed. Your luggage, clothing, furniture, and other belongings may need to be thrown away if they cannot be eradicated of bed bugs, and the costs can be covered by the responsible entity.
Further, the emotional trauma of dealing with bed bug bites and infestations can be debilitating. You may suffer anxiety, fear, PTSD, psychological troubles, and more when faced with insects or when sleeping in unfamiliar places. These non-economic damages can be covered as well.
You should be aware that seeking compensation by yourself is ill-advised as you may not have the required legal experience, time, energy, or money to file a lawsuit and see it through to the end. An expert attorney can take the reins and litigate your claim for you while you focus on cleaning your home and restoring your life to normal. Call a bed bug lawyer in Tennessee for more assistance.
The Right Firm for You
Our qualified lawyers at the Bed Bug Legal Group are here to help you and your family receive the settlement you deserve for bed bug damages. We know how crippling such an occurrence can be, and it is our goal to keep you safe and provided for during the process. We will aggressively negotiate with the insurance agency and hunt for your fair compensation. If necessary, we will take your case to court to fight for your rights; you are our primary concern, and we will do everything we can to bring you back to normalcy.
Contact our law group today for a free legal consultation with an experienced attorney. You can ask questions about your claim and the laws governing such occurrences, and we will consider your case and tell you what we believe it’s worth. All of our consultations are confidential; none of your private details will be leaked or given away.
If you choose us to represent you, you will be given our zero fee guarantee on your claim, which promises that you will not have to pay any out of pocket expenses for our services. We will cover the costs of the case throughout the process, and we only get paid and reimbursed if we win. The money will be retrieved from the settlement we bring you. If we lose, you will not have to pay us a single dime, and you can walk away no worse for wear. We will eat the costs of the case ourselves and suffer the net loss.
If you require a bed bug attorney in Chattanooga, Memphis, Knoxville, or Nashville, don’t hesitate to call our law group. We’re available around the clock to assist you.
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