What Are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are small, round, reddish-brown creatures with flat bodies that feast on human blood. They are nocturnal and have many unique traits, such as an anesthetic and an anti-coagulant in their saliva, which prevents you from feeling pain when you’re bitten and causes the blood to flow continuously while they drink. They can have one meal of blood and go back to their nests for weeks at a time.
Bed bugs are found in various places, from AirBNB locations to hotels and apartments. They are most often found in damp, dark places, such as behind paintings, inside electrical outlets, underneath couches and upholstery, inside cushions and pillows, underneath bed frames and box springs, behind base boards and headboards, below carpets and drawers, and more.
The bites of bed bugs are raised red welts that are slightly itchy; they do not show up immediately and may take a few days or hours. They appear in a distinct zigzag pattern and may cause an allergic reaction in some individuals.
Can I File A Lawsuit For Bed Bug Bites?
Yes, you can file a lawsuit for bed bug bites. You must be bale to show that you were owed a duty of care that was breached by the responsible party, and that breach resulted in physical injuries. If you were not bitten by the bed bugs but you did need to throw out various belongings, you will not be able to file a personal injury claim.
Instead, you will only be able to collect the restitution for your property and your lost time at work, if there were any missed days. These types of claims usually do not require a lot of negotiation and arguing; you may even be able to handle them by yourself with no legal help.
Once medical bills are introduced, though, insurance agents become much more reluctant to offer any settlements, and as a result, will throw out claims left and right. For this reason, it is crucial that you hire an attorney who can recognize the troubles with bed bug lawsuits and win them accordingly.
Can You Sue Your Landlord For Bed Bugs?
When people ask, “Can I sue my landlord for bed bugs in Massachusetts,” we usually answer yes, you can sue your landlord for bed bugs. Landlords must provide clean environments to their tenants; violation of this can result in various fines and violations, not to mention a lawsuit from the individual.
During the inspection process of the house, you have an opportunity to notice any bed bugs. However, many landlords may not be able to clean the rooms in time or will not know the best way to get rid of bed bugs. Or they could simply not want to spend the money o fix the issue if there is no guarantee that you will move in. If you do not notice the bed bugs, you may find it hard to sue if they reveal themselves later. The landlord can claim that since you both saw nothing of consequence, the burden of the expenses will be on you.
If you want to file an apartment bed bug infestation lawsuit for apartment buildings in Boston, Springfield, Lowell, Cambridge, Worcester, you must show that the landlord acted in one of three ways. He must either have:
- Been aware that the infestation was present and elected to do nothing to correct it
- Caused the infestation to happen, such as by bringing bed bugs in with furniture
- Was unaware of the infestation but reasonably should have known that there was an issue, as other landlords in his same position would have.
If you need an attorney to help you sue your landlord for bed bugs, call our firm – we’ll provide you with an expert lawyer.
Can I Sue A Hotel For Bed Bugs?
Yes, you can sue a hotel in Massachusetts for bed bugs. Hotels must provide their customers with contamination-free living spaces and if there are any vermin or unsanitary conditions, there can be dire consequences. If any injuries happen from such an incident, the hotel can be held totally liable.
The main problem with hotels and bed bugs is the sheer number of rooms. An infestation may not be limited to just one room; there could be bed bugs in numerous places in the hotel, especially if the cleaning staff unknowingly transported them from one area to another.
One of the issues that victims face when dealing with lawsuits against hotels is not being able to procure the evidence they need to file their lawsuits. They will usually alert the hotel manager as soon as they notice that there are bed bugs, and the manager will take them from the room and give them another. They may even offer free rooms and discounted stays. Once the room has been cleaned, you will not be allowed back in. Further, accepting the compensation could make it hard to file a claim and receive additional coverage, as the hotel can claim that you were adequately covered with such a deal.
A few of the hotels that have been targeted for bed bug lawsuits include:
- Red Roof Inn
- Super 8
- Best Western
- Choice Hotels
- Extended Stay America
- Hilton Hotel
- Holiday Inn
- Marriott Hotel
- Motel 6
- Quality Inn
- Hampton Inn
- La Quinta Inn
- MGM
- Howard Johnson
- Red Lion Hotel
- Courtyard Marriott
- Days Inn
- Fairfield Inn
How to File a Bed Bug Lawsuit in Massachusetts
There are a few crucial steps that you should take to ensure that your bed bug lawsuit will succeed. They are as follows:
- Get medical attention to have adequate medical bills and notes indicating that you were injured in the incident
- Take photos of the bites you suffered
- Take pictures of the nests and bed bugs themselves if possible
- File an incident report with the hotel or contact your landlord
- Reach out to a Massachusetts bed bug attorney for more assistance
What Is The Average Value Of A Bed Bug Lawsuit Case In Massachusetts?
The settlement amount for a bed bug lawsuit claim against your landlord or a hotel can be in excess of $250,000. The insurance agent will weigh the injuries you suffered and how much property was damaged. If the expenses are high, you will likely have a larger offer than if you were not seriously hurt and did not suffer many other damages. Our firm will do all we can to bring you maximum compensation available for your damages. We aim to recover the following expenses for you:
- Medical expenses, including medication, hospitalization, future medical treatments, and more
- Property damage, such as damage to your furniture, bed, upholstery, carpeting, car interior, and more
- Lost income at work due to absent days, as well as future missed days
- Extermination and fumigation fees
- Pain and suffering, such as emotional scarring, PTSD, anxiety, fear, psychological trauma, mental problems, and more
Talk with an attorney for bed bug infestations in Massachusetts and cities like Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Cambridge to learn more.
Statute of Limitations for a Bed Bug Claim
You only have three years from the date of the injury to file a claim for injuries suffered by bed bugs. You can sue the hotel owner or landlord for up to three years after the injury if there are no exceptions. Common exceptions include your age (you do not have to adhere to the statute of limitations until you turn 18 years old) and the location of the defendant a defendant who vacates the state causes the deadline to be extended for as long as he is not in the state).
Our team of bed bug attorneys in Lowell, Cambridge, Worcester, Boston, Springfield can help you ensure that your claim is filed on time. Call us for more assistance in figuring out how long you have to sue your landlord in Massachusetts for bed bugs or to sue a motel or hotel for bed bugs in Massachusetts.
The Right Firm for You
The Bed Bug Legal Group can provide you with an expert lawyer for bed bugs in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Cambridge. We have spent years handling bed bug lawsuits and our decades of combined experience provide us with the best knowledge and skills around. We will aggressively pursue your rightful restitution and will not stop until we are satisfied with the offer from the insurance agent. If no such offer comes because the insurance company is being overly resistant and unwilling to make a deal, we will take your case to court to fight for your rights as a victim in front of a judge and jury.
Contact us today to speak with a qualified bed bug lawyer in Massachusetts and to schedule a free legal consultation. All consultations are private and act as an opportunity for you to ask us any questions you want and to learn more about the legal process. We will help you determine the best route to take and will tell you what we believe we can win for you.
If you want us to handle your case, we will provide you with our zero fee guarantee, which states that you won’t have to pay a single cent to have your claim litigated. We will cover all the expenses of the case and will only have our fees reimbursed if we win. The money will come out of the settlement we win for you. If we lose, you owe us nothing whatsoever.
Reach out to the Bed Bug Legal Group if you need help from a bed bug lawyer for apartment bed bug infestations in Massachusetts or if you require a bed bug lawsuit attorney in Massachusetts for bed bug bites in a hotel.
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