Consider the following hypothetical scenarios:
You are on a quick trip a few cities over which means that you have to spend a few nights at a hotel. You choose the hotel because it has many positive reviews. When you arrive, you do not see anything concerning—your room and the entire hotel is in an acceptable condition. Near the end of your trip, you start noticing a few bites over your body. You thoroughly inspect the room and you identify bed bugs. When you report the incident to hotel management, they inform you that there have been many multiple complaints of insect bites in that specific room.
You move into an apartment and within a few months, the bed bug infestation becomes unbearable. You contact your landlord to address the infestation, but your landlord continuously ignores your pleas. Even though your landlord is aware of the bed bug problem in the apartment, he fails to take any action to eradicate the infestation.
Which of these scenarios best represents what happened to you and your family? Regardless of the specific details of your bed bug exposure, you might have many questions about the Ohio bed bug laws and the right to pursue Ohio bed bug cases. What are the bed bug laws in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Akron, and Toledo? Some of your questions might include the following:
- What are the Ohio state bed bug laws that apply to your current situation?
- Are there any bed bug laws in Ohio state?
- Are there Ohio landlord bed bug laws?
- What are the Ohio hotel bed bug laws?
- What are your rights as a tenant or as a hotel/motel guest?
- Do you have the right to file an Ohio bed bug lawsuit?
If you have any of these questions or any other questions regarding the bed bug infestation laws in Toledo, Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, speak with an Ohio bed bug injury lawyer. The bed bug experts at Bed Bug Legal Group will provide you with all the information that you need to pursue your claim and gain a thorough understanding of your rights. If you were recently harmed after being exposed to a bed bug infestation in a hotel, motel, or apartment, you might have many questions on Ohio bed bug law. For answers, do not hesitate to contact Bed Bug Legal Group as soon as possible.
About Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are small, blood-sucking pests that are commonly found in hotels, motels, and apartments. These locations provide bed bugs with not only a steady source of blood but also many places to hide. Bed bugs can be found hiding in a variety of places, including but not limited to the following: mattresses, bed frames, pillows, carpets, rugs, couches, chairs, sofas, clothing, luggage, furniture, and even in walls and floorboards. Bed bugs are often resistant to bed bug pesticide and can survive more than a year without eating, making bed bug infestations some of the most difficult infestations to address. Bed bugs are known to cause a number of injuries and other damages.
The Harm Associated with Exposure to Bed Bugs
Bed bug lawsuits can be worth significant monetary amounts because of the extensive harm bed bugs could cause. The parties who are unknowingly exposed to bed bug infestations in Ohio motels, hotels, and apartments often suffer a number of bed bug injuries. The most common injuries include bed bug bites. These bed bug bites could result in allergic reactions, skin infections, allergic reactions, and scars. In addition to the physical harm that could result from exposure to bed bug infestations, victims could be left struggling with depression, embarrassment, anxiety, fear, post-traumatic stress disorder, among many other mental and emotional afflictions, for instance. In many cases, the parties exposed to bed bug infestations could also suffer property damage. Overall, bed bugs in Ohio motels, hotels, and apartments could result in extensive harm to you and your family. If you suffered any type of harm after being exposed to a bed bug infestation, you might be interested in Ohio law and how you could file an Ohio bed bug infestation lawsuit.
Bed Bug Laws in Ohio
Is there an Ohio state law regarding bed bugs in apartments, hotels, and motels? What are the Ohio bed bug bite laws that apply to your claim? After suffering harm due to exposure to bed bug infestations, you and your family could be interested in understanding the city ordinances or laws that could offer you some sort of protection.
Unfortunately, there are no clear Ohio renter bed bug laws or Ohio landlord tenant laws regarding bed bugs in apartments. However, that does not mean that you and your family are unprotected. Based on general landlord-tenant law, landlords have the duty to keep their rental properties in a habitable condition. Bed bug infestations make apartments inhabitable; therefore, landlords implicitly have the duty to keep their rental properties free of bed bug infestations.
On the other hand, there are specific bed bug laws in terms of infestations in hotels and motels. Ohio law—specifically R.C. § 3731.13 Hotels and Single Room Occupancy Facilities—establishes that bedding, carpets, and floors must be kept clean and in a sanitary condition. The law prohibits hotels and motels from using bedding that is infested by bed bugs. Based on common law, hotel and motel owners have the duty to promote their guests’ health by keeping their premises free from any hazards, such as bed bug infestations.
If you would like to learn more about the laws that protect you and your family as well as establish your right to sue and receive compensation, do not hesitate to contact Bed Bug Legal Group and request to discuss your claim with our bed bug experts.
The Right to Pursue a Bed Bug Lawsuit in Ohio
Based on bed bug law and legal statutes in Ohio, you have the right to sue a landlord in Ohio for bed bugs just like you have the right to sue a hotel/motel owner. Most bed bug cases are filed on the basis of negligence. In other words, a party had a specific duty of care toward you which was breached. When the breach of duty (e.g. failure to address a known bed bug infestation) causes injuries, the party with the duty of care could be found liable for the damages caused by the breach of duty. If you would like to learn more about your right to pursue your claim based on negligence, contact our law firm as soon as possible.
The Statute of Limitations for an Ohio Bed Bug Case in Ohio
Besides understanding the Ohio tenant bed bug laws and laws regarding bed bug infestations in hotels/motels, the parties harmed by exposure to bed bug infestations should be familiar with the laws in Ohio regarding the deadlines to pursue their claims. All claims are subject to statutes of limitations, or timelines that establish the length of time that they have to file their claims. In Ohio, victims harmed by bed bug infestations have 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Victims who suffered property damage also have 2 years to file a property damage claim. If claims are not filed within the appropriate statute of limitations, victims could lose the right to sue and receive compensation. If you would like to learn more about the timelines that apply to your claim, do not hesitate to contact our bed bug law firm at your earliest convenience.
Important Steps for Bed Bug Cases in Ohio
Without a doubt, reviewing and understanding the bed bugs laws for hotel bed bugs in Ohio or apartment bed bug laws in Ohio is essential to pursuing a bed bug claim. However, there are many other things that victims should do in addition to understanding Ohio statutes and constitution on bed bug infestations. Anyone who is harmed by bed bugs in a hotel, motel, or apartment should do the following:
- Photograph your bed bug bites as soon as you notice them. If you suffered any other physical harm due to your bed bug bites, take photographs as well.
- Photograph the bed bugs or evidence of the bed bugs (feces, blood stains, etc.) throughout the motel/hotel room or apartment.
- Make a written report of the bed bug infestation to the landlord, hotel owner, or motel owner.
- Seek medical attention for your physical, mental, and emotional injuries.
- Evaluate the value of the property damage that resulted from your exposure to the infestation.
- Keep records of all expenses, documents, and conversations associated with your exposure to the bed bug infestation.
- Seek legal assistance to better understand Ohio motel bed bug laws and Ohio apartment bed bug laws.
Completing the points above does not guarantee the success of your bed bug claim by any means. However, doing so provides you with the tools that you need to begin working towards filing a claim and recovering the compensation that you deserve. Do not hesitate to contact our law firm to learn more about what should do in addition to understanding the bedbugs laws, health laws, and building codes that could apply to your current situation.
Our Law Firm
A quick look through a bedbug registry reveals the seriousness of the bed bug problem in Ohio. Hotel/motel owners, their guests, renters and landlords alike are left struggling with the consequences of bed bug infestations in hotels, motels, and apartments. Is it landlord responsibility to address infestation? Are there laws regarding Ohio motel/hotel infestations? If you and your family were harmed in any way after exposure to a bed bug infestation, it is essential that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Our firm offers both free consultations and free second opinions as part of our Zero-Fee guarantee. Our firm is also strictly based on contingency; therefore, you will not be required to pay anything until your claim is successful. For more information on Ohio law on bed bugs and your right to file a claim, contact our law firm as soon as possible.
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