Many of us live in apartments and other rental properties, or stay at hotels and motels from time to time. Unfortunately, rental accommodations are commonly afflicted with bed bugs. For those living in and visiting South Carolina, bed bugs can cause physical injuries, emotional trauma, and significant property damage.
Were you or your family exposed to a bed bug infestation at a motel, hotel, Airbnb, apartment, or some other rental in South Carolina? You may have grounds to file a bed bug lawsuit and receive monetary compensation from the negligent property owner.
To see if you are eligible for compensation, please talk to a South Carolina bed bug attorney right away. Our legal team is proud to serve Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Rock Hill, Columbia, and other cities throughout the state of South Carolina. Contact us 24/7 to schedule a free case evaluation
What are Bed Bugs?
As the name implies, bed bugs are tiny insects that are often found in bedframes and under mattresses. However, these critters can hide anywhere that’s dark and secluded, like under your rugs and between couch cushions. In some cases, you may have bed bugs behind picture frames or hiding in walls and ceilings.
Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures, meaning they are most active at night, when most of us are sleeping. This is the perfect situation for bed bugs to crawl on you and feed on your blood before crawling back to their hiding place.
Treating bed bugs requires specialized treatment that’s very different than treating standard household pests, like cockroaches and spiders. That’s why a lot of property owners hesitate to contact an exterminator, but this dangerous and illegal. Bed bugs can cause skin infections, permanent scarring, severe allergic reactions, and mental health disorders like PTSD and depression. Victims can also end up with property damage because they are forced to throw away clothing and other items that were infested by bed bugs.
South Carolina Bed Bug Laws
South Carolina has statutes that apply to bed bugs and the obligation that landlords and businesses have toward their tenants. Legal protections for renters and paying guests include:
Section 45-1-15 (A), which states that any “boardinghouse, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, residential-type lodging facility, tourist camp, roadhouse, or other similar lodging” must post a clear and visible “notice of bedbug infestation in any guestroom in which there has been a bedbug infestation about which the owner, manager, or other responsible party is aware.”
Under common law, owners of rented lodgings have a duty to prioritize the safety of their guests, so they must take immediate action to address a bed bug infestation. That means contacting an exterminator right away when they are notified of or discover signs of bed bugs on the property.
For more information on what to do in cases of bed bug infestations, contact Bed Bug Legal Group at your earliest opportunity. Our law firm is ready to advise you of your rights and secure the compensation you deserve from a bed bug infestation complaint.
Do I have the Right to File a Bed Bug Lawsuit?
Your right to sue for injuries and property damage from bed bugs is based on negligence, i.e., a failure to exercise reasonable care. When you rent a room, apartment, vacation home, etc., the owner of the property has a duty to provide you and your loved ones with a safe environment. So, you would have to show that the property was rented to you in spite of the owner knowing about a bed bug infestation on the premises. Alternatively, you notified the owner and/or staff of a bed bug infestation, but nothing was done to take care of the problem or protect you and your property until the problem was resolved.
To learn more about negligence that can form the basis of a bed bug injury claim, schedule a free consultation by contacting our office.
How Long You have to File a Bed Bug Claim in South Carolina
Please note that bed bug claims, like any personal injury lawsuit, are governed by a statute of limitations. This is the amount of time you have to file a compensation claim against the party that caused you harm and suffering. In the case of bed bug infestations on someone else’s property, you have 3 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. If you do not file a legal action before the 3-year deadline, you will lose the right to seek monetary damages, so it’s extremely important that you initiate a claim as soon as possible.
Steps to Building a Solid Bed Bug Infestation Claim
Along with an understanding of South Carolina’s bed bug laws, you must take certain steps to preserve evidence and establish the fact that you are entitled to compensation from the property owner. Here are the actions recommended by our attorneys:
- Take pictures of bite marks and other injuries
- Take photos of any indications that there are bed bugs on the property (blood stains on sheets and furniture, bed bug eggs, bed bug feces, etc.)
- If you have any damage to your clothing and other possessions, take photos of that as well.
- Notify the owner of the property in writing of the bed bug infestation, and make sure to keep a copy for yourself.
- Go to a hospital and seek medical attention for your injuries.
- Seek legal advice from a South Carolina bed bug lawyer.
Help from a Lawyer that can Sue for Bed Bugs
Our law firm is dedicated to the recovery of compensation on behalf of bed bug injury victims in South Carolina. The process begins with a free case review, which you can schedule by contacting us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Zero Fee Guarantee is a part of our commitment to injury victims, who are struggling with financial burdens through no fault of their own. We promise that you will never pay out of pocket to sue for bodily harm and property damage caused by bed bugs. All legal fees are recovered from the defendant as a part of your settlement award, so that means we have to win your case in order to get paid.
The attorneys of Bed Bug Legal Group are waiting to speak with you, so please get in touch to learn about your rights and legal options.
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