Bed bugs have the ability to make their home in almost any area in the U.S. if they can access food. They can make their homes in people’s houses, apartments, hotel rooms, and other locations in Santa Monica, California, and other cities across the state. Oftentimes, another party’s negligence or other improper conduct is the cause of infestations, enabling them to spread.
If you or a loved one sustained bed bug bites and other related damages due to bed bug infestations in Santa Monica or another city, you may be able to seek compensation with the help of an attorney. Our experienced bed bug attorneys can handle certain types of cases that take place in Santa Monica along with other locations all over the country, depending on the circumstances.
How Do Bed Bug Infestations Develop in Santa Monica, California?
If you or a loved one have endured a bed bug infestation and bites or other connected damages, you may be able to get help from a trusted bed bug attorney if you believe improper conduct was responsible. With the help of a reliable lawyer, you may be able to build a case that shows that another party’s negligence contributed to an infestation and subsequent damages.
Bed bugs can spread in many areas when looking for food sources. They eat blood meals from people, which enables them to claim a home in any location where people are regularly present. Although it’s commonly believed that bed bugs can only thrive in filthy environments, they can actually live in any location if they have access to food supplies. This is why hotel employees and others must be vigilant in keeping facilities consistently clean and clear of bed bugs.
Hotels often experience bed bug infestations for several reasons. The first is that many guests spend days and nights in hotel rooms, giving bed bugs plenty of opportunities to feed, particularly with so many guests sleeping in the same beds. Another reason is that hotel employees don’t tend to receive the training they need to accurately spot and properly get rid of bed bugs to prevent their spread. These and other risks make it necessary for hotel management to adequately train employees and work to keep these facilities clean.
Identifying Bed Bug Infestations in Santa Monica
If you believe that a bed bug infestation developed in or around Santa Monica and that a negligent party caused it, you may be able to accurately identify the infestation and capture evidence to build a case.
The most common type of evidence in these cases is bed bug bites. Bites from these pests normally appear in lines or clusters around the bite area. These bites resemble other insects’ and may itch, but they may also swell and ooze if the victim is allergic to bed bug bites. You may also be able to see evidence in the form of adult bed bugs that are brown and look somewhat like apple seeds, sheddings, white pill-shaped eggs, brown or red fecal spots, or black clusters that could indicate a nest.
If you see any evidence in the area, take photos or record video footage for potential use in a Santa Monica bed bug case.
Recovering Compensation for Bed Bug Cases in Santa Monica
If a bed bug infestation causes bites and other related damages, victims may have the chance to recover compensation if they can show that a negligent party contributed to it. These cases tend to involve both economic and non-economic damages that victims may recover.
Some recoverable economic damages in these cases could include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Professional extermination expenses
- The cost of replacing bedding and other damaged belongings
Meanwhile, non-economic damages may include the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Social isolation
- Embarrassment
- Psychological distress
- Insomnia
To learn whether you have a case we can assist with and determine the options available to you, schedule a free consultation with our attorneys today.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. This firm handles claims nationwide on a pre-litigation basis. Some attorneys are not licensed to practice in certain jurisdictions. Although most bed bug cases resolve without a lawsuit, should one need to be filed in a jurisdiction the firm is not authorized to practice, our lawyers work with local counsel upon the execution of a new agreement.