Bed bugs can spread throughout nearly any location in the U.S., regardless of the specific city or state. Bed bugs are also often challenging to eliminate, and they can become equally difficult to control when they’ve started to spread. In many cases, their spread is the result of negligence on the part of hotel management, business owners, landlords, or other parties who fail to properly identify or remove bed bugs from the premises before they’re allowed to spread.
If you believe that your apartment, home, or hotel room in Gainesville, Florida has experienced an infestation because of another individual or entity’s negligence, and you and your loved ones sustained bed bug bites and other related damages, you may be able to seek compensation with the help of a bed bug attorney. Our team of attorneys can handle certain types of cases that took place in Gainesville, along with many other cities in Florida and across the U.S.
How Bed Bug Bite Victims May Be Able to Recover Compensation for Infestations in Gainesville
Have you or your loved ones suffered from bed bug bites, pain and suffering, or property damage because of a bed bug infestation while staying at a hotel or following a move into a new home? If negligence is behind the infestation, you may be able to seek compensation from the responsible parties for related damages.
When allowed to spread, bed bugs can infest any location, regardless of how clean the location is. Bed bugs feed on the blood of people, which enables them to thrive anywhere as long as people are present. People mistakenly believe that filthy environments facilitate bed bugs’ ability to spread, but the fact is that they can settle anywhere if food sources are present.
How Bed Bug Infestations Develop in Gainesville
Oftentimes, bed bugs spread because of another party’s negligent practices. Bed bugs can quickly travel throughout nearly space if they have the ability to feed. They may spread throughout hotel rooms, homes, apartments, or businesses such as furniture stores. This is why it’s necessary to make sure that these properties are well-maintained to prevent bed bugs from spreading. If there’s any failure to identify and eliminate bed bugs, the parties responsible may be liable for related damages sustained, including bed bug bites and property damage that result in medical expenses and financial loss.
Hotels often experience problems with bed bugs. Due to many hotels failing to implement proper bed bug protocols or training programs, many properties may develop bed bug infestations. Hotel beds are an ideal environment for bed bugs, with many people sleeping in the same bed as people check in and out of the hotel. Therefore, it’s necessary for hotels to perform thorough inspections of each bed and room before new guests check into the room. Failure to properly inspect and treat a room may lead to many injuries and could constitute negligence.
If a negligent party is deemed responsible for bed bug infestations and their resulting damages, they may need to cover the subsequent expenses, including related economic and non-economic damages.
How to Spot Bed Bugs in Gainesville
If a negligent party allowed bed bugs to spread throughout an apartment, hotel room, or another property, it’s important to collect sufficient evidence to support the extent of the bed bug infestation present.
Bites are among the most frequently obvious signs of bed bug infestations. Bites tend to appear in a small line or cluster in the bite area. However, some people may suffer severe allergic reactions to bed bug bites, leading them to ooze and swell. The number of bed bug bites suffered may help determine the extent of the infestation. As a result, it’s important to photograph and videotape all injuries and the injuries of others who stayed in the same room.
Bed bugs, which may be visible as adults in the infested area, should also be photographed. Adults appear similar to apple seeds in their shape and size, and they may be dark or pale brown. You may also spot small pill-shaped white eggs, or sheddings may be visible. Brown or red spots may also be visible on bedding, or black fecal spots may be present.
Inspect the bedding, mattress, and box springs for evidence of bed bugs. If you uncover areas with multiple black, inky spots, this may indicate a bed bug nest. Regardless of the evidence you find, photograph and videotape it, which could help support a potential case.
Types of Recoverable Damages for Bed Bug Bites in Gainesville
If bed bug infestations are allowed to spread and cause damage because of another party’s negligence, it may be possible to seek compensation for the various damages sustained, including injuries, property damage, and others.
Some damages that bed bug victims may be able to recover compensation for include:
- Medical bills
- Furniture replacements
- Lost wages resulting from time taken off from work to recover
- Replacements for damaged personal belongings, including clothing
- Professional extermination costs
Some possible non-monetary damages may include:
- Psychological distress
- Social isolation
- Insomnia or other similar symptoms
- Embarrassment that the incident caused
If you would like to find out whether you have a bed bug case resulting from an incident that occurred in Gainesville that our office may be able to assist with, contact our bed bug attorneys to discuss your potential case in a free consultation.
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.