Bed bugs can spread from one location to another with ease, resulting in infestations all over Illinois and throughout the U.S. They can also cause pain and inconvenience for guests and residents in and around Joliet. Oftentimes, the spread of bed bugs is a direct result of the negligence of a third party.
If you believe that you are a victim of negligence that resulted in bed bug bites and infestations, you may be able to seek compensation with the help of a reliable Joliet bed bug injury attorney who may provide representation on a pre-litigation basis. Whether a hotel owner, landlord, or furniture store owner caused an infestation through negligent practices, you may be able to recover both monetary and non-monetary damages with a trustworthy lawyer.
How a Bed Bug Infestation Can Take Place in Joliet
Bed bugs have the ability to travel and live just about anywhere if food is available through people or animals, regardless of how clean the environment may be. Subsequently, many Joliet guests and residents suffer from bites while visiting or at home, oftentimes after bringing bed bugs home with them following their travels.
Another potential source of infestations is rented or purchased furniture that comes from infested rental outlets or stores. In these cases, owners may be responsible for the damages sustained, as bed bugs often travel on used or new furniture to new locations where blood meals are present.
Negligent landlords may also enable infestations to take place in their apartment buildings. Sometimes, they claim that tenants brought the infestation home with them following periods of travel. It’s possible for tenants to bring bed bugs home with them, but it’s important to determine the extent of the infestation, look into past infestations on the property, and investigate recently purchased or rented furniture to ensure the proper party is found liable. It’s not uncommon for landlords to be at fault for infestations in apartments, so if the property has a history of infestations and injuries, or you can confirm that you weren’t traveling before the infestation took place or didn’t bring any infested items into the apartment, you may be able to file a claim against the landlord.
Negligent parties may be held liable for any damages and need to cover them, whether monetary or non-monetary.
Signs of Bed Bugs in Joliet
If you suspect that a bed bug infestation is taking place in the home, apartment, or hotel room where you’re staying, you can check for some signs to ensure that bed bugs are behind the infestation.
One of the most obvious signs of a bed bug infestation is their unique bites, which often appear in a short line of a few bites along the bite area. Other signs of an infestation can include visible adult bed bugs, which are around the size and shape of an apple seed, along with white pill-shaped eggs and sheddings or blood spots on bedding. Bed bugs are very good at hiding, so check every area where they might be concealed, including around your mattress, in other furniture, in closets, or in other dark spaces.
Once you’ve found any evidence, capture photographic and video evidence, which you can then use to build a potential case.
What Types of Compensation Can I Recover for Bed Bug Bites in Joliet?
If you have endured any bed bug bites and spotted an infestation in your home or another location, you may be able to seek compensation with the help of a reliable Joliet bed bug attorney, who may be able to provide pre-litigation representation and help you seek monetary and non-monetary damages.
Some of the monetary damages you may be able to recover could include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages due to time taken off from work for recovery
- Costs of replacing furniture and other damaged belongings
Non-monetary damages could include:
- Pain and suffering experienced mentally or physically as a result of the infestation
- Fearof additional incidents and
- General embarrassment
- Insomnia caused by fear of future infestations
To discover whether you have a bed bug case, contact us to request a free consultation with one of our Joliet bed bug attorneys who can discuss your potential case.
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.