Bed bugs have the ability to spread in nearly any location across the U.S., regardless of the state or city. Bed bugs are often difficult to get rid of, and they can be extremely difficult to control once given the chance to spread. Oftentimes, bed bugs can spread as the result of negligence on the part of landlords, hotel management, business owners, and other parties who fail to properly identify or remove these pests from the premises before they have the chance to spread.
If you believe your home, apartment, or hotel room in Kent, Washington has endured an infestation because of another party’s negligence, and you or 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 lawyer. Our team of lawyers can handle certain types of cases that occurred in Kent, along with many other cities in Washington and throughout the U.S.
How Bed Bug Bite Victims May Recover Damages for Infestations in Kent
Have you or your loved ones sustained bed bug bites, property damage, or pain and suffering because of a bed bug infestation after moving into a new home or staying at a hotel? If negligence was the cause, you may be able to recover compensation from liable parties for these and other related damages.
When allowed to spread, bed bugs are capable of infesting any location, regardless of its cleanliness. Bed bugs feed on the blood of people, which allows them to thrive in any space as long as people are present. People often believe that filthy environments are what allow bed bugs to spread, but they can actually spread in any space if they have access to food.
How Bed Bug Infestations Happen in Kent
In many cases, bed bugs spread because of another party’s negligent practices. Bed bugs can easily and swiftly travel throughout nearly any space as long as they aren’t eradicated and are able to feed. They may spread in hotel rooms, apartments, homes, or businesses such as furniture rental outlets and stores. This is why it’s important to ensure that these properties are consistently well-maintained to keep bed bugs from spreading. If a failure to identify bed bugs and get rid of them occurs, the parties responsible may need to cover the related damages, including property damage and bites that culminated in medical bills, other financial losses, and pain and suffering.
Hotels frequently experience issues with bed bugs. Because many hotels fail to implement proper bed bug protocols or training programs, many of these facilities develop bed bug infestations. Hotel beds are an ideal environment for bed bugs for a number of reasons. Since many people are sleeping in the same bed over and over, if the hotel has insufficient cleaning and inspection protocols, it gives bed bugs an ideal breeding ground. Therefore, it’s necessary for hotels to perform thorough inspections of each bed and room before new guests check into the room, and to properly train staff on what to look for. Failure to properly inspect and treat a room may lead to many injuries and 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 Kent
If a negligent party enabled bed bugs to spread in a hotel room, apartment, or another property, it’s important to collect sufficient evidence to support the extent of the bed bug infestation present.
Bites are often easy-to-spot signs of bed bug infestations. Bites typically appear in a small line or cluster in the bite area. However, some people may suffer severe allergic reactions to bed bug bites, causing 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. Any evidence of infestation you find should be videoed and photographed.
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 Kent
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 in Kent 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.