People often discover they carried bed bugs home with them after a vacation, business trip or after making a retail purchase. Landlords, hotels and retail stores often fail to protect Ohio residents from bed bugs. Even when people complain, owners and managers may not want to take care of the problem or compensate you for your losses after you suffer a bedbug bite or infestation.
You should not have to suffer any loss because of the potential negligence of hotels, landlords or retail establishments. If you are a victim, get a free consultation to discuss your legal options and pre-litigation case representation.
Prevalence of Bed Bugs in Ohio
Bedbugs are found in all 50 states. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) points out, “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) all consider bed bugs a public health pest.”
Several Ohio cities consistently rank near the top of the list of annual reports of bed bugs throughout the country. In particular, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, Cincinnati and Toledo rank high among the number of reported bed bug cases.
Learn more about bedbugs, your rights, bed bug case litigation and what to expect from Ohio bed bug attorneys during your bed bug case representation.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Bed bugs are small, reddish-brown bugs with darker brown horizontal stripes across their oval-shaped body. The typical adult bed bug is only about 5 mm long, says the EPA.
Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed solely on animals and humans.
Where are Bed Bugs Found?
Bed bugs are often found in apartments, hotels and retail establishments that sell furniture.
Several reports in Ohio indicate that people discovered bed bugs in their hotel rooms, newly-purchased furniture and pre-owned furniture from large furniture rental stores, for example.
Bed bugs get transported to your residence after you stay in an Ohio hotel, when you receive delivery of your new furniture or even from your Ohio workplace. All cities in Ohio can experience bed bug infestations but rest assured, we can represent clients anywhere in the state.
Some cities in Ohio that we can provide representation are:
How to Know if You Have Bed Bugs
Itchy bite marks, brownish-red spots on your mattress or box springs at home, your hotel or resort, particularly around the seams or sides of the bedding, are signs of bed bugs. You may actually see bed bugs when you carefully inspect bedding.
Bed bugs feed to obtain their blood meal primarily at night, when unsuspecting people are sound asleep. If your parents ever told you this little rhyme, now you know why: “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.”
How to Determine if a Bed Bug Bit You
Bed bugs inject an anesthetic into the skin of its victims before biting them. That is why people only know a bed bug bit them after seeing or feeling the evidence of the bite or when discovering it while bathing or changing clothes.
People react differently to bed bug bites. Some people suffer an allergic reaction. Others may not know right away, which is a reason some people are not aware they became a bed bug victim until after returning home from a hotel or resort.
A bed bug bite looks similar to a flea or mosquito bite, with itchy, red, swollen skin. Bed bugs often bite in a straight line. However, this is not always the case. You could discover several random bites on your face, arms, legs or other areas of your body.
Your Rights After Suffering Bed Bug Bites or Infestations
If you discover bed bugs or suffer bed bug bites as a result of the potential negligence of your landlord, hotel, retail establishment or other sources, you do have rights.
Landlords have a responsibility to abide by the Ohio Revised Codes, Landlord Tenant Act. Some Ohio landlords are now trying to get tenants to sign a bed bug contract that requires tenants to assume all costs related to any bed bugs discovered in the residence. However, the ORC places responsibility on landlords to keep properties in safe, habitable condition. This means a tenant cannot be forced to sign their legal rights away.
Additionally, the Ohio Healthy Homes Network explains that Ohio‘s bed bug law (ORC 3741.13), addresses “Infestations in hotels, motels and single room occupancies.”
Get Help from a Bed Bug Bite Lawyer in Ohio
If a bed bug infestation is bad enough, and injuries and distress are also severe, victims of bed bug bites may be able to sue a hotel or other location for compensation. However, our office represents bed bug victims on a pre-litigation basis in an attempt to resolve their claim without a lawsuit. A bed bug bite attorney can work with you to determine if your case is eligible for compensation and provide representation to get the best results.
Recover Compensation for Damages with Help from an Ohio Bed Bug Bite Attorney Today
A bed bug attorney prepares your case and enters into the negotiation process after you suffer the consequences of bed bugs in your hotel room, apartment, furniture or other source. Recover the compensation you deserve as a victim of the potential negligence of others.
Contact a bed bug lawyer to get your Ohio bed bug case started today.