Bed bugs reside in all 50 states. Our office represents bed bug victims on a pre-litigation basis. Bed bug infestations occur across the U.S., including in Dallas. Learn more about bed bugs and the possible consequences of coming in contact with bed bugs.
Consult with a Dallas bed bug bite injury attorney
If you think you have a bed bug case, contact the Dallas bed bug attorneys for a free consultation to discuss your pre-litigation bed bug case representation.
How do bed bugs travel from one place to another?
Bed bugs travel about easily. Dallas County Health and Human Services explains that any individual can bring bed bugs home. Bed bugs travel along from your hotel when you return from a trip. People sometimes unknowingly bring bed bugs into their Dallas home when delivery personnel deliver new furniture. You can bring them home from your place of employment.
People sometimes discover that bed bugs already reside in their Dallas apartment. Unsuspecting tenants can move all their belongings in, not realizing that the residence has a bed bug infestation until family members suffer bed bug bites or discover a bed bug infestation.
How do I know if I have bed bugs in my Dallas Home?
Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed and usually reddish-brown in color. However, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension shows multiple images of bed bug infestations, with bed bugs at various stages in their life cycle. Depending upon the life cycle stage and when a bed bug had its last meal, a bed bug may range from very tiny and nearly translucent to larger than its normal size after a blood meal and a darker reddish-brown.
Do not just check mattresses for bed bugs. Check seams and even headboards if you think you have bed bugs. Check dresser drawers, all areas of upholstered furniture, baseboards and even behind the pictures on your walls.
What do bed bug bites look like?
A telltale sign of coming in contact with bed bugs is the presence of bed bug bites. Bed bugs bite in a straight or rough zigzag line.
An individual bitten by one or more bed bugs usually sustains multiple bites. This is one way that people can tell the difference between bed bug bites and bites from another bug. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) describes bed bug bites as “Welts that itch intensely.” However, you might not initially realize that a bed bug bit you since the itching may not start for several days.
Can I get sick from bed bug bites?
In the past, numerous sources described bed bugs as a public nuisance, with some sources indicating that bed bugs do not cause illness or disease. However, more recent information indicates the possibility that when people suffer bites from bed bugs, now referred to as pathogen carrying vectors, the consequences are possibly very dangerous. The AAD points out that in some cases, an allergic reaction becomes potentially “Serious or even life-threatening.” The AAD describes some allergic reaction symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Irregular or forceful heartbeat
- Swollen tongue
- Large blisters
- Infection from scratching bites
There is another serious risk from bed bug bites. Entomology Today reports on a study conducted by researchers at the Penn Medicine Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics. After a series of experiments, Penn Medicine researchers, along with researchers at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Peru concluded that bed bugs, “Can transmit Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease, one of the most prevalent and deadly diseases in the Americas.”
Entomology Today says that absent or mild symptoms early on make Chagas disease difficult to diagnose. An individual can suffer cardiac or digestive disorders before even receiving a Chagas diagnosis. An individual can potentially suffer sudden heart failure or even sudden death from advanced Chagas disease.
Is it possible to sue a hotel for bed bugs in Dallas?
In certain cases, physical injuries, financial loss, and emotional distress may result from bed bug bite injuries, in which case you may be able to sue a hotel for bed bugs in Dallas. Hotel management must be able to maintain their facilities, and any inability to do so could result in bed bug infestations that cause harm to guests. Our office represents Dallas bed bug victims on a pre-litigation basis. You can consult with a Dallas bed bug bite attorney to discuss your case and determine if compensation is possible.
Case representation with a bed bug lawyer in Dallas
Texas V.T.C.A., Health & Safety Code § 341.011 Nuisances and General Sanitation provides some protection for those who are exposed to bed bugs. Learn more about your rights and potential recovery from losses you incurred because of coming into contact with bed bugs in the Dallas area.
Contact Dallas bed bug attorneys for a free consultation to discuss your pre-litigation bed bug case.