Bed bugs returned to the United States with a vengeance several years ago. Because Maryland is a state with many travelers as well as residents moving from many different areas outside of Maryland, bed bugs have the ability to hitch a free ride to Maryland.
Consider hiring a Maryland bed bug bite attorney
You have the right to remain free of bed bug infestations, bites and diseases caused by potentially negligent landlords, hotels, workplaces and retail stores.
Our office represents victims of Maryland bed bug bites on a pre-litigation basis. Receive a free consultation to learn about Maryland bed bug case representation.
How do I know if I have bed bugs?
Bed bugs are typically about the size of an apple seed. While usually considered dark reddish-brown in color, their size and shape varies somewhat based on the stage in the bed bug life cycle and when an individual bed bug had its last blood meal.
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension shows bed bugs at varying life stages as well as pictures that indicate the presence of bed bugs and infestations. Unlike one popular myth, you can see evidence of bed bugs and can actually see the bugs. Once you know what bed bugs look like and signs that indicate the presence of bed bugs, you can usually determine whether you have bed bugs in your home, hotel room or at your workplace. You can also look for signs on furniture and other items that you purchase from retail or rental stores.
What do bed bug bites look like?
While it is sometimes difficult to determine the source of a bite that you discover on your skin, it is potentially possible to determine if you or a loved one suffered bites from a bed bug. Unlike mosquitoes or spiders, bed bugs usually bite multiple times in the same area. The Mayo Clinic explains that bed bug bites “Are typically itchy, and they may appear clustered or lined up in rough rows.”
Bed bugs are not particular about where they have their blood meal, although the face, arms and legs are common areas where bed bugs bite. However, you may discover bed bug bites anywhere on your body. You may not know that bed bugs bit you until up to several days after suffering a bite. The reason is that before bed bugs feed, they inject a numbing substance into their victim.
I am a clean person. Why do I have bed bugs in my Maryland residence?
Bed bugs do not live only in dirty homes. Anyone can have bed bugs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dispels the myth that bed bugs only live in dirty places by saying “Bed bugs are not attracted to dirt and grime…”
They are however, attracted to warmth and carbon dioxide as well as blood. Even clean Maryland residences offer these attractions.
I heard bed bugs do not spread disease. Is this true?
Years ago, several sources stated that bed bugs do not cause disease. However, new information demonstrates that bed bugs do potentially cause disease and other secondary medical issues.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine conducted a study and concluded that indeed, bed bugs can transmit a parasite known to cause Chagas disease, just like triatomines, known as “Kissing bugs.” Penn Medicine describes Chagas disease as a deadly disease that is one of the most prevalent and “deadly diseases in the Americas.”
After conducting several experiments, senior author Michael Z. Levy, PhD, reported, “We’ve shown that the bed bug can acquire and transmit the parasite. Our next step is to determine whether they are, or will become, an important player in the epidemiology of Chagas disease.”
Can I sue a hotel for bed bugs with a bed bug attorney in Maryland?
It is important to note that our office handles Maryland bed bug cases on a pre-litigation basis only. In most situations, you may be able to resolve your claim without the filing of a lawsuit. In many instances, bed bugs can not only cause physical injury, but they can also cause financial loss and emotional stress because of their injuries. Hotel guests should never have to worry about bed bugs ruining their stay at any time, and we’re here to help these guests get the compensation they deserve in these cases. If you suffered injuries as the result of a bed bug infestation, contact our office to discuss what a pre-litigation claim entails.
What should I do about my bed bug case?
Learn about your rights and potential recovery if you suffered loss of personal property, bites or illness due to bed bugs. You should not have to worry about the possibility of bed bugs in your home, hotel or in purchases made from retail stores.
Contact a bed bug lawyer in Maryland
Contact the Maryland bed bug lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your pre-litigation bed bug case representation and possible recovery of your losses due to bed bugs.