There are people in the San Francisco area who suffer the devastating effects of bed bugs, potentially suffering physical pain and suffering, possible psychological damage, embarrassment and costs associated with bed bug bites and infestations.
If you have a bed bug case, contact San Francisco bed bug lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your pre-litigation bed bug case representation. Discover whether you have a bed bug case to potentially recover damages.
Do San Francisco bed bug infestations really exist?
Did you move into a San Francisco home that had bed bugs before you moved in? Did you wake up to discover bed bug bites while staying in a San Francisco hotel? Did you actually see the bed bugs?
Perhaps you took bed bugs home with you from your hotel or place of employment. Are you embarrassed because bed bug bites are on visible areas of your body?
If this sounds like what happened to you in your San Francisco bed bug case, you are not alone. The Vector-Borne Disease Section of the California Department of Public Health reported that after receiving survey results, “San Francisco County reported the highest number of reports in 2010,” from among 37 counties responding.
Can bed bugs make people sick?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that bed bugs have five stages in their life cycle. Bed bugs do not have to have a blood meal every day to survive. Adults live for six to twelve months and have the ability to survive for long periods without feeding.
While some sources state that bed bugs are a nuisance and do not cause serious illness or disease, that is not the case. Research demonstrates that bed bugs are just as dangerous as their cousin, the triatomine, or “kissing” bug. Researchers discovered that bed bugs do have the ability to transmit the parasite that causes Chagas Disease. Researchers at the University Of Pennsylvania Perelman School Of Medicine, along with researchers at the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Peru conducted several experiments, concluding that bed bugs can acquire and transmit the potentially deadly parasite. The lead study author explained some of the concern among researchers by saying, “Bed bugs are harder to kill than triatomines due to their resistance to common insecticides.”
Bed bug bites resemble raised, red, itchy mosquito bites, often with welts. The difference in appearance of the two is that bed bugs bite multiple times, usually in the same area. Bed bug bites itch intensely, which likely leads to scratching and potential secondary infection. Some people have allergic reactions to bed bug bites.
Symptoms from bed bug bites includes not only the visible bite itself but can include an overall feeling of illness, blisters, fever, difficulty breathing and even an irregular heartbeat.
Bed bugs likely cause emotional and psychological well-being of an individual who is exposed to them. The mental anguish of having to clean the entire property, discard and attempt to replace bedding, furniture, clothing and other personal possessions is likely very real for people suffering a bed bug infestation through no fault of their own.
Do you fear even closing your eyes at night, afraid a bed bug you cannot see will bite you again? This is another example of potential psychological suffering that some people likely endure.
What can I do about the effect of bed bugs and damages they caused?
There are both monetary and non-monetary damages potentially recoverable in your San Francisco bed bug case.
Monetary expenses include damages such as actual costs of exterminating bed bugs in your home, costs incurred because of having to break a lease, moving expenses, carpet cleaning, loss and replacement costs of personal property, clothing, shoes and other items. Your medical and prescription costs are other examples of monetary damages. Bed bug bite victims may also need to spend money on traveling to and from medical appointments, discarding and purchasing clothes, bedding, luggage, and furniture, along with cleaning supplies to treat infestations. In more extreme cases, people may need to switch hotels or even homes, incurring more expenses. People may also need to clean their vehicles, make frequent visits to dry cleaners, break a lease, or even switch hotels or homes, all of which can result in higher costs. In some cases, people may also need to stay home from work or school, resulting in lost wages.
Non-monetary damages involve inconveniences associated with moving, going to medical appointments, changing your wardrobe to hide bed bug bites, mental anguish and psychological damages. Other non-monetary inconveniences may include the actual pain and suffering from bites and welts, loss of sleep, and the embarrassment of having visible bites in public on areas that are difficult to cover such as the face, arms, and legs.
Both of these monetary and non-monetary damages can warrant compensation in many cases, with the help of a bed bug lawyer.
Should I hire a bed bug bite attorney in San Francisco to sue a hotel?
If you have suffered from either monetary or non-monetary damages, and believe that hotel management’s negligence is responsible for the infestation, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your pain. With the help of a qualified pre-litigation San Francisco bed bug bite lawyer, you’ll be able to determine if you have a solid case and move forward with litigation if possible.
Consult with a San Francisco bed bug injury lawyer today
You do not have to suffer the effects of bed bugs. California laws provide some protections for individuals affected by bed bug bites and infestations.
Contact San Francisco bed bug lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your pre-litigation bed bug case representation.