Bed bugs can travel to nearly any location all over the U.S., regardless of the city or state. These pests are often difficult to eliminate, and they can be equally challenging to control once allowed to spread. In many cases, bed bugs can spread due to the negligence of hotel management, landlords, business owners, and others who don’t properly identify or take steps to remove bed bugs from the premises before they can spread.
If you believe that your apartment, home, or hotel room in West Palm Beach, Florida has sustained an infestation of bed bugs because of someone else’s negligence, and you or a loved one endured any bites or other related damages, it may be possible to seek compensation with the help of a bed bug attorney. Our team of attorneys can handle certain types of cases that develope in West Palm Beach, along with many other cities all over Florida and the rest of the U.S.
What Caused a Bed Bug Infestation in West Palm Beach, FL?
If a bed bug infestation was allowed to spread throughout a hotel room, home, apartment, or another space, and you or a loved one sustained any bites or other related damages, you may be entitled to compensation.
Bed bugs are capable of thriving in any space if they can access food in the form of blood meals from people. Regardless of a space’s cleanliness, bed bugs can make their home in the space if they’re able to access food.
How Bed Bugs Can Spread in Homes and Businesses in West Palm Beach
Bed bugs can travel easily and quickly to any space if food supplies are ample. Subsequently, residents and visitors in West Palm Beach may be vulnerable to bed bug bites and other related damages while staying at a hotel or another location.
Hotels are frequently vulnerable to bed bugs when staff and management neglect to maintain these facilities. Hotels frequently don’t have adequate training programs in place to spot and eliminate bed bugs, either, potentially enabling bed bugs to spread throughout the hotel. Staff may not thoroughly check for and remove bed bugs between each guest’s stay, or hotel owners may cut corners by doing things such as neglecting to put encasements on mattresses. In other cases, management may fail to follow other advice of pest control companies, which further allows bed bugs to spread throughout hotels.
If a property owner failed to take the necessary steps to keep you safe, you may be able to seek compensation for your damages.
How to Spot Bed Bug Infestations in West Palm Beach
People staying at home or in hotels can spot bed bugs on the premises in several ways to make an accurate identification and gather evidence to support a potential claim.
One of the most obvious signs of a bed bug infestation is a series of bed bug bites, which may appear as a small line or cluster of red, itchy bumps. Some people may suffer allergic reactions to bed bug bites, causing them to ooze pus and swell or even develop into a secondary infection. It’s also possible to see adult bed bugs in many cases, which resemble apple seeds in their size, color, and shape. Sheddings and white pill-shaped eggs may also be present, or brown or red spots may be visible in bedding, which could indicate feces.
It’s important to check all bedding and other nearby furniture, seeing as bed bugs are extraordinary hiders. If you spot any black spots on a mattress in a centralized area, this may also be indicative of a bed bug nest.
As soon as you spot any evidence of an infestation, capture video recordings and photographs, which may help build a case.
Types of Compensation That Victims May Recover in West Palm Beach
You may be able to seek compensation for damages resulting from bed bug infestations if you believe that negligence caused the infestation and damages. Our lawyers may be able to provide representation during the pre-litigation process to help you seek compensation for related damages sustained.
Some of the damages for which you may be able to recover compensation include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Costs of replacing bedding or other damaged furniture
You may also be able to recover compensation for certain non-monetary damages such as pain and suffering that often result from an infestation. Pain and suffering may include both physical and psychological distress experienced as a result of bites and other damages. Insomnia is another condition that some bed bug victims experience out of a fear of repeat incidents.
To find out if you have a bed bug case resulting from an incident that occurred in West Palm Beach that our office can assist with, connect with us to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced bed bug lawyers.
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.