If you or a loved one sustained bed bug bites or other related damages due to a bed bug infestation, you may be able to seek compensation for these damages if you believe another person or business’s negligence caused the infestation. Our experienced team of lawyers can handle certain types of cases in and around Santa Maria, California, along with many other cities in this state and throughout the country, depending on the circumstances surrounding your incident.
What Caused a Bed Bug Infestation in Santa Maria?
If a bed bug infestation can 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 able to seek 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 Bug Infestations Can Develop in Santa Maria
Bed bugs can easily travel to and from nearly any location if they can get ahold of food supplies in the vicinity. Bed bugs mostly survive by feeding on human blood. Regardless of how clean a space is, bed bugs can thrive and spread almost everywhere. Because of their resilience, they are able to spread throughout homes and businesses in Santa Maria and many other cities.
Hotels are among the most high-risk locations for bed bug infestations because of the number of guests who regularly stay in hotel rooms. While hotels should thoroughly inspect each hotel room between guests, improperly trained staff often neglect to check and don’t become aware of infestations as they begin to spread. Poorly trained staff may also not be sure how to get rid of an infestation upon discovery. Hotels may not have clear protocols or training programs in place to keep hotels cleared of bed bugs, which can allow for serious infestations in these businesses.
Landlords, hotel management, and other professionals are expected to maintain a certain level of care for tenants, guests, and customers, which may include preventing the spread of bed bugs. If these parties are deemed liable for bed bug infestations and related damages, they may have to compensate their bed bug victims.
How to Identify Bed Bug Infestations in Santa Maria
People staying in hotels or at home can identify bed bugs on the premises in a number of ways to determine if they’re experiencing an infestation.
One of the most obvious signs of an infestation are bed bug bites, which can appear as small, red, itchy bumps that may resemble those of other pests. Some people suffer severe allergic reactions to bed bug bites which can result in swelling at the location of the bed bug bites and secondary infection. You may also be able to see adult bed bugs, which are small and apple-seed-shaped. White eggs that look like small pills and sheddings may also be visible, or feces in the form of brown or black spots on bedding or other furniture may be present. If a bed bug has recently been feeding on your skin, you may also locate blood spots.
Be sure to check bedding and other nearby furniture, as bed bugs often hide and wait for the perfect opportunity to feed when people are sleeping. A centralized area of black spots on a mattress is indicative of a bed bug nest and could mean the room has or recently had a severe bed bug infestation.
Once you’ve spotted any evidence of a bed bug infestation, take photos and capture video recordings, which you may be able to use to build a case.
Compensation That Bed Bug Bite Victims in Santa Maria May Be Able to Recover
If you endured any bed bug bites as a result of an infestation, along with other related damages, you may be able to recover compensation.
Some of the monetary damages you may be able to recover in a bed bug case may include:
- Medical expenses
- The cost of extermination
- Prescriptions
- Lost wages
- The cost of replacing damaged belongings, including bedding
In addition, non-monetary damages could include:
- Social isolation
- Mental and emotional distress
- Embarrassment
- Insomnia and other similar symptoms
If you want help determining if you have a bed bug case resulting from an incident that occurred in Santa Maria that our office can assist with, contact us to schedule a free consultation with one of our bed bug lawyers today.
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.