Bed bugs are capable of spreading nearly anywhere throughout the U.S., in any city or state. Bed bugs are also often difficult to get rid of and control once they’re given the chance to spread. In many cases, their spread is the result of another party’s negligence, whether the negligent party is hotel management, a landlord, or a business owner, or other individuals who neglect to properly identify and address an infestation.
If you believe your apartment, hotel room, or home in Savannah, Georgia has developed an infestation due to another party’s negligence and you or your family endured bed bug bites and other related damages, you may be able to seek compensation with the assistance of a bed bug attorney. Our team of lawyers is able to handle certain types of cases that occurred in Savannah and other cities in Georgia, providing pre-litigation representation.
How You May Be Able to Recover Compensation for an Infestation in Savannah
If you or a loved one has sustained bed bug bites, property damage, or other types of pain and suffering due to a bed bug infestation while staying at a hotel or at home, you may qualify to seek compensation for these related damages.
When allowed to spread, bed bugs can infest any location where people are present, regardless of how clean the space is kept. Bed bugs can feed on people, meaning they’re capable of thriving anywhere if people are present. Many people mistakenly believe that filthy environments are what enable bed bugs to live, but the fact is they can live anywhere if food supplies are available, and they can survive for long periods without a blood meal.
How Bed Bug Infestations Spread in Savannah
Oftentimes, bed bugs spread as a result of another entity or person’s negligent practices. Bed bugs can travel between locations to where food is available. They are capable of infesting homes, businesses, hotels, apartments, and other spaces, which is why it’s necessary to keep these places both clean and devoid of pests. Failure to identify and eliminate these pests could make the responsible people or entities liable for any related damages sustained, including bed bug bites and damage to belongings, and subsequent medical bills and financial losses.
Hotels are often particularly vulnerable to bed bug infestations due to the number of people who travel through these premises and sleep in the same beds, giving bed bugs the chance to feed on them during their stay. This makes it necessary for hotel ownership to properly train staff on how to inspect for bed bug infestations, and to utilize professional extermination companies to help rid rooms of bed bug infestations.
Although hotels may have protocols in place to mitigate the spread of bed bugs, some negligent hotel staff and management may enable bed bugs to thrive by not performing regular inspections between each guest’s stay and identifying infestations early on.
If a negligent party is responsible for bed bug infestations and the damages they cause, these parties may need to pay monetary compensation to victims of this negligence.
How to Identify Bed Bugs in Savannah
Since bed bugs are able to spread throughout any location, whether a hotel room, home, apartment, or business, it’s possible to identify them and collect sufficient evidence to build a case against negligent parties.
Bed bug bites are among the most frequently spotted pieces of evidence. These bites appear in a small line or cluster around the bite area, and they may appear similar to other bed bug bites. Other times bed bug bites can cause an allergic reaction in which the victim can suffer an infection and swelling.
In some cases, you may be able to spot adult bed bugs that are small, round, and dark or pale brown. Sheddings and small white eggs may also be visible. You might find feces in the form of black marks, or brown or red blood spots on bedding.
Regardless of the evidence spotted, capture video and photos when possible, which may help support a case.
Types of Recoverable Damages in Bed Bug Cases in Savannah
If bed bug infestations spread and cause damages because of another party’s negligence, you may be able to recover different types of compensation for injuries, property damage, and other related damages.
Some damages that bed bug victims may be able to recover compensation for include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages due to time taken off from work to recover
- Prescriptions
- Furniture replacements
- Professional extermination costs
- Replacements for damages personal belongings, including clothing
Some potential non-monetary damages may include:
- Psychological distress
- Social isolation
- Insomnia or other similar symptoms
- Embarrassment that the incident caused
If you would like to find out whether you have a bed bug case resulting from an incident in Savannah that our office is capable of assisting with, contact one of our bed bug attorneys to discuss your case in a free consultation.
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 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.