Staying at a hotel in Norfolk while on a business trip or vacation is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. However, it can be anything but that if your hotel room is infested with bed bugs and you suffer injuries. Your situation can be even worse if the bed bugs get into your clothes or luggage and your home becomes infested too.
Signs That Your Hotel Room Has Bedbugs
Bedbugs are parasitic insects that bite humans to feed on their blood. They are very small and like to hide in warm, dark places like headboards, mattresses, furniture, and bedding in a hotel room. Signs that your room is infested include:
- Bedbug skin droppings left after they molt
- Blood spots on furniture, mattress, and bedding
- Clusters of black spots on your mattress
- Bedbug eggs
- Bedbugs in the mattress and the folds of sheets and blankets
- Sweet, musty odor
When a Hotel Can Be Liable for Your Injuries
Hotel owners have a duty to maintain their properties in a safe and sanitary condition. This includes the duty to regularly inspect hotel rooms, furniture, and bedding for infestations of insects—including bedbugs. You may have a claim for compensation for your injuries if you can prove the following:
- The owner knew or should have known of the bedbug infestation.
- The owner failed to take action to rid your room of them.
Injuries You Could Suffer Due to a Bedbug Infestation
While bedbugs do not transmit diseases, you can still suffer much more long-term injuries than if you were bitten by other insects, such as mosquitos. Here are some of the injuries bedbugs can cause:
- Small bumps, blisters, and rashes
- Itching that can last for weeks or longer
- Permanent scarring
- Allergic reactions to the bites
- Infections
- Emotional distress
In the most serious cases, bed bugs can cause these medical problems:
- Difficulty breathing
- An irregular heartbeat
- Tongue swelling
- Fever
Did you or a loved one suffer injuries due to bedbug bites in your hotel room or at another property? Our experienced premises liability attorneys are here to answer your questions about your legal options and to file your claim with the hotel’s insurance company so that you receive the compensation you deserve. Call our Norfolk office to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today.
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