Bed bug infestations have been on the rise for the past several years in Los Angeles. The city is home to nearly four million people, and approximately another 50 million visit the city each year. With so many people present, bed bugs are likely to be in certain areas, as they need a warm-blooded host to feed. When these pests invade a hotel room, home, trains, and even airplanes, they can make life extremely difficult. If another person’s negligence caused you to suffer harm due to bed bugs, it may be possible to file a claim for compensation. These claims present many challenges, though, and you will have to prove your case. Our Los Angeles bed bug lawyer can overcome those challenges so you can maximize your settlement.
Determining Liability for a Bed Bug InfestationBed bug lawsuits fall under the area of personal injury law. As with most personal injury claims, there can be multiple parties who are liable, or at fault, for an infestation. If you stayed in a hotel while visiting Los Angeles and brought a bed bug infestation back home with you, it is possible to hold the property owner liable. Businesses have a legal obligation to make sure the premises are safe, and that includes being free of bed bugs.
Additionally, if you rent a property that contains a bed bug infestation, you can sue the landlord for damages with the help of a bed bug attorney in Los Angeles. Filing a claim in this scenario is a bit more difficult than filing a claim against a business owner. To have a valid claim for a rental property, the infestation must have existed before you moved in. Generally speaking, this means that you should have discovered the problem shortly after moving in. If you wait too long, the landlord may argue that you brought the bed bugs onto the property and therefore, they are not liable.
Lastly, if you traveled on a train or plane and were bitten by bed bugs or brought an infestation back home, it may be possible to file a claim against the carrier. Even though these vehicles are not stationary, they are still part of a business and owners must ensure they are safe.
Time Limit on Bed Bug ClaimsAs with the majority of personal injury claims in Los Angeles, those filed due to bed bugs have a time limit known as the statute of limitations. In California, the statute of limitations on bed bug claims is two years from the day you discovered the infestation. If you do not file your claim within this time, it will be thrown out by the courts and you will not receive any compensation at all.
Our Bed Bug Lawyer in Los Angeles Can Help with Your ClaimAt Brod Law Firm, our Los Angeles bed bug attorney is dedicated to helping clients who have been harmed by someone else’s negligence, and we can put that experience to work for you, too. Call us now at (800) 427-7020 or connect with us online to request a free consultation and to learn more.