Mountain View Bed Bugs Lawyer

If you were bitten by bed bugs while staying at a hotel or renting a property, California law allows you to file a premises liability lawsuit. If you are successful with your lawsuit, you can obtain damages for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. Before claiming full damages you will have to prove that the property owner was aware of the infestation, or that they did nothing to prevent one from occurring. Below, our Mountain View bed bugs lawyer explains more about these infestations and your rights.

How Do Bed Bug Infestations Happen?

Most commonly, bed bugs enter homes by latching onto an object, such as second-hand furniture, that is brought into the home. Bed bugs can also hitchhike on clothing and personal items. Contrary to what many people think, bed bug infestations have no direct link to the cleanliness of a home. Bed bugs will enter any home as long as there is a source of food. However, a cluttered or unclean home can make it harder to detect the presence of bed bugs because they will have more places to hide.

If you have been exposed, reach out to a bed bugs attorney in Mountain View today.

The Law on Bed Bugs in California

As the most populous state in the country, bed bug infestations are an ongoing concern in California. Due to this, California is one of the only states in the nation that has specific laws about bed bugs. California Civil Code Section 1942.5 increased the responsibilities landlords have to prevent bed bugs, and strengthened protections for tenants. According to the law:

• Landlords must document all bed bug infestations on their premises and disclose this information to potential tenants in writing.
• After a pest control expert has inspected the premises for bed bugs, landlords must disclose their findings to renters within two days of receiving the report.
• Landlords are prohibited from renting, leasing, or showing a property that has an active bed bug infestation.
• Landlords cannot legally penalize tenants for reporting a bed bug infestation, such as reducing response times or services, or increasing the rent.

What Responsibilities Do Tenants Have?

While tenants do have stronger protection under the law, they are not completely absolved of all responsibility for bed bug infestations. In fact, landlords also have a right to sue tenants if their negligence allowed an infestation to develop. Tenants have a duty to:

• Keep rental units in a clean and sanitary condition,
• Repair any damage they cause, including correcting a bed bug infestation,
• Report infestations of any pests, including bed bugs, to the landlord, and
• Cooperate with landlords when correcting the problem, such as allowing access to the property for inspection and treatment.

Our Bed Bugs Lawyer in Mountain View Can Protect Your Rights

If you have a bed bug infestation that was caused by another person’s negligence, you have legal options. At Brod Law Firm, our Mountain View bed bugs attorney can advise you of what those are, guide you through the process and ensure your rights are protected so you obtain the maximum settlement you deserve. Call us now at (800) 427-7020 or contact us online to schedule a free review of your case.

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