Since 2001 Findgreatlawyers.com has been the leading internet resource to find Illinois lawyers and Illinois legal information

Bed bugs are flightless insects that can grow to 5 -7 millimeters in length. That’s roughly a quarter of an inch. The bug is usually reddish-brown, flat, and resembles a tick or a small cockroach. Bed bugs are commonly found throughout temperate regions of the U.S. Once thought to be generally eradicated more than 60 years ago, the vermin are making a comeback and are becoming resistant to common insecticides. More and more patrons of hotels and motels, as well as homeowners, are coming into contact with the bed bug.

Bed bugs and their larvae are found in beds, especially in the small crevices and creases of bed sheets and mattresses, clothes, rugs, carpet, sofas, upholstered chairs, and even in loose wallpaper. Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are often found in the cleanliest of environments. The bugs spread by crawling from room to room or as stowaways in luggage and clothes between lodging establishments, from home to a hotel, or from a hotel to your home.

Bed bugs can live for several months without feeding. When they do feed, the insect feeds on warm blooded mammals, e.g., humans. Bed bugs almost always feed at night and will feed on exposed skin when a person sleeps, including the arms, legs, face, and neck. Sometimes bites will leave no marks and will go unnoticed. However, bite marks often appear similar to the swollen, red lesions produced by fleas or mosquitoes and frequently appear as a symmetrical line of several bites. The bites can be itchy, painful, and leave scars. Scratching may further lead to serious skin infection. If the bites are numerous, a person who is susceptible can go into a life-threatening allergic shock (anaphylaxis). Usually, just as a mosquito bite, there is little treatment needed for a bed bug bite. Anti-inflammatory creams containing cortisone and anti-itch creams may be applied.

Consequently, because of their resurgence, hotel and motel guests may encounter these pests during their stays and endure sleepless nights, and painful, unsightly, and embarrassing welts or marks on their bodies. One hotel patron in New York alleged being bit over 500 times in one night. The bites can result in physical injury, and psychological injuries, as well as, medical expenses, loss of wages, and pain and suffering. In one federal court case, a guest at a motel in Chicago was bitten by bed bugs during a stay. Whether the facility knows of the bugs or not, these establishments have a duty to make sure patrons do not become injured and may be liable for simple negligence if a guest is injured from bed bugs. More serious, however, are that lodging establishments may be held liable for willful negligence, fraud, or even battery, when the establishment willfully and knowingly lets a patron stay in a room that the management or staff knows is infested and has done nothing to remediate the situation.

Similarly, people can be injured from bed bugs when purchasing new furniture or from renting furniture that has not been properly eradicated or inspected. A rented apartment unit may also harbor or attract bed bugs. A tenant can become injured from inadequate pest control and may further incur property loss from throwing away infested furniture or other items.

Attorney’s Fees and Statute of Limitations

The agreement between you and your attorney should almost always include a contingency fee. Therefore, unless you win, you will not have to pay your attorney anything. Should you win, all fees, costs and expenses will be deducted from your recovery amount.

The statute of limitations for personal injury claims is usually two years. This means the statute starts running on the date the accident occurred and you have two years from that date to file a claim for damages.

Choosing an Attorney

Attorneys who we recommend have experience in personal injury suits. Our attorneys have handled a variety of personal injuries. An attorney with experience handling similar injuries to yours combined with years of successful legal practice will offer a better chance of prevailing in your claim. No lawyer can guarantee success, but you will have the best chance at success by hiring an attorney who we know possesses these qualities. When we recommend a lawyer for a bed bugs case, it will be someone that we have great faith in.

If you would like our help in finding a personal injury lawyer please call us at (312) 346-5320 or (800) 517-1614 or fill out our contact us form and we will contact you. Calls are always free of charge and confidential. We cannot promise a result, but we will be sure to find you a lawyer that is the best fit for your particular situation.