Personal Injury From A Hotel Bed Bug Infestation

It’s finally time for a break from work—and you have really earned it!  After juggling work, kids, and the daily demands of life, you are truly looking forward to some R & R.  What you aren’t expecting is a hotel room infested with bed bugs!  As repulsive as they sound, the real critters are every bit as disgusting as you’d imagine—and they can find their way into even the nicest hotels. The effects on your life can be overwhelming.  If you are unfortunate enough to experience a bedbug encounter, you should definitely consider consulting with a personal injury attorney.

Psychological and Physiological Impacts 

Bed bugs can impact your life in more ways than you may realize.  The effect on your emotional well-being can be catastrophic: depression, anxiety, insomnia, and paranoia are not uncommon.  Believe it or not, over 80 percent of people exposed to bed bugs in one study displayed symptoms that are normally associated with PTSD.  Another study discovered that of nearly 500 people who’d experienced a bedbug encounter, nearly one-third reported having insomnia, almost one-fourth suffered emotional distress, and one-fifth battled anxiety as a result of the bug exposure. That’s all on top of various physical reactions, which ranged from small itchy welts to anaphylaxis. In rare allergic reactions, some people experienced secondary infections including ecthyma, impetigo, and lymphangitis.  The bites sometimes resulted in scarring, as well. Needless to say, there is a financial cost in the aftermath of a bed bug exposure, as well.

Examine Your Hotel Room Before Getting Settled 

Experts advise checking on-line for bedbug warnings. And don’t leave a potential exposure to chance:  there are several things you can do upon entering your room:

• Place your luggage in the bathroom while you examine your room. Hopefully that will help to avoid picking up any hitch hikers on your bags.
• Elevate the mattress and inspect under the sheets along the box springs and mattress seams and, particularly, near the head of the bed, using a flashlight. You are looking for bugs, nymphs, eggs, and exoskeletons, all of which are easy to spot with the naked eye.  Rust-colored spots are a warning sign, as well.
• If you spot anything concerning, request a different room in another section of the hotel.
• Keep your luggage on a rack or on a hard surface, and check it for bugs if you have any concerns about it.
• If you’ve been exposed to the critters, your clothes need a 30-minute tumble in a hot dryer, and you should stow your suitcases in the garage or basement away from warm bodies.
• You don’t want an infestation in your home. If you think it could be a problem, speak with a pest specialist to determine next steps. 

If you Discover a Bedbug Problem 

If you have a problem with a hotel infestation, there are several things you should do if you wish to file a claim against the establishment:

• Gather evidence: Photograph the bedding, your bites and of any other visible indications of the infestation;
• Ask a hotel employee to make note of the problem;
• File an injury report, and keep a copy for your records;
• Have a doctor examine the bites and provide any care necessary to reduce the risk of infections, keloid scarring, and emotional after-effects;
• Notify the county health department of the issue and request a copy of their report;
• Consult with an experienced personal injury attorney.

You are entitled to compensation for costs associated with your inconvenience and injuries, both physical and mental/emotional.  The aggressive Baltimore personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Hasson D. Barnes can help.  Contact us today for a confidential consultation.

Source:

theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/10/bed-bug-madness-the-psychological-toll-of-the-blood-suckers/381447/