Do you have bed bugs in your rental house or apartment or have you just rented a hotel room and found out that it has bed bugs? If yes, we at the Los Angeles Eviction Attorney are here to help you.
We understand the damage and frustration you may be experiencing from bed bug infestation. We will help you pursue compensation against your landlord. Call us today for a free consultation.
Do you have Bed Bugs in Your House?
Bed bugs are small insects that are fond of infesting peoples' houses. An adult bed bug is almost the size of an apple seed.
Bed bugs thrive on sucking peoples' blood. Although tiny and brown, they swell and become large in size and red in color after sucking your blood.
Often, bed bugs hide in box springs, mattresses, headboards, and bed frames. But, it is only a matter of time before they spread throughout your house. At Los Angeles Eviction Attorney, we have represented clients who have had bed bug infestations in their rugs, carpets, couches, walls, and floor crevices.
You will rarely see bed bugs during the day. They are always active at night.
They've got elongated beaks, which they will use to pierce your skin and withdraw blood from it. Typically, bed bugs feed for 3 - 10 minutes before escaping away unnoticed.
In most cases, you will not feel pain after a bed bug bite. But, after some hours, your skin will start feeling itchy.
Unlike fleas that can only bite your ankles, bed bugs can bite you anywhere on your skin, as long as it is exposed while you are asleep. Moreover, unlike flea bites, bed bug bites do not have a red spot at the center.
If you do not know that you have bed bugs in your house, you may attribute the bites to something else, for example, mosquitoes. You'd have to physically locate these bed bugs to confirm that you've got bed bug bites.
Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?
Bed bug infestations happen by accident. You may be unable to trace how exactly they came into your house.
Maybe they came from the neighboring property. Or, the former tenant introduced them into your house.
Regardless of where they came from, bed bug infestations can make you suffer both emotionally and physically. This is especially if the infestation spreads to most areas of your house and you do not take any radical pest control measures.
Sometimes, a visitor may unknowingly introduce bed bugs into your house. Remember, bed bugs are tiny and hide in the least obvious places. Luggage, clothing, and car upholstery may carry bed bugs or their eggs. In fact, this is the most common cause of bed bug infestations in Los Angeles.
How do Bed Bugs Spread?
Just one or two bed bugs in your house can result in a massive bed bug infestation within a couple of months. Female bed bugs can lay up to 500 eggs, which can mature within 4 - 6 weeks. Moreover, bed bugs are resilient. Nymphs can survive for months without food, and adult bed bugs can stay for up to one year without eating.
Bed bugs travel quickly from room to room by crawling or with the help of humans. They are efficient hitchhikers, and they can be easily carried alongside clothing, furniture, and luggage.
Are Bed Bugs Only Associated with Low-Income Households?
Some people believe that bed bugs are only associated with low-income households. This belief is not true.
Bed bug infestations can occur in any household, provided they are transported. It is up to you to take precautions to avoid bed bug infestations and deal with them if they occur.
How Bed Bugs can Affect You
Bed bugs can make you suffer both emotionally and physically. First, bed bug bites may result in physical symptoms that you must treat. This will make you spend a lot of money on medical bills.
If you've got bed bugs in your house, you may be unable to sleep throughout the night. This may result in increased stress levels during the daytime.
You may also spend a lot of time and money trying to deal with the bed bug infestation. For instance, you may spend hundreds of dollars on pest control.
If you are unable to control the bed bug infestation, you may be forced to relocate. Moving away to a new home is expensive.
Often, you'd have to replace all your property that has been infested with bed bugs. This will drain most of your money.
Do Bed Bugs Transmit Diseases?
No, bed bugs do not transmit diseases. This is despite the fact that bed bugs carry up to 28 pathogens.
The only medical concern emanating from bed bug bites is itching and welting of your skin. As earlier stated, these bites can result in massive emotional trauma and constant medical attention.
How to Know if You Have Bed Bugs in your House
It is difficult to notice that you’ve got bed bugs in your house. Adult bed bugs are experts at hiding themselves, and you cannot see young bed bugs due to their size. The most reliable way to know that you’ve got bed bugs in your house is to speak to a pest management professional or entomologist.
However, any of these signs show that you may be having a bed bug infestation:
- Waking up in the morning with rashes, bites, or welts
- Blood droplets or dark spotting on beddings
- Physical observation of eggs or molted insect skin
Note that the absence of these signs does not mean that there are no bed bugs in your house.
How to Deal with Bed Bug Infestations
Bed bug infestations can make you afraid, stressed up, and frustrated. This is because they seem almost impossible to get rid off. Additionally, it can be difficult dealing with your landlord, insurance company, and pest control companies.
No matter how much you try to avoid bed bug infestations, they may still show up in your house. This is because Los Angeles ranks among the top ten worst cities for bed bug infestations in the United States.
But worry not, because you aren't alone. We at the Los Angeles Eviction Attorney are here to help you. You've got legal rights as a victim of bed bug infestation. We will help you protect those rights.
Pursuing Compensation from your Landlord
You will definitely spend a lot of money trying to deal with and coping with the effects of a bed bug infestation. It will be, therefore, necessary to pursue compensation from your landlord.
The first step towards pursuing compensation is to document all the financial expenses you've gone through due to the bed bug infestation. It would be best to keep your medical and pest control bills intact. Also, compile an inventory of all your property that bed bugs had destroyed.
Next, it is advisable to speak to a highly experienced bed bug attorney about your situation. While consulting with him/her, you'll list the financial expenses you have incurred as a result of the bed bug infestation.
Typically, the first step that your attorney would take is to write a demand letter to the landlord and the insurance company. This demand letter would enumerate the degree of financial loss you have suffered due to the bed bug infestation and warn the landlord and the insurance company that if they do not compensate you, they would be sued.
Suppose the landlord and the insurance company ignore the demand letter. In that case, your attorney will institute a civil lawsuit for compensation at the courthouse.
Your attorney will demonstrate why the landlord should be held liable for the bed bug infestation during the trial. In California Civil Cases, the burden of proof is on the Plaintiff, and the standard of proof is on a balance of probabilities. As long as your attorney proves that it is more likely than not that your landlord was responsible for the bed bug infestation, you will receive compensation.
What Kind of Damages will the Court Award You?
Typically, the court awards the following types of damages in California Civil Lawsuits:
- Special damages
- General damages
- Punitive damages
Special damages cover losses that can be quantified monetarily as a result of the bed bug infestation. Some examples of these losses may include medical and pest control expenses.
On the other hand, general damages cover losses that cannot be quantified monetarily, such as undergoing pain and suffering, depression, and stress as a result of the bed bug infestation. It is the court that determines the amount of general damages you deserve to get.
California courts rarely award punitive damages. The primary purpose of punitive damages is to punish the defendant. The value of punitive damages is usually twice or thrice that for general and special damages. However, if you can prove that the landlord's actions were in a willful and blatant disregard for human life, the court will award you punitive damages.
What if your Lease Says you cannot Sue?
Sometimes, your lease may say that you cannot sue the landlord if there is a bed bug infestation in your house. Fortunately, such clauses are not legally binding.
Even though your lease says you cannot sue, you can still sue the landlord for compensation if there is a bed bug infestation in your house. The provisions of your lease cannot hinder you from pursuing your legal rights.
How can a Bed Bug Lawyer Help You?
If you want to pursue compensation against your landlord, it would be best to speak to a bed bug lawyer. Remember, the first step that your lawyer will take is to write to your landlord demanding compensation. It is only when your landlord remains adamant that your lawyer will institute a civil lawsuit for compensation.
If you try pursuing compensation by yourself, you may not succeed. Bed bug lawyers have the technical know-how to ensure you receive the amount of money you deserve as compensation. Your lawyer will prepare and file the paperwork for your lawsuit on your behalf and help you gather and collect evidence. He/she will also attend court proceedings and examine witnesses on your behalf.
It may also be difficult to appropriate the amount of money you can claim as compensation from your landlord. Remember, California Courts typically award up to three types of damages in civil cases. Your lawyer can help you calculate how much money you should claim as compensation.
Sometimes, you may want to file a claim with your insurance company for compensation. Most insurance companies are in business to make quick profits, and they will do everything it takes to deny you compensation. Bed bug attorneys know how to compel these insurance companies to grant you compensation.
How to Get the Best Bed Bug Lawyer
If you've already decided to hire a bed bug lawyer, you may be wondering how to find the best one. This is because there are many bed bug lawyers in Los Angeles.
You can try asking your friends or family members who've ever had a bed bug infestation. Most likely, they have probably spoken to a bed bug lawyer and may have one in mind.
You can also search online for bed bug lawyers in Los Angeles. However, be keen to analyze the lawyer's reputation and experience before settling on one.
We at the Los Angeles Eviction Attorney offer impeccable services to all our clients. When pursuing compensation, we promise to be with you from start to finish. We will ensure you receive the amount of money you deserve as compensation.
Find a Los Angeles Bed Bug Lawyer Near Me
Would you want to get legal help in pursuing compensation against your landlord for bed bug infestation? If yes, we invite you to contact us at the Los Angeles Eviction Attorney. We will do whatever we can to assist you with your problem.
Call us today at 310-695-5536 to speak to an attorney. We are available 24/7.