Can I Sue My Apartment Landlord for Bed Bugs in Maryland?
When searching for a new apartment, the last thought any prospective tenant wants to have is whether their apartment is secretly infested with bed bugs. Unfortunately, some landlords may purposely conceal the infestation.
If you or a family member have moved into an apartment with a bed bug infestation, you should contact an experienced Maryland apartment bed bug lawyer. At Whitney, LLP, our infestation lawyers understand the need to keep your family safe from a serious bed bug issue, and we are here to stand with you. Our firm is here to evaluate your legal claims regarding whether you can sue your apartment landlord for bed bugs in Maryland.
When is a Landlord Responsible for a Bed Bug Infestation?
In Maryland, the laws regarding liability for a bed bug infestation may differ depending on multiple circumstances. For example, the laws for an insect infestation in Baltimore County are different from the laws regarding responsibility for treating an infestation in Prince George County. That is why it is important to speak with an experienced Maryland bed bug lawyer that can help you understand the laws regarding your legal rights with bed bug infestations.
A tenant is entitled to move into an apartment that is not plagued with bed bugs or another type of insect infestation. Some tenants may discover an infestation shortly after moving into their apartment, while others may notice this issue only after several weeks. Either way, both scenarios indicate there was a pre-existing infestation of bed bugs, giving the tenant a potential legal claim regarding the infestation.
Once bed bugs have infiltrated a building, they can travel through cracks and crevices in the walls to take root in other areas of the building, and spread from apartment to apartment. That is why landlords have to act quickly when a bed bug infestation is reported to them.
It is important to note that if a landlord knew about the infestation before the tenant signed their lease, the landlord should have disclosed this information to the tenant to allow the tenant to decide whether or not to risk moving into a potentially infested apartment.
Other insect infestation laws may also place liability on a landlord if they did not take reasonable measures to protect a property from insect infestations. As mentioned, these laws can vary from county to county. To learn more about filing a lawsuit over an apartment’s bed bug infestation, you should speak with an experienced Baltimore bed bug injury lawyer.
When to File a Lawsuit for Bed Bugs in Your Apartment
There are several types of lawsuits that you can file to pursue compensation for a bed bug infestation in your apartment. One of the most common causes of action filed for a bed bug problem is a personal injury claim. To prevail in a personal injury claim, you must show that your landlord exhibited negligence when maintaining their property, and that this negligence caused you an injury.
It is important to note that you only have a limited amount of time to file a personal injury lawsuit in Maryland. The reason for this is the statute of limitations for personal injury claims. This law dictates how long a plaintiff has to file their claim with the court. In Maryland, personal injury lawsuits have a three-year filing window. If your case is not filed within this timeframe, the court may bar your claim and leave you without an avenue to seek legal compensation.
Other types of lawsuits that an injured plaintiff could file for a bed bug infestation include:
- Breach of the implied warranty of habitability
- Violation of consumer protection laws
These lawsuits may also have a filing deadline that you should discuss with a lawyer. Do not delay in filing in your case.
Our Maryland Bed Bug Litigation Attorneys Can Help You File a Claim
If you discovered a bed bug infestation in the apartment complex where you reside, you should consult with an experienced bed bug litigation attorney today. The devoted attorneys at Whitney, LLP, possess decades of combined legal experience handling insect infestation cases, and we will use this knowledge to fight for you. Depending on the circumstances of your case, your landlord may be responsible for any injuries you sustain due to a bed bug problem in your apartment. To schedule a consultation to discuss your claim, contact Whitney, LLP, at (410) 583-8000.
