St. Paul%27s UCC Westminster%2C Maryland - Carroll County, MD Bed Bug Lawyer

Bed Bug Attorney Servicing Carroll County, MD

Carroll County, MD, with a county seat of Westminster, is home to 172,000 residents, with 13,000 renters. Westminster is also home to McDaniel College, with an additional population of college students. Carroll County contains a mix of owner-occupied homes, rental properties, and hotels, all of which may be subject to bed bugs.

When bed bugs infest a hotel or apartment, they can cause serious harm to residents and visitors. Bed bug bites pose major health risks, including bacterial infections, anaphylaxis, skin blistering, anxiety, and emotional distress. Bed bugs can also be financially destructive, infesting personal property which must then be discarded and replaced. Even a short stay at an infested property poses danger since bed bugs can easily travel cross-country in clothing, handbags, or luggage.

If you were bitten by bed bugs at your apartment or hotel room in Carroll County, Maryland, make sure you discuss your legal options with an experienced attorney. At Whitney, LLP, we have represented hundreds of clients in a variety of bed bug cases. When you need a skilled and aggressive bed bug lawyer to fight in your family’s corner, rely on Whitney, LLP for quality representation. The Whitney law firm has recovered over $101million for our clients in bed bug cases. Here is what our clients have to say about us. Attorney’s fees and case expenses are paid from only from compensation we recover for you.

How to Identify Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are brown, six-legged insects that do not fly, sting, or make noise. As nocturnal parasites, they are generally active at night, but maybe noticeable during the day if an infestation is severe.

Like ticks, bed bugs grow dramatically while they are feeding on blood, which is their only source of food. Normally just a few millimeters – a barely-visible speck – bed bugs can expand to roughly one-quarter of an inch after consuming blood. If they are squished after feeding, a brown or red spot will appear.

How Do You Know You’ve Been Bitten by Bed Bugs?

Bed bug bites do not always produce the same reaction, making a professional diagnosis essential. Common responses to bed bug bites include small, pink, puffy welts that typically itch for one to two weeks. Sometimes bite marks appear in straight or zig-zagging lines, while other times, bite sites are randomly clustered. Some individuals do not have any response to bed bug bites, and may not realize they have been bitten until observing other signs of an infestation, such as dark mattress stains (which can be caused by crushed bed bug bodies or excrement).

Are Bed Bugs Dangerous?

There is a common misconception that bed bug bites are itchy, but ultimately harmless. While this may prove true for some people, many are less fortunate, experiencing bite-related complications such as:

Anaphylaxis – Anaphylaxis is a swift and serious allergic reaction often linked to peanuts or bee stings. It can also be caused by the proteins in bed bug saliva, which enters the host’s body while the insect feeds. Symptoms of anaphylaxis, which can be fatal in extreme cases, include weakness, nausea, facial swelling, respiratory problems, and shock.
Bacterial Infections – Secondary bacterial infections, such as cellulitis, lymphangitis, and impetigo, are a risk for people with open wounds from scratching or picking at bed bug bites.
Sleep and Mood Disorders – Living with bed bugs is a stressful, isolating experience that can have detrimental effects on mood and sleep patterns. Many victims of infestations report experiencing insomnia, depression, or anxiety – which can long outlast the infestation itself.

Carroll County Bed Bug Claims Against Landlords and Hotels

Municipal ordinances are often more relevant to bed bug claims than state or federal laws. In Maryland, each county enforces slightly different landlord-tenant regulations, impacting liability in cases involving infested apartment units.

Section 171.021(F) of the Carroll County Code, Responsibilities of Property Owner, specifically address infestations, and whether it is the landlord or tenants responsibility to address it:

(1) Before occupancy. If necessary (due to infestation), the property owner shall be responsible for the prompt extermination of any insects, rodents, or other pests on the premises prior to renting or leasing a dwelling unit or rooming unit.

(2) When necessary. The property owner of a premises shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents, or other pests for that part of the premises which the property owner controls or uses except where the infestation is caused by the failure of a tenant to take responsible action to prevent such infestation of the premises.

The law requires Carroll County landlords to provide an apartment or hotel room free of infestation. If they provide an infested dwelling, they are negligent.

Carroll County Bed Bug Lawsuit Attorneys

At Whitney, LLP, we are dedicated to pursuing your claim aggressively. Our Carroll County bed bug attorneys can help you seek compensation for medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, mental anguish, property damage, and other losses that you have incurred due to the infestation of your apartment or hotel room. To talk confidentially about filing a claim in a free legal consultation, contact our law offices online today, or call Whitney, LLP at (410) 583-8000.