Bed Bug Attorney Servicing Charles County, MD

Charles County, with a county seat of La Plata, is home to 165,000 residents. 13,000 residents are renters. In Charles County, apartment landlords and property managers, and hotel owners and operators, must provide apartments and hotel rooms to new tenants and guests free of all infestations, including bed bugs.

Bed bugs are invasive insects that can infest and destroy expensive and personal property. They can lead to serious injuries and health problems. These health problems can include bacterial infections, allergic reactions, anxiety, and depression. If you or a loved one’s apartment, hotel room, or AirBnB had or has bed bugs, financial compensation may be entitled to you or them. To be compensated, you will likely need to file a claim or lawsuit against the liable parties, such as your landlord or exterminator.

The bed bug lawyers of Whitney, LLP is here to help you through this process. Contact us online to set up a legal consultation, or call (410) 583-8000 to speak with a bed bug attorney in Charles County today. We have recovered over $11 million for victims of bed bugs in claims against apartments property managers and hotel operators.

What Are Bed Bugs?

The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius) is a nocturnal, parasitic insect belonging to the Cimicidae family. Bed bugs feed exclusively on blood, which may be consumed from any warm-blooded host, including humans, dogs, cats, and birds, depending on what is available in their environment.

These bed bugs, which only range from a few millimeters in length (depending on how much they’ve eaten), have the physical appearance of wingless, brown, and only having six legs. If a bed bug happens to eat enough food, it can sometimes expand to the size of a tick which causes much confusion. The main difference between these two species though is that ticks have 8 legs and no antennae while bed bugs only have 6 legs and do have an antenna.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

There are several common ways to check for a bed bug infestation in your apartment or hotel room. The obvious signs are visible bed bugs crawling on and all over the bedding or walls. Usually, bed bugs tend to hide from their predators. For this reason, they only emerge at night to feed. So even if you don’t see any bed bugs, they may still be present in the room. Warning signs that bed bugs are present in a hotel or apartment include:

Unpleasant odors, which may be caused by bed bug alarm pheromones (distress signals), often described as “musty” or “sweet,” or compared to scents like almond and coriander
Dark, jagged-edged stains on your mattress or bedding, which may be caused by crushed bed bugs or their excrement
Molted skins and/or egg cases in your bedding

Bed Bug Infestation Health Risks

There are serious health risks associated with bed bug infestations. Examples of health problems that can be caused by bed bug bites include:

Anaphylaxis – Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapid-onset, potentially fatal allergic response that affects a small percentage of people in the United States. Often connected with peanuts or bee stings, anaphylaxis can also be triggered by proteins in bed bug saliva, which enters the host’s body while the insect feeds. Warning signs of an anaphylactic reaction include confusion, weakness, nausea, facial swelling, and difficulty breathing.
Skin Infections – Open wounds caused by picking or scratching at bed bug bites can trap bacteria and become infected. Secondary bacterial infections associated with bed bug infestations include lymphangitis, cellulitis, and impetigo.

While the physical issues from bed bugs are something that nearly always happens, it’s important to know that sometimes bed bug incidents can also cause mental health issues as well. Multiple individuals who have had incidents with bed bugs report developing anxiety, insomnia, and depression just to name a few. That’s why it’s extremely important to deal with this kind of situation as soon as possible to avoid the chances of developing more physical or mental health issues.

Can You Sue Your Landlord or Hotel for Bed Bugs in Charles County, Maryland?

The answer to this question depends on several factors, such as:

Whether you suffered physical or financial injuries
When your injuries occurred
Why the infestation developed

Like other personal injury claims, bed bug claims depend on establishing negligence. This means you must prove that a landlord, a hotel manager, a pest control company, and/or other parties somehow failed to meet acceptable standards, thus causing an infestation and the resulting injuries.

For example, Maryland’s various county codes each establish their own pest control standards for local landlords and property managers. Landlords who fail to meet these standards may be liable for infestations and the resulting tenant injuries. Hotels are also held to high standards when it comes to providing safe and habitable conditions. Maryland hotels and apartment managers should disclose infestations to guests and must take timely, adequate measures to prevent or eradicate infestations.

Charles County, MD Bed Bug Injury Attorneys

At Whitney, LLP, we have a proven track record in the area of bed bug litigation. Our attorneys are well-versed in this nuanced, complex area of personal injury law, enabling us to provide our clients with experienced representation. Our Charles County bed bug lawsuit lawyers understand what it takes to obtain the compensation you deserve. If you think you may have a bed bug claim, call our law offices at (410) 583-8000 for a free legal consultation, or contact us online.