The Maryland bed bug infestation lawyers at Whitney, LLP represent elderly residents of senior living, nursing homes and retirement homes in bed bug bite and bed bug infestation claims against the property managers of these facilities.
Elderly residents have many rights involving bed bug bites, bed bug infestations and whether or not they can be forced to pay for bed bugs. If you have any questions, call Whitney, LLP for a Legal Consultation.
We represent clients in bed bug bite claims throughout Maryland including in Baltimore, Pasadena, Cockeysville, Owings Mills, Temple Hills, Marlow Heights, Middle River, Germantown, Silver Spring, Frederick, Waldorf, Laurel, Glen Burnie, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Ellicott City, Ocean City and Salisbury.
How Bed Bugs Spread in Assisted Living and Retirement Homes
In many bed bug lawsuits that Whitney, LLP has filed, documents are produced showing that the property in question has a documented history of bed bug infestations, both in residents’ private rooms and also in public areas of the facility. The significance of bed bug infestations being in public common areas at nursing homes, assisted living facilities and retirement communities where senior citizens congregate is that this is most likely how bed bugs spread throughout the campus and into other residents’ rooms.
For example, when a senior citizen resident who has an active bed bug infestation in her room comes down to the lobby to sit with her friends, have tea or read a book, the bed bugs will crawl off of her clothing, or wheelchair, onto the couch, and wait for a new person to sit down. When the new person sits down, those bed bugs will hitchhike back to that person’s room, where they will continue to breed and multiply. It is a continuous cycle that persists until the bed bugs are detected and properly treated.
When a resident of these communities picks up bed bugs in a common area and brings the infestation back to her residence, the property manager is likely responsible for any bed bug bites and property damage caused by the infestation.
Managing Bed Bug Infestations in Long Term Care Facilities
Senior citizens require extra care when it comes to bed bugs. Senior living facilities, retirement homes and nursing homes all provide care for senior citizens, and also deal with the issue of bed bug infestations and bed bug bites. Bed bugs are so prevalent in 2019 that the question is not IF bed bugs will show up, but rather, what to do WHEN bed bugs show up where senior citizens live. Senior citizens have the right to live free of bed bug infestations and bed bug bites, and the property operators are required to take the necessary steps to do so. When they fail to take proper precautions to deal with bed bugs, senior citizens, and their families, have significant legal claims they can bring to recover compensation for injuries sustained.
Who Has to Pay for Bed Bug Treatment?
It is very important for senior citizens and their families to understand that the operator of a senior living community, nursing home or retirement home who tries to force their residents to pay for bed bugs may be acting illegally in trying to shift that cost. Residents who are being forced to pay for bed bug treatments have legal rights and should act quickly to preserve their rights and fight the illegal cost shifting. Maryland law requires that any costs that residents of senior living facilities are asked to pay are clearly specified in the Continuing Care Agreement signed before they move in. If the cost is not listed, they do not have to pay. It is that simple.
Maryland Bed Bug Lawyers Offering Legal Consultations
Whitney, LLP offers legal consultations for senior living facility and nursing home bed bug injury claims, and to residents who are illegally being forced to pay for bed bug treatments. Contact our Maryland bed bug injury attorneys now at (410) 316-6762, or use our Quick Contact Form. There is no upfront, out of pocket expense – All attorney’s fees and expenses are paid out of compensation that we are able to recover for you.
We represent bitten by bed bugs across Maryland including Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Carroll County, Charles County and Worcester County.