Sleep Inn is one of many popular hotel brands operated by Choice Hotels, which is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies. Like other Choice brands, Sleep Inn is required to follow strict standards for cleanliness and guest safety.
If you were bitten by bed bugs while staying at a Sleep Inn hotel in Maryland, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim against Choice Hotels, Sleep Inn, or other parties whose negligence caused the bed bug infestation. To learn more about filing a bed bug injury claim against Sleep Inn or other hotels, contact the bed bug litigation attorneys of Whitney, LLP online to set up a legal consultation. You can also reach us by calling our law offices at (410) 583-8000.
What Do Bed Bugs Look Like?
Due to their dark coloration and tiny size, bed bugs are often confused with other biting and blood-sucking insects such as ticks and fleas. However, bed bugs possess several traits that set them apart from similar insects. Bed bugs can be identified by the following features:
- Bed bugs are brown in color, and become darker after feeding.
- Unfed bed bugs are oval-shaped when viewed from above, but slender and flat when viewed in profile. Bed bugs distend while they are feeding, stretching into a tube-like shape often compared to cigars or seeds.
- Bed bugs have six legs and no wings. They do not fly or hop long distances.
- Bed bugs are nocturnal, which means they generally emerge at night. In the case of an extreme infestation, they may be noticeable during the daytime.
How to Identify Bed Bugs in a Hotel
Knowing what bed bugs look like is critical to identifying an infestation in your hotel room. However, even if you do not see any live insects, there are also other “red flags” that can indicate a hidden infestation. Remember: bed bugs are adept at hiding, known even to retreat into electrical sockets to avoid threats.
Other than the visible presence of live bed bugs, which is an obvious indicator of infestation, other warning signs include the following:
- Unusual odors in your hotel room. These odors may be caused by “alarm pheromones,” chemicals that are released by bed bugs to warn other insects of predators. Various sources have described these odors as “musty” or “sickeningly sweet,” while others have compared them to almonds, or even the cooking herb cilantro (coriander).
- Dark specks or stains on your mattress. Bed bugs leave dark, bloody stains behind when they defecate or are accidentally crushed. The presence of small, irregular brown or black stains on your mattress is a strong indicator of bed bugs.
Can I Sue Sleep Inn for a Bed Bug Infestation in My Hotel Room?
Like other types of personal injury claims, bed bug injury claims generally hinge on negligence. Negligence is a complex legal concept that involves several components, but in plain terms, involves causing a preventable injury by failing to exercise a reasonable level of care. For instance, a hotel might fail to clean and inspect rooms properly, allowing an infestation to flourish. Hotels can also be held liable for bed bug injuries to guests if they knowingly rent out rooms that are infested by bed bugs.
In order to recover compensation, or “damages,” you will also need to prove that you suffered some form of harm, such as injuries or financial losses. Examples of serious injuries or health problems that can be caused by bed bugs include bacterial skin infections, permanent scarring, and even anaphylaxis.
Sleep Inn Hotel Locations
With affordable rates and numerous locations spread across nearly all 50 states, Sleep Inn has established itself as a popular brand among family vacationers and business travelers alike. As of 2019, Choice Hotels reports that there are over 350 Sleep Inn hotels located around the world.
Sleep Inn Hotel Bed Bug Infestation Attorneys
Bed bugs are destructive parasites that can cause serious health problems while wreaking financial havoc on your family, destroying and forcing you to replace valuable personal property.
At Whitney, LLP, we have years of experience representing the victims of hotel bed bug infestations, and are here to provide tireless advocacy for you and your loved ones. Our goal is to recover the greatest amount of compensation possible for your injuries and financial losses, including medical bills, pain and suffering, and property damage. Contact us online today to set up a legal consultation, or call Whitney, LLP at (410) 583-8000 to speak confidentially with a Sleep Inn bed bug lawyer.
We represent clients 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.