Bed bugs at hotels can be catastrophic for the hotel chain, potentially ruining reputations. Because of this, hotels aggressively fight against accusations of bed bugs and claims of bed bug injuries. It is vital that victims of bed bug injuries take their case to experienced bed bug attorneys that can aggressively pursue these claims and work to get you compensation from even the biggest hotel chains. Visit our results page to read how our law firm has helped real victims of bed bug injuries.
If you were injured by bed bugs in a Westin Hotel or found a bed bug infestation at your home after staying at a Westin hotel, call the Westin Hotel bed bug injury lawyers at Whitney, LLP. Our lawyers may be able to take your case and fight to get you the compensation you deserve. For a free legal consultation on your case, call our lawyers today at (410) 583-8000.
We represent clients injured 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.
Damages from Hotel Bed Bug Injuries
If you were the victim of bed bug injuries at a Westin Hotel, you may have a number of damages that the hotel chain should compensate you for. First and foremost, you will typically have physical injuries. Bed bugs eat blood, which means that you will likely suffer from bed bug bites. These bites can lead to infections and severe allergic reactions. In any case, they can also cause mental and emotional harm because of the nature of the event, potentially requiring mental healthcare.
The damages for any health care associated with the injuries should be covered in full by the responsible parties. Additionally, you may be entitled to direct damages for the physical pain and mental suffering of the event, such as the constant itching.
If the bed bugs infested your clothes or luggage at the hotel, you may also need to replace those items, which the hotel should cover. If you did not discover the bed bug infestation until you went home and bed bugs came along with you, the damages you suffer could be worse. You may need to replace beds, furniture, carpets, clothing, and other items to recover from the infestation. You may also need to hire pest control to fight the bed bugs.
In some cases, you may also be entitled to additional damages to punish the at-fault hotel. These “punitive damages” are rare but are possible in cases of especially negligent treatment.
Suing Westin Hotels for Bed Bugs
To get the compensation you need, you must prove that your injuries were the hotel’s fault. Generally, bed bugs are brought into the hotel by other guests on their clothes or luggage. Once the bed bugs are there, they are usually the hotel’s responsibility. Laws vary from state to state about what exactly hotels must do in response to bed bugs, but hotel staff are typically judged against a standard of reasonableness.
If the hotel staff failed to take reasonable steps to warn you about the bed bug infestation or clear the bed bugs, they should be liable to you for damages. Generally, hotels are not going to inform you that their hotel has bed bugs, as this would hurt their reputation. Instead, they will typically close rooms and work to contain and fight the infestation. However, if they fail to use the proper care or skill that a reasonable hotel company should use, they will leave you at risk. For instance, failing to contact a pest control company or allowing you to stay in the room without taking any steps to stop the bed bugs or clean the room would be unreasonable and should make them liable for the injuries you faced.
If you can prove that the hotel was especially negligent, you may be entitled to additional damages. For instance, if a hotel repeatedly rented out the same room after knowing it had bed bugs or the hotel has a history of harming guests by failing to clear out bed bugs, you could receive punitive damages.
Where to Find Bed Bugs
If you do discover bed bugs in your hotel room or you get home from a hotel and think bed bugs came with you, it is important to know what to do next.
First, you should confirm you do have bed bugs. This means looking for signs of infestations. Tiny red spots on your bed sheets are a telltale sign, as are physical bumps and bite marks. However, finding the bugs themselves is the best proof.
If you can catch a bed bug in your hotel room, that provides proof the room was infested and provides a strong basis for your legal claims.
You can usually hire a pest control expert to find and route out bed bugs in your home, but you can also take a preliminary look for yourself. Bed bugs like to stay in dark places near where people sleep and spend a lot of their time. Bed bugs can often be found on the mattress itself, especially near the seams. They can also be found inside of box springs and on other fabric items and furniture, such as couches, chairs, carpets, drapes, and clothes.
Call Our Westin Hotel Bed Bug Injury Attorneys Today for a Free Case Consultation
If you or someone in your family recently stayed at a Westin Hotel and was exposed to bed bugs, call our Westin Hotel bed bug injury lawyers today. The Maryland bed bug attorneys at Whitney, LLP may be able to take the hotel to court and fight to get you compensation for the harm you faced from a bed bug infestation in your hotel room or bed bugs in your home after a hotel stay. For a free legal consultation on your case, call our law offices today at (410) 583-8000.