Yes, if you were bitten by bed bugs while you were staying over at your friend’s, you can sue for the cost of medical bills, lost wages, and other monetary losses. However, we understand that this is a tricky situation, as most people never think about the possibility of suing someone that’s close to them. After all, the last thing you want is a long, drawn-out court battle that compromises your friendship.
However, we want to assure you that that most lawsuits for injuries at a friend’s house are not as contentious as you may believe. In fact, you may not need to sue your friend at all, depending on who is responsible for the bed bug infestation. This is particularly true if your friend is a renter versus a homeowner. In that case, it may be the landlord or another third party that is responsible for compensating you.
No matter who is at fault for the harm you’ve suffered, obtaining legal advice is essential to the recovery process. With that in mind, contact the bed bug lawsuit attorneys of Normandie to schedule a free consultation.
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Health Complications from Bed Bug Bites
We’ve all dealt with bug bites throughout our lives, and thankfully, most of these are not serious injuries. However, the same can’t be said for bites caused by bed bugs, which can have the following health complications:
- Anemia / blood loss
- Hives, rashes, and other allergic reactions
- Possibility of infection due to open wounds
- Permanent scars
- Anaphylaxis
- Asthmatic attacks
Some of these conditions, like anaphylaxis, are life-threatening, which is why you should see a doctor as soon as possible. The consequences of bed bug bites are most severe in people with asthma, allergies, iron deficiency, and blood disorders. However, anyone can be left with permanent scars from the aftermath of a bed bite attack. Bed bugs also threaten your sense of security and cause insomnia, along with other mental health disorders.
Can I Sue my Friend if I was Bitten by Bed Bugs While Sleeping Over at His Place?
Yes, you can sue a friend if you were bitten by bed bugs while sleeping over at their home. This is based on the concept of premises liability, which obligates owners to keep their property in a reasonably safe condition. Thus, if there was a hazard on the property that causes injury to a guest, they are liable for the victim’s monetary losses.
Many people get nervous at the prospect of suing their friend, but it’s quite possible that your friend has renter’s insurance. If so, the insurance policy will probably have coverage for third party injuries, which means you can file a claim for your medical expenses and other damages. If it turns out that your claim exceeds the policy limits, you may need to file a lawsuit to obtain the remaining amount.
Navigating the claims process can be quite challenging for the average person, and as a result, it’s easy to end up with an inadequate settlement from a bed bug injury case. Our lawyers can help you negotiate a fair amount of damages with the insurance company, and if need be, file a lawsuit to recover the rest of the payment you are entitled to.
Can I Sue the Landlord for Injuries from a Bed Bug Infestation?
Yes, you can sue the landlord of your friend’s apartment for beg bug bites if they failed to resolve a known problem with bed bugs in the apartment. Essentially, landlords have a duty to provide their tenants with a safe dwelling, so they are obligated to take care of bug infestations in the apartment. Unfortunately, there are many negligent landlords who do not hire an inspector and make arrangements with an exterminator.
The important thing here is to prove that the landlord / leasing company was aware of the problem, i.e., they were notified of bed bugs by your friend and/or other tenants in the building. However, who is ultimately liable for a bed bug infestation depends on the type of rental arrangement. For example, if your friend is renting an apartment from a condo owner, liability may fall on the condo association or property management firm. In some cases, liability may be shared between the owner, association, and management company.
A premises liability lawyer at our office can help you figure out the party that’s responsible for your injuries. Once that’s established, you can count on us to fight for every penny you deserve from a bed bug lawsuit against a negligent landlord.
Steps to Take if You were Injured by Bed Bugs in Someone Else’s Home
If you notice bed bug bites on your arms, legs, or any other part of your body, make sure to seek medical attention right away. Aside from protecting your health, you will need to obtain medical records to show that you are entitled to compensation from an injury claim. You should also take the following steps to protect your legal rights:
- Take photos of your bite marks and other visible injuries.
- Take pictures of damaged belongings and signs of bed bugs in the apartment (reddish stains on your sheets, bed bug eggs and/or excrement, and live bed bugs).
- If other people in the building have complaints about bed bugs, try to get their contact information to pass on to your attorney.
- Organize your evidence, like medical bills, value of lost belongings, and lost wages from your job.
- Contact a bed bug bites lawsuit lawyer for advice and guidance.
How Long You have to File a Bed Bug Lawsuit
The statute of limitations to sue for injuries from bed bugs is 2 years in the state of California. Generally, you have 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit, but there are exceptions to the rule that can provide you with additional time. For example, many people are not aware that they have bed bug bites until the number of bites, itching, redness, etc., reach a certain level. Thus, you may be eligible for an extension based on the delayed discovery of injuries from bed bugs at your friend’s apartment.
To ensure that your claim is filed in a timely manner, give us a call to verify the amount of time you have for a beg bug injury lawsuit.
Average Settlement of a Bed Bug Injury Case
Bed bug lawsuits can settle for $10,000 to $500,000, depending on the victim’s injuries, damage to their property, and negligence by the property owner. Injuries play the biggest role in case values, and these include psychological damage such as nightmares, PTSD, severe anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Bed bug cases involving severe monetary losses and negligence by the defendant may be worth $200,000 to $500,000. If you’d like to find out what you can receive from a bed bug lawsuit, give us a call and schedule a free review with one of our attorneys.
Length of Time to Settle a Lawsuit for Bed Bug Injuries
It can take 4 weeks to 6 months to settle a bed bug claim, as long as the insurance company is willing to offer you a fair settlement. If they are resistant, you may need to file a lawsuit, which can take 1 to 2 years to settle. Generally, we are able to negotiate a settlement through direct negotiations, meaning it’s unlikely that your case will go to trial. In the event that a trial is necessary, a bed bug injury case will probably take 3 or more years. However, we want to stress that the vast majority of bed bug claims at our law firm are settled within 4 to 12 months.
Contact a Lawyer with Experience in Bed Bug Lawsuits
Bed bug infestations cause emotional trauma and property damage, as well as physical injuries. That’s why it’s important to understand your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve by law.
The bed bug attorneys of Normandie are here to guide you through the legal process, while providing you with a Zero Fee Guarantee from start to finish. That means you pay $0 to hire us, as all of our attorneys work on contingency. We ask for the cost of legal fees to be included in your settlement award, which means the only way we get paid is if you get paid.
Contact our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation if you need advice on how to receive compensation for being bitten by bed bugs while staying at a friend’s apartment. If you have questions about an existing insurance claim or lawsuit, please reach out to us for a free second opinion.
