BED BUG LAWYER IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA
As the largest city in the state of Nebraska, it’s no surprise that Omaha has seen an alarming growth in its number of bed bug infestations. According to the latest list by the Orkin pest control company, Omaha ranks 35th among the top 50 cities most affected by bed bugs.
BED BUGS IN OMAHA
Bed bugs are known to thrive in densely populated areas. Large cities that experience an influx of people, such as Omaha, make for an ideal bed bug breeding ground.
According to Barb Ogg, one of Nebraska’s leading bed bug experts, it was only a matter of time before the city experienced a bed bug explosion.
Until now, experts are still unsure of what causes bed bugs to spread. However, humans likely play a part. Pest control professionals agree that the danger of bed bugs is related to travelers and the volume of foot traffic in a given area.
“Kids are taking them to school. People take them to the public health clinic. Libraries are finding them in chairs,” Ogg said.
Bed bugs are known to frequent places that experience a high turnover of people.
According to statistics, bed bugs are common in the following:
- Single-family homes
- Apartments and condominiums
- Hotels and motels
- Hospitals
- Public transport
- Retail Outlets
As the bed bug problem in Omaha continues to grow, efforts have now been focused on prevention, termination, and helping victims who suffered through an infestation.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT BED BUGS
Because they are difficult to spot, bed bugs are one of the worst types of pests. Often, people are unaware that they’re currently suffering from an infestation. Not unless the bites start to appear.
Bites on your skin are not the only way to spot the presence of a bed bug. These insects can cause general irritation, similar to bites from other bugs, such as that of a flea or a mosquito.
Unlike a flea or mosquito bite, bed bug bites usually appear in clusters that form a straight line. This is because the bug moves along the skin while it feeds.
Though these pesky bugs are difficult to catch in action, they are not all that difficult to find. Since they are highly dependent on humans, their nests are often found nearby. Bed bugs can be found on the mattress, or in cracks on the wall beside your bed.
Bed bugs have also been found inside closets, on travel luggage, and even inside shoeboxes!
Once you suspect an infestation, it is best to check every nook and cranny in your hotel or apartment.
DON’T LET THE BED BUGS BITE
When you spot a bed bug, it is very likely that you already have an infestation. Bed bugs can lay up to 5 eggs in a day, and each egg takes only 6-10 days before they hatch. If left unchecked, you can have a full-blown invasion within a month!
To help prevent bed bugs from multiplying, you can do the following:
- Do a full home inspection.
- Clean and declutter. Clear up the area near your bed and eliminate anything that bed bugs can hide in or latch on to. Vacuum all infested areas, including furniture.
- Seal your mattress and box spring. Cover your bed with a plastic bug cover to trap the bed bugs. Keep this cover on for more than a year to ensure that not a single bug survives.
- Use heat. Wash your clothes and bedding and dry them in the hottest setting on your dryer. Temperatures of about 120 degrees Fahrenheit will do the trick.
Most importantly, do not forget to call an exterminator to fully rid your house of these pests.
BED BUGS AND TRAVEL
If you love to travel, you are also at risk of staying in a bed bug infested hotel or Airbnb. Many hotels around Omaha have reported to have bed bugs one time or another.
The problem has become so severe, that there are now hotel and apartment registries allowing people to check the bed bug status of a facility before checking-in.
Overall, almost 82% of hotels in the USA have had to seek treatment for bed bugs.
These treatments could be very costly and is probably why some hotel owners prefer to turn a blind eye instead of addressing the problem.
For your own safety, do not forget to check your hotel room for bed bugs before you settle.
If you find any indication that signals the presence of these bugs, inform the front desk immediately.
Apartments have also been notorious for having bed bugs. Landlords are required by law to ensure that their property is safe.
This means that all units should not violate health codes and should be free from any dangerous conditions under the implied warranty of habitability.
Failure by both hotel managers and landlords to guarantee the safety of their guests and tenants can be grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
BED BUG BITES AND PERSONAL INJURY
Around 45% of all hotels in the USA have faced legal action due to bed bugs.
These personal injury cases were filed by guests who suffered damages due to a bed bug infestation during their stay.
As a tenant or hotel guest, you have the right to remain safe while inside the establishment. Hotels that allow their guests to stay in rooms infested with bed bugs could get in trouble for negligence. This is the same for landlords who rent out infested units to tenants.
If a hotel owner or a landlord was proven to have had prior knowledge about the infestation but decided to not take any action, a premises liability claim may also be filed against them.
HIRING A BED BUG LAWYER IN OMAHA
You have the right to file a case against the establishment that caused your bed bug-related injury. Filing a case does not only help you recover damages, It also serves as a warning to these establishments to always keep their property safe.
If your personal injury case succeeds, you may receive the following:
- Destruction of property costs. Covers any damage to personal property such as clothing and furniture sustained during the infestation.
- Medical expenses costs. Covers all expenses used to treat any injury—physical, emotional, and mental—sustained through the bed bug bites. It also includes medications, consultation, and hospital stay.
- Relocation costs. Covers rent, in case you have to move out for the meantime due to an infestation.
- Covers the cost of your entire stay.
You can also receive additional damages depending on individual state laws.
If you need to find a lawyer to represent you in Omaha, look no further. We are here to help you find the best bed bug attorney to help your case. Contact us now!