Florida

The most southern state in the USA, Florida is highly popular with tourists thanks to its high profile attractions, such as Disneyworld. It’s also the third most populous state in the US, thanks to its temperate climate. It’s especially popular with retirees.

This mix of tourists, the elderly, business people and local residents mean that Florida hotels and residences can be particularly susceptible to bed bugs.

We can connect you with lawyers that serve all cities in Florida. This includes Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, Daytona and Fort Lauderdale.

Find a Bed Bug Lawyer in Florida

Bed bugs are particularly resilient creatures. They can survive in almost any environment. Their diet consists solely of blood, so they are found in areas where there are plenty of people to feed on.

Our team of bed bug experts are experienced in understanding the effects bed bugs have. All of our lawyers have successfully represented multiple clients in their claims for bed bug injuries.

Bed bugs may be found in hotels, apartments, assisted living facilities and even furniture stores.

If you have been unlucky enough to be the victim of a bed bug infestation, you can take comfort knowing that our experienced lawyers can help.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small insects that infect soft furnishings, such as mattresses, bed frames, and headboards. About the size of an apple seed, they’re oval in shape and brownish in color. After feeding, they swell in size and turn red.

Bed bugs don’t fly but move quickly across floors, walls and ceilings. They are transmitted through luggage, clothing and used furniture. As their bodies are flattened they can hide in spaces as thin as a credit card.

Bed bugs are often mistaken for other insects, as they grow in size after feeding.

How to Identify a Bite

Bed bug bites are often mistaken for flea or mosquito bites. Flea bites are often found around the ankle area, while bed bug bites are found all over the body. Flea bites have a red center, while bed bug bites do not.

Are Bed Bug Bites Dangerous?

Most bed bug bites are painless to begin with. But, over time, they turn into itchy welts. Some people have a more severe reaction than others, with some suffering severe allergic reactions that can, in rare cases, be life threatening.

Bed bug bites can take several days to become obvious.

There have also been cases where bed bugs have transmitted Chagas disease, according to research by the CDC. Signs of Chagas disease include swollen glands and fever, diarrhea and vomiting, fatigue, and even cardiac complications.

If you think you have been bitten by a bed bug, you should seek medical attention to prevent viral or bacterial infections. Bacterial infections can be caused by scratching that breaks the skin. Such infections include impetigo, ecthyma and lymphangitis.

Signs of Infestation

If you want to hire a bedbug lawyer in Florida, it’s important to gather evidence of a potential bed bug infestation. Signs of infestation include:

• Bloodstains on the sheets or pillowcases.
• Dark or rusty colored spots of bed bug excrement, which can be on sheets and mattresses, or even on walls.
• Fecal spots, egg shells or shed skins.
• Creamy white eggs.
• An offensive, musty smelling odor.

As well as checking the bed, you should also look around the bed frame; inside books, telephones and radios; around the edges of carpets; and in electrical outlets. These can all harbor bed bugs.

Take photos of any evidence you find, as this will help prove your case.

Contact the Health Department

If you suspect a bed bug infestation, you should contact the local county sanitation and health department. They will inspect the site and provide a copy of their report. This is important evidence when it comes to hiring a bed bug lawyer in Florida.

Can You Sue a Hotel or Landlord for Bed Bug Infestations in Florida?

This will depend upon your ability to provide evidence of an infestation and of any personal damages. Such damages include injury or financial loss.

Attending a hospital or disposing of personal belongings such as furniture or clothing can be considered evidence for your claim.

Proof of harm due to negligence by a landlord or hotel owner is vital. Should your claim be successful, you can expect to receive compensation for the problems caused by the bed bug infestation.

Suing a Hotel – File A Claim With Hotel Management

Hotels have a duty of care to their guests, and can be sued. If you suffer from bed bugs while staying in a hotel, filing a claim with hotel management at the time will help support your case. When doing so, gather information including:

• Direct contact details of the hotel
• The name of the hotel manager
• When your room was last cleaned and inspected
• The name of the company responsible for the hotel cleaning

Can I Sue a Landlord in Florida for Bed Bugs?

Florida state law requires landlords to provide tenants with a home that is safe and suitable for habitation. This may be referred to as the ‘Implied Warranty of Habitation’. This includes a home that is free of health hazards.

If your landlord refuses to deal with the issue of bed bugs, you can sue them for a range of damages, including cost and time of dealing with the infestation, damaged property, moving costs, legal fees, and any injuries sustained.

Before contacting a bed bug expert in Florida, you can write a demand letter, which explains your rights and your expectations of the landlord. You should include any and all evidence of the infestation that you have gathered.

Removing An Infestation

According to pestworld.org, 97 percent of pest professionals treated bed bugs in 2018. Getting rid of bed bugs can be a tricky process as they are becoming more resistant to off-the-shelf pesticides. This is why it’s important to use a certified and licensed bed bug specialist to rid your home of any infestation.

Bed bugs can survive for up to a year without feeding. That’s why it’s important to throw out anything that could have been exposed to the bugs. This includes clothes, furniture and mattresses.

The Florida Bed Bug Lawyers are Here to Help

If you have been affected by an infestation, then now’s the time to take action. Acting immediately makes your claim more likely to be successful. Why not get in touch with our Florida bed bug experts today?