Minnesota Bed Bug Injury Lawyers 100% Free Consultation (Quick & Easy)

Minnesota is a state in the upper Midwest, sharing a border with Wisconsin and has a population of 5.5 million people.

Like many Midwestern states, Minnesota’s economy is rooted in agriculture – corn, wheat and soybeans being the state’s top exports.

Dairy cows are raised in large numbers, and Minnesota is a leader in dairy production. Other livestock include chicken eggs, hogs, turkeys, and beef cattle.

Minnesota is nicknamed “The Land of 10,000 Lakes.” It has 11,842 bodies of water, including Lake Superior, spread out over 12 acres of land. The Mississippi River also runs through this state.

Minnesota is home to the Twin Cities, Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Saint Paul is the state capital and boasts a population of just over 308,000 residents.

Minneapolis is the larger of the two cities, and is the largest city in Minnesota with over 429,000 residents. Fittingly, it is also known as “The City of Lakes.”

Tourism is driven by both famous landmarks and local traditions. The Mall of America, the third-largest shopping mall in the world, is located in the Twin Cities. The Minnesota State Fair is held toward the end of summer and is the largest state fair in the United States.

But tourists might be bringing home an unwanted souvenir with them…

Because the Midwest, including Minnesota, accounts for 20% of all bed bug infestations in the United States.

Hire A Minnesota Bed Bug Lawyer

If you were affected by a bed bug infestation in a hotel, apartment or other residence, you may be entitled to financial compensation.

Property owners are obligated to provide their residents or guests with a clean, healthy environment, and allowing infestations to continue unabated goes against that obligation.

They can be held liable for both monetary and non-monetary damages resulting from bed bug infestations.

These include, but are not limited to:

Damages related to loss of wages, cost of extermination, and medical bills
Damages related to loss of furniture or other personal property
Damages stemming from fear of anxiety of dealing with an infestation

Please contact us at (855) 733-9217 or submit your case here. We will put you in contact with a personal injury lawyer who will guide you through the necessary proceedings.

The consultation is FREE, and there are absolutely NO FEES unless your case is won.

Minnesota Bed Bug Laws

There are no laws in Minnesota which directly apply to bed bugs. However, there are ordinances and statutes which apply to pest infestations in general.

Under state law, property owners are required to cover the cost of removing any pest infestations and repairing related damages.

If it can be proven that a tenant is responsible for the infestation of property via willful negligence, then the property owner may defer their aforementioned responsibility of paying the necessary fees onto their tenant.

Chapter 229, Section 100 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances states that a property owner can appeal to the health commissioner for assistance in removing an infestation. They must do this within 3 days of discovering an infestation if they wish to receive aid.

The commissioner of health may respond to such appeals if they deem a case to be in the best interest of the community, and if they have the necessary funds. If this appeal is denied, however, then the property owner remains fully responsible for paying all expenses.

Are Bed Bugs Common In Minnesota?

Bed bugs are a common nuisance all across the United States, and the number of infestations has been on the rise since the 1970s.

And Minnesota is no exception.

In 2015, Minneapolis was ranked 36th on Orkin Pest Control’s list of Top 50 Bed Bug Cities. This was an improvement from a 2010 Orkin survey, where it ranked as the 12th worst city.

A 2011 survey conducted by the National Pest Management Association reported that 20% of participants who suffered from bed bug infestations lived in the Midwest.

One reason why bed bugs are so prevalent in this region may be the climate. Bed bug infestations peak during the summer months, with Minnesota averaging temperatures of 70 degrees during this time of the year.

Conversely, bed bugs become less active during the autumn and winter.

In Minnesota, temperatures routinely drop below freezing as the winter sets in. While bed bugs will remain active if a home is heated, they will slowly grow dormant if the cold is allowed to set in.

Interesting fact: A dormant bed bug can survive up to a year without feeding.

What is Responsible for Bed Bugs, the Tenant or the Landlord?

In Minnesota, state landlord-tenant laws hold the landlord of a property responsible for covering all expenses related to maintaining and repairing the property, including in cases of pest infestation.

If an infestation is discovered and the landlord does not make any attempt to exterminate it within 14 days of being notified, the tenant may withhold rent payment. Tenants can also report inaction by the landlord to a court, where the property owner will be ordered to remove the infestation.

However, if there is proof that the infestation and any associated damages are the result of negligence on the tenant’s part, then the landlord is absolved of paying expenses.

The landlord can charge the tenant with covering the cost of extermination and repairing any damages.

Please be aware that, in some leases, the tenant will always be responsible for paying the cost of extermination, regardless of whether or not they are the cause of the infestation.

For more information on financial responsibility between the landlord and tenant, check out our complete guide.

What Are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small, parasitic insects that subsist on the blood of humans or other animals.

Their habitat is very diverse, as they can nest anywhere from houses and hotels to cruise ships and buses. Where there are people, there are bed bugs.

Bed bugs are nocturnal creatures. During the day, they hide in places where few would know to look for them. These include mattress seams, underneath furniture, in other cracks or crevices, or underneath any gathered clutter.

Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs do not thrive only in unhygienic conditions.

While filth is certainly advantageous to them, bed bugs can thrive in any environment regardless of cleanliness–all they require are places to hide during the day and a sufficient food source.

Signs of a bed bug infestation include, but are not limited to:

The presence of shed exoskeletons, which the insects molt.
Excrement on bedding material, which resembles rust-colored spots akin to dried blood.
A musty odor near the insects’ hiding place.

Physical symptoms of being bitten by bed bugs include:

Small, red welts on the upper body.
Skin irritation.
Insomnia.
Anxiety.

In severe cases, people who are bitten by bed bugs will develop flu-like symptoms such as a cough, fever and nausea.

Other symptoms may include hives, lightheadedness, and fainting.

If you spot any signs of bed bug activity, do not hesitate to contact a pest control expert at once.

If you suffer serious symptoms related to bed bug bites, please seek medical attention immediately.

Click here for the top 5 most common symptoms people experience from bed bugs.