Birmingham is a city in the north central region of Alabama.
It has an estimated 2019 population of 210,000.
This city is dominated by the steel industry, in terms of production and processing.
A growing aspect of the economy is also Birmingham’s tourism.
People flock to the city for its deep south culture and attractions like:
- Oak Mountain State Park
- Birmingham Botanical Gardens
- Birmingham zoo
Though all of this tourism and economic activity does not come without its problems.
Birmingham is currently facing a rise in cases of a particularly nightmare-ish pest.
That pest being the bed bug.
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Bed Bugs in Birmingham
Birmingham hotels and residential complexes have been exposed to a high rate of bed bug infestations.
(Not necessarily something to be proud of).
In some cases…
Hotel guests are waking up with numerous bites and welts from these insects. It gets worse when they unknowingly bring these bugs home to their families.
This experience can be horrifying, especially if you’re a parent with a young boy or girl that is effected.
The costs from this damage can get expensive quickly.
These include:
- Medical bills
- Cost to replace damaged belongings
- Cost of pest control
- Lost Wages Due to Time off Work
Birmingham Bed Bug Lawyer
If you were an unlucky victim of bed bugs…
Luckily you do have options.
According to Alabama state law, hotels must shut down any rooms that are infested with bed bugs.
Therefore if you were knowingly given a room that was infested, the hotel may be liable for damages.
With a growing number of cases in Birmingham, bed bug lawsuits are becoming increasingly popular.
The amount of money you could receive depends on a variety of factors pertaining to your case.
These include:
- Level of Physical Injury
- Medical Expenses
- Emotional Trauma
- Lost Wages
- Cost of Ruined Vacation
We can connect you with a personalized lawyer that will fight to receive compensation for you and your loved ones.
Get in touch now for a free no obligation consultation.
What To Do if You Suspect an Infestation
Step 1 – Treat Your Injuries:
First, you should seek the appropriate medical attention.
If you’re experiencing severe symptoms you should receive treatment from a medical professional right way. An outside benefit is this also creates documentation from the incident that can be useful for your case.
Step 2 – Gather Evidence:
When filling it is important to have the necessary evidence and documentation. Make sure to photograph your bites. Try to include context within the images wherever possible.
(Where the hotel room is viewable).
Step 3 – Report The Case:
File a written complaint with the Hotel – It is important to sign and date your experience so that everything is on record.
Speak to a hotel manager soon as possible. Make sure to get the names and contact information of who you speak to.
Step 4 – Be Careful:
Make sure you don’t bring any bed bugs home with you for risk of infecting your home. You should vacuum out your suitcase and wash your clothes immediately after you get home.
Note: Even if you bring home one bed bug, it can turn into a severe infestation in a matter of months.
Step 5 – Hold On To Receipts:
Compile all of the receipts and agreements with the hotel and everything you did to remedy the situation (hotel receipts, dry cleaning receipts, hospital bills, prescription receipts, etc.).
Step 6 – Get a Lawyer:
Contact our team of bed bug experts who can connect you with an experienced and licensed lawyer that will be specifically chosen to represent you if you have a case.
Bed Bug Reports Birmingham Alabama
There have been numerous cases of bed bugs in Birmingham hotels and apartment complexes.
Below are a few examples of reported bed bug instances.
(some of which resulted in lawsuit settlements).
Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Birmingham (Aug 2019)
I’m a single mother who traveled to Birmingham from Franklin, Tennessee to visit my sister, I booked a hotel well in advance for the Hilton Garden with my 2 boys. The first couple days were wonderful, and we were satisfied with the hotel accommodations. On the morning of the 3rd day, my younger son woke up with 3 little bites on his shoulder. I thought it may have been a spider or something, so didn’t do much about it… and we went about our day. On the morning of the 4th day… I woke up at 5am with a strange itching sensation. At that point I had multiple bites on my arms and legs, and the same son had 15 more bites on his back.
NOTE: The mother opened up a dispute with the hotel and the situation is ongoing….
Undisclosed hotel in Birmingham (January 2017)
After a fantastic wedding weekend me and my new wife (pushing back the honeymoon) decided to take a week away in Birmingham. We currently live outside the city in Tuscaloosa. After a solid day of sightseeing, we got up and cozy in our hotel room for the night. The room didn’t seem like the cleanest, but we were so exhausted that we had no problem falling asleep. At about 3am that morning I awoke to my wife shrieking, and after pulling down the covers and turning on the light, we noticed the bed was infested with bugs.
We got about 20 bites each, and complained to the hotel, who seemed to do nothing about it. We then accidentally brought the bed bugs home with us, and it has been a nightmare scenario. After about $5,000 in pest control, we have gotten rid of the bugs, but my wife is very scarred.
NOTE: The couple sued the hotel for expenses and emotional trauma, in which they received $50,000 in damages in a major settlement.
Bed Bug Details & Facts
Bed bugs are pests that have been around for millions of years (traces of these creatures can be found alongside the dinosaurs).
The EPA and CDC both consider bed bugs a public health pest, but luckily these insects are not know to transmit disease.
Bed bugs are parasites, meaning they feed on the blood of a host.
(In this case the “host” being a human being).
The recent increases of bed bugs in Birmingham are attributed to the increase of foot traffic within the city, as well as the increase in country-wide travel.
Bed bugs are widely considered the hardest insect to kill, according to a poll taken by Alabama pest control experts. The reason is that these creatures are hard to identify, given their small size and habit of staying constantly hidden.
For this reason, it helps to know what bed bug look like, and how to check for bed bugs before you spend the night in a new residence.
Are Bed Bugs Capable of Causing Illnesses?
Difference sources may claim that bed bugs don’t carry diseases, however in rare cases they can.
There are 45 known diseases that bed bugs can transmit, including Chagas disease which can be extremely harmful to the body.
In most cases, bed bug symptoms are mild. Common symptoms include:
- Unsavory red welts on your skin.
- Skin irritation and itching.
- A rash or potentially blistering (if excessive scratching occurs).
Click here to learn more about what bed bug bites look like.
How Do I Identify Bed Bugs?
Bed bug injuries have specific characteristics that make them easier to identify, and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAOD) goes through them in great detail.
Bed bugs tend to infest victims in the following places:
- Single Family Homes (30%)
- Hotels (20%)
- Apartments (25%)
- Public Transit (5%)
- Schools (5%)
- Movie Theaters (5%)
- Other (10%)
Birmingham, AL Bed Bug Attorney
Our team of experts connects victims with lawyers that have a history of record-breaking verdicts for bed bug cases. Many other firms who handle these types of claims publicize their results but it’s important to ask the ones who actually represent the client.
For a free consultation with a bed bug attorney in Birmingham, Alabama contact us today.