San Francisco is the 16th most populous city in the United States and the 4th most populous in the state of California.
With 880,000 residents, it’s also the 2nd most densely populated city in the country.
As the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Northern California, This city gets thousands of travelers daily.
San Francisco houses major landmarks such as Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Fisherman’s Wharf, which contribute to the city’s booming tourism scene.
This city is known for being a little bit of everything….
And it’s temperate climate makes for such an attractive destination spot.
The city’s growth and tourism scene are wonderful for San Francisco’s economy, but this foot traffic does not come without its problems.
San Francisco is a known hot spot for bed bug infestations, breaking the top 15 on Orkin’s list of most bed bug infested cities.
Though bed bugs were largely eradicated in San Francisco in the 1950s…
These pests have since made a comeback.
With the number of reported cases growing every year:
It’s likely this city will be fighting bed bugs for a while longer.
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San Francisco Bed Bug Lawyer
If you or a loved one were the unlucky victims of a bed bug infestation, you may be eligible for compensation for damages.
Whether you came across bed bugs in:
- San Francisco Hotels
- Your Apartment
- Airbnb
- Or another location
The important thing is that YOU DO have options.
We connect victims of bed bugs with licensed personal injury lawyers that can walk you through next steps and help determine if you have a claim.
The value of a bed bug lawsuit continues to rise, and is very much dependent on the level of property owner negligence as well as the injuries you sustained.
Some of the factors that contribute to the value of your potential compensation include the following:
- The number of bites experienced
- Level of physical injury
- Pain & Suffering
- Medical Expenses
- Damaged or lost belongings
- Cost of ruined vacation
We can provide you with a FREE consultation to discuss your unique bed bug situation.
There are no fees unless you WIN your case.
One thing to note:
Do not accept a refund or any sort of gift from a property owner that is trying to make up for their past negligence to bed bugs. This could hurt your case for a lawsuit.
San Francisco Bed Bugs
As bed bugs continue to run rampant in San Francisco, it’s important to understand these insects inside and out.
Proper detection is the first step to stopping an infestation in its tracks, but detection can not happen if you don’t know what to look for.
What are Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are parasites that feast on human blood. Often mistaken with other similar looking insects, these creatures are unique in their ability to survive.
If the conditions are right, bed bugs can live up to a year without food.
They have also become resilient to common insecticides.
Therefore from a DIY perspective there aren’t many options other than these EPA approved chemicals and Diatomaceous earth.
To spot a bed bug, you should look out for its unique physical characteristics.
These include:
Size: Flat body about ¼ inch long. Though they become more rounded after a feeding.
Color: Brown (With a red tint after a feeding)
Body: Six legs (they don’t fly or jump)
Bites: Raised red welts that occur in clusters or a zig zag pattern.
For more detail on what bed bug bites look like click here.
San Francisco Bed Bug Laws
In California:
The department of Housing and Urban Development has put into place guidelines that forbid landlords for charging tenants for the cost of bed bug treatment.
(under certain conditions)
Under the Landlord Obligations Law of California’s Civil Code it states…
Landlords must maintain the following:
- Weather Protection
- Plumbing and Gas
- Adequate supply of water
- Clean Premises free of garbage, filth, and VERMIN
So in the case of vermin (bed bugs)…
Landlords who try to pass the cost of bed bug treatment on to their tenants are in violation of their legal duty to maintain property.
If your landlord refuses to pay for treatment….
You do have options.
- You have the legal right to withhold rent when a landlord refuses to maintain habitable conditions.
- You can write a demand letter to your landlord, threatening legal action if he/she doesn’t deal with the infestation accordingly.
- You can file a lawsuit if the owner had constructive notice and you suffered serious damages as a result of the bed bugs.
There are a few cases that California’s landlord obligation law will use to point to landlord responsibilities.
Knight v. Hallsthammar – Landlord must pay regardless of their “financial ability” to pay. They essentially can’t refuse to pay because they claim they don’t have the money.
Peterson v. Superior Court – The landlord has “notice” if a reasonable inspection took place prior that revealed the presence of bed bugs.
California recently came out with some amendments to their laws to further protect renters from bearing the burden of bed bugs.
Here is a great article that further explains these amendments.
Bed Bugs in San Francisco Hotels
Similar to landlords, hotel owners in San Francisco have a duty to provide a safe environment for their guests.
The state of California is one of the friendliest states when it comes to the consumer, so hotels that put their customers in harm’s way are not taken kindly.
Aside from California specific laws.
Under Common Law:
The hotel manager is expected to take reasonable action to promote safety, this includes fumigating, disinfecting, and exterminating a known infestation of bed bugs.
A New York resident, Erin, Scottberg, fill victim to to bed bugs from a 5-star hotel during her business trip. She reported the problem to the hotel, and claims “they didn’t seem to be taking things seriously.”
After a month of phone calls and emails, she was finally able to get the hotel to reimburse her for her stay.
Though not everyone is able to get the hotel to respond to an infestation this way.
If the hotel is not responding to your complaints, you may have the ability to file a lawsuit.
Suing a hotel comes down to proving negligence.
You will need to show either of the following:
- The hotel failed to properly deal with an infestation.
- Hotel management didn’t properly inspect the premises and take appropriate preventative measures.
If you do manage to build enough evidence, you do have the ability to sue a hotel for bed bugs.
Bed Bug Case Example
A newly married couple decided to move from Iowa and start their lives in the San Francisco bay area. Soon after they moved into their new apartment, they noticed a musty/sweet smell that didn’t seem to go away. After about a week, the husband started waking up with numerous bites on his arms and chest.
After another 2 weeks…
the couple received over 100 bites between the two of them.
The landlord did not disclose the infestation before they moved in, so they decided to file a lawsuit.
The couple ended up receiving $150,000 in damages for their physical injuries, pest control expenses, and medical bills.
Bed Bug Attorney San Francisco
If you or a loved one have experienced bed bug bites, you do have options. Under certain conditions you may have a case for financial compensation.
Get connected with a lawyer to walk you through your unique situation and determine whether you have a case.