Pittsburgh is a major city in western Pennsylvania.
It’s home to important tourist sites such as the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Phipps Conservatory, and The Botanical Gardens.
Pittsburgh has led in many areas of the country’s economy including, aluminum, glass, shipbuilding and petroleum.
With much to offer, Pittsburgh is a classic destination spot…
But unfortunately, its residents and tourists could fall victim to a growing problem.
This being the rise in bed bug infestations.
This city is home to thousands of new technology firms and 68 colleges and universities.
This makes the city a hot spot for foot traffic from outsiders.
Bed bugs are amazing hitchhikers, and can be brought into the city from
- Business Travelers
- Students
- and Vacationers.
On that note… Let’s dive in.
Page Contents:
Pittsburgh Bed Bugs
If you were impacted by a bed bug infestation and believe you have a case to sue…
You should get in touch with us for a FREE consultation.
It’s important for a lawyer to hear more about your case so a consultation regarding your pre-litigation is necessary.
A lawyer will assess your unique bed bug situation to determine whether or not you can file a lawsuit for your bed bug bites.
To have a case, you’ll need to have been bitten and suffered injuries, and prove negligence upon the responsible party.
As a tenant or a hotel customer…
It is within your right to have a clean-living environment.
A bed bug infestation is clearly in violation of this duty.
Pittsburgh Bed Bug Laws
Pennsylvania is one of around 25 states that have specific laws surrounding bed bugs.
Though, it’s important to note that each locality and municipality handles bed bugs differently.
Under 7 PA Code 82.15 it states:
Effective control measures and environmental changes approved by the Department shall be taken to prevent or eliminate infestation by and harborage of animal or insect vectors to include rodents, flies, mosquitoes, bedbugs, cockroaches, lice and other pestiferous insects.
Though this does state that effective measures should be taken to eradicate bed bugs, it’s unfortunately only referring to seasonal farm labor camps.
Therefore, there are no “specific” laws pertaining to hotels/apartments and bed bugs in Pittsburgh.
That being said:
Under the right conditions…
And with the help of an attorney…
You could still build a case for a lawsuit in the state of Pennsylvania.
If you did experience bed bugs in your apartment, you may have a case if you (as the tenant) did the following:
- You reported the infestation within 48 hours of discovery
- The landlord did NOT cooperate or take responsibility for extermination efforts
- You’re able to prove that bed bugs existed (in some capacity) before you moved in.
If you experienced bed bugs in a Pittsburgh hotel:
- You will need to prove negligence (that the hotel failed to take proper action on a knowable infestation).
- You will need to show that you experienced significant losses as a result of bed bugs.
(both monetary and non-monetary)
Bed Bugs Life Cycle & Appearance
Knowing what to look for is the initial step in finding and controlling bed bugs.
There are many insects that look like bed bugs, so accurate identification is crucial to avoid expensive treatment for the wrong type of bite.
Adult bed bugs have the following characteristics:
- Adults are about the size of an apple seed (5 to 7 mm or 1/4 in length)
- They are balloon-like with a reddish-brown tint (they can be more elongated if they were fed recently).
- They have a beak like mouth with 3 segments (and wings that are not used for flying).
- They have a musty smell that comes through the glands on their bodies.
How to Find Bed Bugs
If you suspect bed bugs.. It’s best to identify them early.
Before the infestation can establish itself and spread.
Treating a minor occurrence is an inconvenience…
But it is far less costly and easier than treating a widespread infestation.
Simply experiencing bites on your skin may not be enough.
You’ll need to locate more evidence to ensure it’s not a bite from a different insect.
Bed bug bites can look similar to bites from other insects like mosquitoes or chiggers.
Or…
There are even some people who don’t react to bed bugs at all.
(We are very jealous of them).
Click here for more information on what bed bug bites look like.
Bed Bug Signs
The most accurate way to identify a possible infestation is to look for the physical signs of bed bugs.
When cleaning, changing bedding, or staying away from your home, it’s important to look for the following:
- Rusty or red stains on bed sheets – signs that these bugs were being crushed.
- Dark spots – This is bed bug droppings which could bleed onto fabric like a Crayola marker
- Eggs – These are tiny and pale-yellow skins that nymphs shed as they continue to grow larger
- Live Bed Bugs – The obvious one.
Are Landlords Responsible For Bed Bugs in PA
It is the landlord’s responsibility to provide you with a safe and healthy living environment.
The instance where the landlord would probably not be responsible…
Is if you brought bed bugs into your apartment.
In this case you wouldn’t be able to sue for damages for bed bugs in your apartment because the landlord played no part in the incident.
On the one hand, if you found bed bugs when you moved in…
Or if the apartment was pre furnished and was infested with bugs.
Your landlord could in fact be held responsible.
You would also need to prove that the landlord or property management knew of the existing or previous infestations.
But did NOT take appropriate action to resolve the situation.
Bed Bugs in Pittsburgh Hotels
Similar to landlords for renters:
It’s the duty of hotel management to provide a clean and safe environment for their guests.
You should take the following steps after you are bitten by bed bugs in a Pittsburgh hotel:
- Seek medical attention for your injuries (keep the receipts)
- Take photos of your injuries
- Take photos/videos of live bed bugs (include hotel background)
- Once you have compiled this evidence, report the bed bugs to management.
Make sure you have gathered evidence before you do this, because they may refuse to let you back into the room.
Then get connected with an attorney to discuss your hotel claim.
We’re extremely conscious about providing the best help we can, and have no problem seeing your case through to the end.
Contact us today to set up a free legal consultation from a connected, qualified, and licensed attorney.
For more information on your potential financial compensation…
Click here for the average value of a bed bug lawsuit.