Note: This content is for informational purposes only. Our law firm does not handle matters involving bed bug injuries.
Philadelphia leads the nation in bed bug infestations. Bed bugs are great little travelers – they’ll hitch a ride on anyone or anything. That’s why infestations tend to occur in high-traffic areas. In Philly, infestations commonly affect apartment buildings, hotels, schools, and even hospitals.
Even though they’re small, bed bugs can do a lot of damage. They can destroy your property, inflict serious physical injuries, and cause severe emotional distress. Unfortunately, many times, bed bug infestations and injuries are avoidable. They happen because property owners don’t take the time and care necessary to stop a bed bug problem before it happens. That’s when innocent people like you get hurt.
How Will a Philadelphia Bed Bug Attorney Help Me?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re dealing with a bed bug injury. You may have to seek medical attention and spend some time away from work. If your home was affected, you might have to relocate temporarily while a pest control company fumigates the place. As a result, the costs of your bed bug injury can add up quickly.
Fortunately, you may be entitled to compensation if someone else put you in this difficult situation. However, just because you’re entitled to money doesn’t mean it’ll be easy to recover. Insurance companies and negligent property owners will put up a fight. They’ll do whatever they can to limit your payout.
Don’t let them off the hook without paying you the money you deserve. Call a lawyer for help with your injury claim.
How Common Are Bed Bug Infestations in Philadelphia, PA?
Bed bugs are a serious problem in Philadelphia, and they have been for years. Every year, Terminix studies bed bugs infestations across the United States and publishes a list of the “best” and “worst” cities. For years, Philadelphia regularly ranked among the worst cities.
In 2014, it claimed the number one spot on the “worst” list. Something changed in 2017, when it fell to 10th on the list. By 2018, Philly had climbed back up to the number two spot. In 2019, Philadelphia reclaimed the title as the worst city in the United States for bed bugs.
Why? Many residents say that landlords and property owners simply don’t care about bed bugs. There’s a common belief that bed bugs are simply a minor irritant that don’t pose a serious threat to humans. However, that’s simply not true. Bed bugs are a serious problem. They can pose a serious threat to health and safety. In fact, they’re so dangerous that the Environmental Protection Agency classifies bed bugs as “public health pests.”
What Are Bed Bugs and Why Are They Dangerous?
Bed bugs are small, apple-seed sized pests. They feed primarily on the blood of animals, including human beings. They’re drawn to the heat and carbon dioxide emitted from our bodies. That’s why they can commonly be found in bed sheets, blankets, couches, upholstered furniture, drapes, curtains, and clothes. They like to be where we’re most comfortable.
In order to feed, bed bugs burrow under the skin of its host to find and attach to a blood vessel. When they do this, they can cause can a wide range of injuries. The longer a bed bug feeds and the longer you’re exposed to the pests, the greater the risk of severe injury.
Common bed bug injuries include:
- Skin rash
- Allergies
- Tissue damage
- Anemia
- Cuts
- Abrasions
- Infections, and
- Disfigurement.
Bed bugs aren’t believed to be capable of transmitting disease. However, at least one study suggests that bed bugs can transmit the parasite that causes Chagas disease.
Who’s Liable For Bed Bug Injuries in Philadelphia?
Bed bug infestations can happen anywhere. However, bed bugs tend to be found in areas that get a lot of foot traffic. This commonly includes:
- Apartment buildings
- Hotels
- Airbnbs
- Schools
- Daycare centers
- Hospitals
- Churches, and
- Office buildings.
These are places where a lot of people tend to filter in and out frequently. If property owners, business owners, or landlords aren’t on top of things, it’s easy for bed bugs to get out of control.
Unfortunately, Philadelphia is one of the only major cities in the United States that lacks specific laws or regulations about bed bugs. There’s no hard and fast rule about liability or who has the obligation to report an outbreak. That might change thanks to newly proposed legislation.
In the meantime, how can bed bug bite victims in Philadelphia hold negligent property owners and landlords accountable for bed bug infestations and injuries? Just because Pennsylvania lacks bed bug laws doesn’t mean victims don’t have legal protections. Which protections you can assert will depend on whether you were injured on your own property or someone else’s.
Premises Liability: When you’re on someone else’s property in Philadelphia, you shouldn’t have to worry about searching high and low for bed bugs. The owner has a duty to take steps to make sure that you’re safe. The specific duty owed to you depends on why you’re visiting the property. If the owner breaches their duty of care to you and you get hurt, they can potentially be liable in a premises liability lawsuit.
Implied Warranty of Habitability: When you rent an apartment or home, you’re entitled to live in premises that are “safe, sanitary, and fit for human habitation.” The landlord has an obligation to provide that for you. If something is dangerous, the landlord has to step in and fix it. The presence of bed bugs can violate this implied warranty of habitability. If that happens, the landlord might be liable for your injuries.
Damages Available to Philadelphia Bed Bug Injury Victims
Don’t underestimate the costs and consequences of a bed bug injury. In Pennsylvania, you can potentially recover compensation from the person (or parties) who are responsible for your suffering. This might include money for:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Lost wages and income
- Temporary and/or permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life, and more.
Note: This content is for informational purposes only. Our law firm does not handle matters involving bed bug injuries.
