Airplanes are the chief transportation methods for long trips. Each day, millions of people across the world fly in and out of various airports, bringing with them belongings from home and returning with souvenirs from the places they have visited. Many airplanes have quick turn-around times and depart soon after landing for a new city. This does not give the attendants much time to thoroughly clean the interior of the plane; as a matter of fact, many ex-flight attendants have claimed that there is a very cursory cleaning performed before the next batch of customers boards the plane. When getting on a plane ride, you have no way of knowing what has been adequately cleaned and who has left the seat before you. As a result, bed bugs and other pests can infest the plane and latch onto you, causing numerous types of problems. Our attorneys at Normandie Law Firm are experienced in dealing with pests present on airlines, and we can help you earn compensation for your damages. Our clients often call us after being bitten while on an airplane and ask us questions about how to move forward with taking legal action. Examples of some of these questions include:
- Can I sue if I was bitten by bed bugs on an airplane?
- Can I file a lawsuit if I was bit by bugs on an airplane?
- What should I do if I was bit by an insect on an airplane?
- Who can I sue if I was bit by a tick on an airplane?
Bed Bug Information
Bed bugs are tiny, flat bugs that feast on human blood. They tend to nest in dark, damp areas that are near where their victims sleep. These areas include hard to reach places like behind wood molding, picture frames, electrical sockets and outlets, headboards, and more. However, on airplanes, the bedbugs may stay under seats, behind the cushions, inside of the rafts, under the wedges of the carpet, and in the overhead luggage compartments. Bed bugs are usually nocturnal creatures that come out to feast on blood; they have an anti-coagulant present in their saliva that prevents the blood from clotting. The saliva is also anesthetic, and the bites are seldom, if ever, felt when they occur. Bed bugs, thus, often feast on victims during overnight flights the most.
Bed bugs are hardy creatures that can go months without feeding, and they can also survive many temperatures. They likely enter airplanes after being carried on board by carry on luggage. They may have crawled onto the luggage while it was resting at a hotel, motel, or hostel in another location. A single bed bug can lay eggs in numerous places around an airplane, and soon, many adolescent creatures will be roaming the plane looking for blood. Telltale signs of bed bugs are small dark stains on fabric and dark droppings, as well as white eggs.
If you leave the airport and find that you are covered in zig zag bites that may not heal quickly, you very likely were bitten by bed bugs while on a plane.
Additional Pests
Although bed bugs are some of the more common insects that can infest an airline, other bugs may do so as well. The airline has a responsibility to provide a clean environment for its passengers, and if you are bitten by bugs that may carry diseases, your safety is jeopardized. You may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the airline company with the help of an attorney experienced in handling airline pest claims.
Some other pests commonly present on airplanes include ticks and fleas. Ticks are usually found in nature, but they can latch onto pets and people who are coming back from outside expeditions. They cannot jump or fly, so they must crawl from victim to victim; a tick may burrow beneath the skin and make it difficult to remove, especially while on an airplane. Ticks may also carry Lyme disease, which can make humans very sick. Fleas, on the other hand, can and will jump from victim to victim, and they are also found primarily on pets that are allowed on planes. Fleas multiply very quickly and can rapidly infest a dwelling. Given how small the interior of an airplane is, it would take no time at all for a full flea infestation to ruin the plane. Flea bites can be extremely irritating and may take a long time to heal, similar to bed bug bites; however, there are noticeable differences between the two, including the pattern and amount.
In some rarer cases, airplanes have played host to ants and other similar insects. It is crucial that you properly document any injuries you may sustain while on board an airplane that has been infested with some type of insect.
Filing a Lawsuit
When you purchase airline tickets and board a plane, the airline has agreed to give you a certain degree of care. The duty of the pilot and the attendants is to keep you safe and make sure you are not harmed while on the way to your destination. Attendants who are negligent in their duties of cleaning the plane, or airline managers who are too cheap or lazy to properly fumigate an infested plane, can be blamed for your injuries. They did not take the necessary measures to protect you, after all, and a lawyer with experience in airline pest claims can help you sue for damages.
A negligence claim can be filed if your case meets these criteria:
You were owed a duty of care. Because you and the airline came to an agreement – you would pay money as a fare to be transported elsewhere – there was a duty of care given to you as a customer.
The airline breached that duty. This breach involves acting in a way that could potentially put you in harm’s way; for example, a drunk pilot would have breached his duty of care to all passengers on board, but the airline company as a whole had breached its duty if a plane is never set to be cleaned after its journeys.
The breach led to an incident. In this case, the failure to clean led to an infestation, which caused bed bugs and other insects to bother passengers and infest the plane.
The incident led to real physical harm. Bed bug bites can fester and become infected, while flea bites may not heal in a fast amount of time. Tick bites can yield Lyme disease, as well. There are numerous ways that bug bites can result in lasting injuries.
Keep in mind that all four of these points must be fulfilled in order for you to successfully file a lawsuit. With the help of our Los Angeles attorneys, you can be on your way to receiving a fair settlement for your injuries.
What You May Earn
Bed bugs and other insects can cause a lot of damage to your body. As a result, you can earn a settlement for these injuries. You may be able to receive coverage for:
Medical expenses, including surgery costs, hospitalization, physical therapy, medication, and more. These expenses can be covered from both the past and the future for any additional required treatments.
Property damage, which includes any belongings you had on the plane and any belongings at home that were ruined due to the transportation of bed bugs or other pests. Your possessions can be reimbursed or replaced.
Lost wages, which are reimbursed if you miss work due to your injury or any additional procedures. These wages can be reimbursed from when the accident took place to any additional costs that wind up accruing.
Pain and suffering, or emotional damages. These damages include psychological trauma, mental scarring, fear, anxiety, PTS, and more.
It is important that you seek the assistance of experienced Los Angeles attorneys for help tackling the responsible airline. It is a hard fight to go through alone, and our Los Angeles law firm, Normandie Law Firm, is here to help.
Normandie’s Assistance
Our team of expert attorneys is here to make sure you receive fair compensation from the airline responsible for allowing you to suffer injuries from pests on an airplane. Normandie Law Firm believes that every transportation service should provide its customers with the highest level of care, and it is unacceptable for any pests to infest a plane. Call us today to speak with one of our lawyers to sue an airline for your injuries. We will aggressively fight for your fair settlement and will not rest until we win your case – even if it means going all the way to court and presenting your claim before a jury.
Call us today to receive a free legal consultation with an accomplished attorney. You can have any questions answered about the legal process and what steps you should take to sue the airline. We will be happy to help you however we can, as we believe all clients should have ample knowledge to make an informed legal decision.
Further, we offer a zero fee guarantee to all clients on their claims. This means you pay no out of pocket expenses during the litigation process. Our fees are covered in the settlement we win for you, so the airline is the entity responsible for your legal bills. If we lose your case, we receive no payment at all.
Contact Normandie Law Firm today to speak with an attorney about filing a lawsuit against an airline for bed bugs.
