A common carrier like a bus transports hundreds of people each day. These people may unknowingly and unwillingly carry different insects on board which can infest the bus and cause havoc. There are various types of pests that may be problematic, such as cockroaches and vermin, but the common bugs include bed bugs and fleas. These creatures can take root, nest, and rapidly spread, soon consuming the entire vehicle. It is crucial that bus companies, whether private or public, do everything they can to have their employees clean the buses at regular intervals. If they do not, they place all passengers in danger. Our team of attorneys at Normandie Law Firm has experience handling claims that stem from bug bites on buses, and we know that the experience can be frustrating and traumatizing. We are here to help you receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Our clients often call our experienced attorneys and ask questions about how to best proceed after they have been bitten by bugs on buses. These questions include:
- Can I sue if I was bitten by bed bugs on a bus?
- Can I file a lawsuit if I was bit by bugs on a bus?
- What do I do if I was bit by an insect while riding the bus?
- Can I sue if I was bit by a tick inside a bus?
Bed Bugs on Buses
Buses can host bed bugs, which are small, flat creatures no bigger than 1 to 5mm; these insects feast on human blood and can fully infest a dwelling. They generally come out at night when their victims sleep, and upon biting into the skin, can feast for as long as they please due to their saliva having certain properties – it is an anesthetic, so you will not feel the bite when it happens, and it has an anti-coagulant within it, so the blood won’t stop flowing once it starts. This allows the bed bug the freedom to feed for as long as it wants.
The creatures prefer to stay in dark, damp places that are near their victims. For buses, this means that the bed bugs stay under the seats, beneath the cushions, under the carpeting, or in the vents and window frames. If it is not easily accessed, it is likely a good spot for a bed bug nest to be situated. When riding a bus, you should always be on the lookout for bed bugs. They can be easy to spot if you know what to look for.
Signs of Bed Bugs
If you do not see the actual creatures themselves, try to look for signs that they have a nest nearby or that they have been feeding in the area. The exoskeletons of their juveniles may be in the vicinity, for instance. The fabric on the cushion or seatback may have dark stains on it from where blood spilled, or there may be dark droppings present on the seats. The most apparent sign is the presence of eggs; these eggs are cream colored and small, usually clustered together in groups.
How an Infestation Starts
Bed bugs are not like other creatures that just happen to come aboard the bus and nest. They are almost always brought on the bus after crawling into someone’s luggage or onto someone’s clothing; they then escape, relocate to a dark area, and populate. Buses are common carriers, and they often transport people who have stayed at all different types of motels and hotels. There is no telling the cleanliness of these hospitality locations, and as a result, there is no way to discern how clean a bus is.
Steps to Take after Bites
During your trip on the bus, you should make sure to document anything that seems amiss. This includes potential stains and eggs; if you feel as though you may suffer bed bug bites, it is best to have as much information handy as possible. If you realize that you were bitten days after the incident, locating the bus that transported you could be very difficult – made more so by the fact that it very well may have been cleaned before you could go there to collect more evidence. This is rather common; many businesses do not want to lose profits by having customers avoid them because of bed bugs, so the managers quickly clean the bus or hotel room and claim that you were not truthful.
In addition to photos or videos of the infested area on the bus, it is also recommended that you have photos of the bites on your body, any witness testimony from people who were nearby, and doctor’s notes or medical bills. These pieces of evidence can show the results of the bed bug incident, but in order to collect compensation, you will have to show that the bed bugs were present on the bus. One of our Los Angeles lawyers can assist you in filing a lawsuit against the bus company.
Bite Information
Bed bug bites are sometimes confused with other insect bites, such as those of fleas. Flea bites do not have a pattern, however, as bed bug bites do. Bed bug bites generally occur in a zig zag manner and may itch after they have happened. Further, the bites or symptoms might not show up for some days after the incident. This is another reason it is difficult to receive compensation for your injuries – if the bites do not show up until a week after you took the bus, you may not have any information to go off, and might not be in luck. This is a huge part of why we recommend preventative measures first. Our Los Angeles law firm can help you try to file a lawsuit for bed bug bites.
Recovering a Settlement
When you ride a bus, you are afforded a duty of care by the bus company and bus driver. This duty of care states that you will be protected at ll costs. This does not only involve the way the driver operates the bus and handles it on the road, but it also applies to facets within the bus. Bed bugs fall into this category – by allowing an infestation to occur, the bus company places its customers in harm’s way, and can be said to be at fault.
You will need a lawyer to sue the bus company for these kinds of damages resulting from negligence and bed bugs on the bus. Our attorneys can help prove that you were afforded a duty of care; the duty was breached; the breach resulted in an accident; and the accident led to actual physical harm to your body.
Our attorneys can help you earn coverage for:
- Medical expenses, including surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, medication, and any other treatments that are necessary due to injuries stemming from the incident. Further, if there are any future costs that will be accrued we can help you earn those before the procedures happen.
- Lost wages, which are also eligible for both present and future coverage. If you are injured or recovering from an injury, you may not be able to go to work. The responsible party can reimburse you for these lost days and income.
- Property damage, which includes all items that are damaged, broken, ruined, or lost . You may have brought the bed bugs home, resulting in the need to fumigate your home and replace your furniture. These materials can be covered.
- Pain and suffering, or emotional damages, are the result of psychological trauma or mental suffering. Fear, anxiety, and PTSD can also be considered emotional damages.
With the help of an attorney at Normandie Law Firm, you can receive a fair settlement for your damages.
How Normandie Helps
Our team of expert lawyers at Normandie Law Firm is here to make sure you are treated well after sustaining bed bug injuries. We will do everything we can to help you bring you the maximum compensation under the law. Our attorneys are aggressive and will relentlessly pursue your settlement from the responsible party, and we will not rest until we bring you an amount you are satisfied with.
Call us today to receive a free legal consultation with an experienced lawyer. You can ask any questions you want about the legal process and we will answer you as best we can. Further, you can learn about our zero fee guarantee, which promises that you will not pay any money out of pocket for your legal expenses. Our fees are only collected If we win your case, and the money comes out of the settlement we earn for you. That way, your savings are never touched.
Contact Normandie Law Firm today to speak to an accomplished lawyer about filing a lawsuit with a bus company after being bitten by bed bugs.
