Rideshare services are not always the safest options for people to take to get from one destination to the other. The more severe assaults and robberies are not that common, but the lack of cleanliness is more so. Drivers’ vehicles may very well be infested by bed bugs and other insects, and if you unwillingly ride home while in the presence of these pests, you may find your entire dwelling compromised and infested. It is important that you recognize signs of bed bugs and other creatures and stay constantly aware when inside an Uber or Lyft vehicle. If you are riding in a rideshare car that has bed bugs, you should take down as much information as possible to prepare for a lawsuit if injuries and infestations occur. Our team of attorneys at Normandie Law Firm believes that Uber and the driver responsible should both be held liable for your damages in the case of bed bugs. Clients come to us with questions regarding bed bugs in Uber and Lyft vehicles and what kind of legal action they can take. Examples of some of these questions include:
- Can I sue if I was bitten by bed bugs in an Uber car?
- Can I sue for bed bugs in Uber cars coming into my home?
- Can I file a lawsuit if I was bit by bugs in a Lyft car?
- Bed bugs in Lyft cars infested my home. What can I do?
What are Bed Bugs?
Bed bugs are a specific type of insect that feast on human blood. Their name is deceiving; they are not only present in beds. As a matter of fact, bed bugs are right at home in any dark, damp location that enables them to be located near their prey. Because the majority of people sleep in beds, this means that bed bugs are best suited to sleeping near beds. They may stay behind the headboard, in between the mattress and the box spring, behind picture frames and electrical outlets, underneath couches and dressers, and more. As a result, they can also be located underneath car seats, in trunks, and within the gaps between seats and doors. They are very hardy creatures, capable of crawling from one location to the next, and even though they may be stuck in one location for many months, the bed bugs can still survive: they only need feeding once every few months.
If you want to check for bed bugs, you should be on the look out for any juvenile exoskeletons; brown stains on the fabric; dark brown or black droppings; blood spots on sheets; and white, cream colored eggs. Of course, if you see a bed bug crawling around, that is almost a sure sign that there is an infestation (the creatures are flat and only a few millimeters large, and colored reddish-brown), and you should not get near the area. Fortunately, bed bugs cannot jump like fleas can, but they can sneak onto body parts and belongings and get transported to new locations with ease.
How Do Bed Bugs Spread?
Bed bugs may be present in rideshare vehicles due to the amount of travelers that use them – in-city residents are not the only customers for Uber and Lyft, and there are many people who fly in and require rides. These people may stay at hostels, hotels, motels, or Airbnb’s that were afflicted with bed bugs, and as a result, they carried the creatures with them to the vehicle. They likely crawled onto luggage or clothing and then exited at a new area, leaving a fresh batch of eggs.
What are Bed Bug Bites like?
The bites of bed bugs are usually formed in a zig zag pattern; the bugs have an anesthetic, anti-coagulating secretion in their saliva that prevents you from feeling the bite when it happens and disallows the blood to clot. This means the blood can flow freely as the bed bug drinks it and engorges itself before it goes back to its nest.
These bites may not be readily apparent, either; they can show up after a few days, by which time your Uber or Lyft driver may already have cleaned his vehicle. The bites can take some time to heal, and may even open and fester if they are scratched; risk of infection rises in these instances.
Are Other Bugs a Problem?
Some vehicles may also have other problems besides bed bugs. There is the chance that the common pest found on house pets, fleas, can infest your car. Fleas can jump from one animal to the other and even latch onto people; once they have found a home, they have concentrated nests in various areas. While at home, these nests may be on your pet’s bed or on the couch, but in a vehicle, these nests will likely be in the folds of the seat cushions.
Fleas can be a hugely irritating issue because of how difficult it can be to rid the area. You will often need an exterminator to spray pesticides on the affected region. If you brought fleas home from an Uber or Lyft ride, you may not be able to stay at home while your house gets fumigated. It can take a few days for the infestation to be completely killed, and even then, you will likely need to invest in new furniture and clothing.
There have also been rarer reports of ticks, ants, bees, and other creatures present in rideshare cars. If you have been bit by an insect while riding Uber or bit by a tick inside a Lyft car, you should reach out to an attorney in Los Angeles with experience in pest injury cases.
What Should I Do?
The normal protocol in dealing with bed bugs in hotels or other dwellings is to collect ample evidence of the infestation. However, you may not be able to be as meticulous as you want if you are in a rideshare vehicle. In order to collect evidence of bed bugs in Uber cars and bed bugs in Lyft cars, you may need to convince the driver that there is a problem and you need a few minutes. The driver may not even know that there is an infestation; if another passenger brought bed bugs into his vehicle, he may be able to entreat Uber to cover the costs of fixing his car, much in the way they do regarding inebriated passengers who throw up or passengers who deliberately make a mess.
You should be sure to collect photographs or videos of the interior of the car, including any spots with signs of bed bugs; a statement from the driver, if possible; photos of your injuries; and proper documents of the details of your ride.
What Compensation Can I Earn?
You can earn a settlement from Uber or Lyft if you have sustained injuries from bed bugs or other pests while using the services. These pests can cause ruin in your life, and you should not be made to bear the burden of responsibility yourself if you had no part in the incident. Our Los Angeles law firm can help you be compensated for:
Medical expenses, including any medication, surgery, medical procedures, and more that stem from bites. These expenses can be covered from both the past and the future.
Property damage, or any belongings you had that needed to be repaired, replaced, or destroyed due to the infestation of bed bugs.
Lost wages, which can be reimbursed from both the past and the future, if the turmoil and injuries kept you out of work.
Pain and suffering, or emotional damages. These damages include psychological scarring, mental trauma, fear, anxiety, and PTSD. A pest infestation can take a heavy toll on your mind.
Contact Normandie Law Firm to speak with an experienced lawyer to sue Uber or Lyft for damages relating to bed bugs.
How Does Normandie Help?
Our team of attorneys at Normandie Law Firm has years of experience handling claims against Uber and Lyft. We have dealt with many different types of cases, and we are no stranger to claims involving bed bugs. Our attorneys are aggressive and will not stop until we bring you a settlement you are satisfied with, and we will tirelessly work for compensation, even going so far as to bring your case to court if necessary.
Call us today for a free legal consultation with an expert lawyer. You can ask any questions you want about bed bug claims and what the best option is moving forward. We will give you the answers to anything you need to know and provide you with necessary information about the legal process and your claim.
Also, if you select Normandie Law Firm to represent you, we promise that you will pay no out of pocket expenses during the litigation process due to our zero fee guarantee. We only receive payment if we win your case, and the payment comes out of the settlement we earn for you. If we lose, you do not owe us a cent. This is done to make sure that your financial standing is not compromised.
Contact an accomplished attorney at Normandie Law Firm today to learn more about bed bug lawsuits against Uber or Lyft.
