Have you been bitten by bed bugs at a hotel, apartment complex, or in your own home? Do you live in the state of Illinois and are unfamiliar with bedbug laws in the state? At Normandie Law Firm our skilled bed bug lawsuit attorneys are well-versed in the subject of bedbug laws in Illinois and can guide you through the often arduous process of building a case, filing a claim, and collecting monetary compensation for the damages that you and your loved ones have suffered. Bed bug bites, and more importantly, bed bug infestations can be incredibly damaging and can result in damages that extend beyond the initial physical injuries. These small, resilient insects can be difficult to get rid of, and if not treated properly can resurge and cause even more damages. For this reason, landlords and property owners should be held accountable for failing to remedy bed bug infestations properly. With the help of a skilled attorney, you can file a lawsuit and earn a settlement that can cover all of the damages that you and your loved ones may have endured. If you have any questions after reading this article, please feel free to reach out to our law offices for a free consultation from one of our many well-versed legal advisors.
Bed Bug Laws In Illinois
Bed bugs can cause quite a nuisance for landlords, property owners, and more importantly for tenants. If you suffered from bed bug bites, it is highly recommended that you are well-versed in the subject of bed bug laws throughout the state of Illinois. In the state of Illinois, bed bug laws can vary from city to city. For instance, bed bug laws in the city of Chicago are stricter than they are in other cities throughout the state of Illinois. In the city of Chicago, tenants are expected to provide tenants detailed information regarding bed bugs during the signing of a lease. In the city of Chicago, there is a shared duty between tenants and landlords in remedying a bed bug issue.
If you suffered from a bed bug infestation in the city of Chicago, you must notify the landlord of the infestation within five days. The tenant is also required to allow their landlord access to their apartment, and are expected to discard any items that an exterminator would say can’t be adequately treated. If a tenant fails to uphold these expectations the city may decide to fine them for their negligence. These fines can be quite damaging, sometimes exceeding $1,500. Landlords are also held to certain expectations regarding bed bug infestations. As well as providing detailed information, a landlord must notify a tenant of the inspection and treatment process and must pay for the exterminator service.
As mentioned prior, these laws can change depending what city in Illinois you live in. For instance, if you live in Joliet, Rockford, Naperville, Peoria, Elgin, or Waukegan, it is highly recommended that you research local bed bug ordinances before filing a lawsuit against a landlord or property owner.
Regardless, if your landlord or property owner failed to uphold their expectations in a bed bug infestation, you have every right to sue your landlord or property owner for the damages. For example, if a landlord fails to pay for a pest control service, or doesn’t give out proper information regarding bed bug infestations, you can take legal action against that property owner. When filing these suits, it is highly recommended that you seek legal guidance from an attorney well-versed in the subject of Illinois bedbug laws to better ensure you reach a settlement that covers all of the damages you suffered.
Bed Bug Infestations
Bed bugs are often characterized as small brown insects that are known to infest clothing, luggage, mattresses, and other items. These insects survive off the blood of humans and other animals and can leave itchy red welts on the skin. Bed bugs are often elusive, and difficult to get rid of. At first, their bites don’t leave marks, but over a period can become quite irritating, and are often compared to mosquito bites. They are often difficult to see as well and only feed at night for a short ten minute period. Some other characteristics of a bed bug infestation are listed below for your reference:
- Sheets, pillowcases, or comforter stained with blood
- Signs of bed bug activity, like fecal spots, egg shells, or skin
- A harsh odor in your bedding, caused by the bed bugs scent glands
- Dark spotting on bedding or clothes. This is usually caused by bed bug waste.
Once a bed bug infestation is found, it is often difficult to get rid of. Bed bugs can survive an entire year without feeding, and the females can produce up to 100 eggs in their lifetime. Fortunately, there are some treatments that you can do before hiring a pest control service. Some of these treatments include:
- A detailed cleaning of bedding, curtain, and clothing. This can consist of washing in hot water, or dry them on the highest setting.
- Scrub folds of the infested mattress to remove bed bugs and any potential egg sites
- Use a vacuum to detail your bed and the surrounding space. You may need to do this more than once.
- Purchase a mattress cover to seal off the mattress and box springs. This will ensure the bedbugs can’t escape. However, you may need to keep this case on for an extended period, as bed bugs can survive a year without feeding.
In some cases, a bed bug infestation can be so severe; it requires that the mattress, clothing, or other infested item is replaced. A bed bug infestation can even require an extensive pest control cleaning, which can add to the monetary damages caused by these infestations. For this reason, if you or a loved one have suffered from a bed bug infestation as the result of the negligence or misconduct of a property owner or landlord, you have every right to sue these parties for the damages you have suffered.
Filing A Bed Bug Infestation Lawsuit
All lawsuits regarding bed bug infestations will usually fall under the premises liability legal theory. Premises liability essentially states that property owner is expected to provide a reasonably safe environment for tenants and patrons. If that property owner fails to provide this safe environment and a tenant or guest is injured that injured party has every right to sue the property owner for the damages. All property owners and landlords are held under premises liability. For instance, if your landlord failed to pay for a bed bug pest control service, and the infestation continued, you may be able to sue your landlord for their inaction. While every case is different, most bed bug lawsuit cases require that you collect substantial evidence to support your claims. This evidence can include items like:
- Photographs of the bite wounds
- Photographs of the infested mattress or bedding
- Medical expenses from required treatment
- Extermination billing
- Expenses of purchasing a new mattress, replacement clothing, or other infested items.
Any evidence you collect can be used to prove a claim of negligence. A claim of negligence often involves proving the negligent actions of a defendant, and how those actions directly led to a plaintiff’s damages. For example, if you suffered from a bed bug infestation, you must be able to prove that your landlord neglected to uphold their expectations as a landlord and that these neglectful actions directly contributed to your damages. While every claim of negligence is different and can require different processes, every claim has a basic structure. Some of the key elements involved in the structure of a claim of negligence are bulleted below:
- Duty: The plaintiff (injured or damaged party) must be able to show that the defendant (property owner) owed a legal obligation to the plaintiff under the particular circumstances of the case.
- Breach: The plaintiff must be able to show that the defendant breached said legal duty through specific actions or failure to act appropriately
- Causation: The plaintiff must be able to show that the defendant’s actions or lack thereof caused the plaintiff’s injuries
- Damages: The plaintiff must be able to show that they endured some specific damages. This aspect can usually be shown through the presentation of medical records, a loss of wages, or a loss of potential income.
Whether your bed bug infestation was caused by the negligence of a hotel property owner or a landlord, you may be eligible to collect significant monetary compensation. This compensation can cover damages like any medical expenses caused by the infestation, the cost of replacing furniture, or even any emotional and mental trauma. However, when filing these suits, it is highly recommended that you seek legal representation from an attorney with experience in bed bug laws in Illinois. Having the right attorney by your side can make the difference between earning a successful settlement and having your case dismissed from court entirely.
How Normandie Law Firm Can Help
Being bitten by bed bugs at a hotel, apartment complex, or even your home can be incredibly traumatic. A bed bug infestation can also cause significant monetary damages as the expenses needed to replace furniture and hire a skilled exterminator can be difficult to bear alone. For this reason, if you or a loved one have suffered from a bed bug infestation, you may be eligible to file a claim for significant monetary compensation. With the help of our premises liability attorneys at Normandie Law Firm, you can earn the compensation you deserve for the damages you and your loved ones have suffered. If you file a claim, you may find some if not all of the following damages compensable to you:
- All of you medical and hospitalization costs
- All of your future medical care and treatment
- A loss of income and loss of future earnings due to long-term recovery or permanent disability due to the accident
- Compensable economic damages include loss of property or damaged property.
- Compensable non-economic damages include emotional distress, trauma, PTSD resulting from the accident, pain and suffering and anxiety.
Victims of bed bug infestations can contact our law offices to learn more about how to receive compensation. While our law firm is based in Los Angeles, our attorneys also practice in Chicago, Joliet, Rockford, Naperville, Peoria, Elgin, Waukegan, Champaign, Arlington Heights, Evanston, and throughout the state of Illinois
Free Second Opinions
Other attorneys will sign you up for their firm but will disappear once your name is on the paper as they are busy signing up more cases. In these instances, their business is based more on volume and will attempt to sign up as many cases as possible. In turn, they will spend less time on cases resulting in severely reduced settlements. Our firm will not treat you like a number. We will be in communication with you throughout our lawsuit and will treat you like family. So if you already have an attorney don’t worry, we’ll give you a second review of your case 100% free of charge.
Zero Fee Guarantee-No Upfront Fees Ever
If you contact our law offices today, we can walk you through the complicated process of filing your claim completely free of charge. As a show this commitment to you and your case we offer our clients the benefits of a zero fee guarantee policy. Under our zero fee policy, all clients don’t pay for our services until their case is won. If you feel in need of a second opinion, second opinion case reviews are also free under this policy. Please, feel free to give us a call, and we can guide you down the path of receiving proper compensation for your damages.
