California is home to an astounding array of wildlife, and each of these creatures is interesting and purposeful in their own way. Wild animals include bees, which pollinate about 80% of all flowering plants, thereby providing us with a bounty of products for food and medicinal use. Still, most of us know to keep our distance when a bee is around, especially if we are allergic to bee venom.
However, it’s not always possible to avoid an interaction with bees and other stinging insects, such as wasps and hornets. If you are stung on your own property, this is simply a case of bad luck that can happen to anybody. But what if you were stung by a bee at hotel and suffered serious complications due to a bee allergy? Can a hotel or resort be held liable for the harm you suffered?
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Can I Sue a Hotel for Allergic Reactions from a Bee Sting?
Because insects are so commonplace, most cases of injury caused by bugs do not merit a lawsuit against the property owner. In California, an owner is not obligated to “protect or prevent bites from harmful insects” under the following circumstances:
- It is not common knowledge that the insect that bit or stung the victim is indigenous to the area.
- The property owner had no knowledge of a specific insect species being prevalent in the area of the property.
- The owner had not seen the insect that caused harm in or outside the premises prior to the incident.
- Neither the injured guest or hotel owner “has seen the specific insect that bit the guest either before or after the bite occurred.”
However, the law does allow for a lawsuit if the incident was foreseeable, meaning a reasonable person should have guessed that such an even would happen. For example, are there a lot of pollinating trees and flowers on the property? Were there previous cases of guests being stung by bees and other pollinating insects? If so, the owner of the hotel has a duty to spray the flowers with anti-bee repellant or reduce the number of plants on the property. They should also keep an eye out for bee hives or signs that a hive is nearby. If they fail to remove a bee hive and someone at the hotel is stung by one or more bees, the victim or their family may have grounds to sue the business for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, emotional distress, and other forms of compensation.
Complications from a Bee Sting Allergic Reaction
As a bee sting contains antigens (venom), it’s likely to cause mild reactions that are localized to the area where you were stung. Unfortunately, some people have severe allergic reactions with fatal consequences. Possible complications from a bee sting include:
- Itching
- Swelling
- Hives
- Swelling of the tongue and throat
- Difficulty breathing
- Low blood pressure
- Rapid / weak pulse
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
Please go to the emergency room or call 911 right away if you suspect an allergic reaction. Failure to treat the reaction can result in toxic shock syndrome, where the internal organs shut down and eventually cause death. Of course, depending on where the hotel or resort is located, you may not have access to a hospital nearby, and this can have tragic consequences for the victim and their loved ones. This is why it’s important for hotel owners to use bee repellent, remove hives, and take other actions to minimize the possibility of a bee sting incident.
Bee Sting Resulting in Death
For some people, a bee sting can be fatal due to an allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. This condition is the result of your immune system overreacting to a toxin in the bee venom. Anaphylaxis causes the airways to close up, thereby making it difficult to breathe. Essentially, the victim dies as a result of suffocation unless they receive immediate medical attention.
Please note that even if you are not highly sensitive to bee venom, a high level of bee venom antigens in your system can cause severe injury or death. Sadly, there have been cases where people have died within 24 hours after they were stung by dozens of bees. Those who have lost a loved one to a bee sting incident at a hotel may have grounds to sue for the following damages:
- Funeral / burial costs
- Medical expenses
- Loss of expected wages and benefits
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Legal fees
A wrongful death lawyer can explain these payments to you in detail and ensure that you receive the highest possible settlement from a bee sting allergic reaction lawsuit.
What is the Deadline to File a Lawsuit?
In just about every situation, the statute of limitations to sue a hotel for injuries caused by negligence is 2 years. If you were the one who was stung by a bee, you have 2 years starting from the date of injury to file a claim for monetary damages. In the event you are suing for the loss of a loved one due to a bee sting allergic reaction at a motel, hotel, or resort, you must file a lawsuit within 2 years from the date of death.
Our legal experts are here to help, whether you are filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. Please give us a call and schedule a free consultation, where you can learn more about your rights and legal options.
Talk to a Bee Sting Allergic Reaction Lawsuit Attorney
Proving that a business is responsible for an animal-related injury is quite complicated, and there’s no denying that an experienced attorney is the key to a successful recovery.
Here at Normandie, we make it easy for accident victims to obtain justice from the negligent party. Instead of asking you for payment, we add the cost of legal fees onto the amount you are owed by the hotel, motel, or resort. Once we secure your settlement, we deduct a percentage of it to cover our expenses. This is all part of the Zero Fee Guarantee policy, where clients pay $0 out of pocket if they wish to file a lawsuit against a hotel for allergic reactions from a bee sing.
We are ready to fight for you and the compensation you deserve, so contact us today and receive a free case evaluation.
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