Whether you travel frequently for work or you need a place to stay for the holidays of a vacation, places like Budget Inn provide cheap, basis accommodations that won’t break the bank. When you stay at a Budget Inn hotel, you don’t expect any frills and amenities that you would normally find at 4-star establishments. On the other hand, you have the right to clean and safe accommodations, which include rooms that are free of bed bugs and other insects.
California law allows you to file a claim for bed bug injuries if there was an infestation in the room you were renting from the Budget Inn. Based on your level of harm and suffering, you may be entitled to various monetary damages, like medical expenses, pain and suffering, property damage, lost wages, and emotional distress. A bed bug bite lawyer is needed to investigate your case and establish that the business failed in their duty of care to prevent bed bug injuries to you and or your loved ones.
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What can Cause a Bed Bug Infestation?
In most cases, bed bugs enter a property from being transported on objects that were brought in from somewhere else, like someone else’s home, a furniture store, or storage locker. Bed bugs can also attach themselves on people’s clothing, which is a major problem at hotels where people are coming in and out of the property at any given time. In some instances, beg bugs can be found in movie theaters, buses, trains, and other public seating areas.
Though it’s a popular belief, bed bugs infestations are not necessarily caused by unsanitary conditions. However, it’s much easier to spot the signs of bed bugs and take care of the problem when a property is regularly cleaned from top to bottom. This is particularly important in multi-unit structures like motels, hotels, and apartment buildings. Early intervention is the key to preventing the bed bugs from spreading to other rooms / apartments and causing harm to many people on the same property.
California’s Bed Bug Laws
California’s laws on bed bugs have undergone important changes in the past few years, so there are greater protections for hotel guests, as well as increased obligations for property owners in regard to their tenants. Here are some key aspects of California’s bed bug laws:
- Hotels cannot rent or show properties when there is an active bed bug infestation.
- Hotel owners must have records of all infestations on their premises and disclose them to prospective renters.
- If pest control is called to check the property for bed bugs, owners / landlords must disclose the results of their findings to the tenant within 2 days.
- Owners cannot retaliate against of penalize a guest for reporting issues with bed bugs (refusing to issue a refund, taking away amenities or services, etc.)
Can I Sue Budget Inn for a Bed Bug Infestation?
In California, there are specific conditions that must be met in order for a bed bug injury victim to proceed with a lawsuit. Generally, you must prove:
- The business owner or operator knew of a bed bug infestation on the property
- In spite of knowing about bed bugs on the property, the owner / operator did not take actions to eradicate the infestation and prevent it from spreading.
Under these conditions, guests at the Budget Inn can file a claim based on legal grounds, such as negligence, meaning that the owner did not exercise reasonable care to protect people on the property. However, you may have the option of suing for breach of contract or another reason that we can discuss with you during a free consultation.
Average Value of a Bed Bug Lawsuit against Budget Inn
Bed bug injury case settlements can be anywhere from $25,000 to $300,000 or more, so there’s no way to say what the average value is for a Budget Inn bed bug infestation lawsuit. The amount of compensation depends on the damages you are entitled to, the severity of your injuries, and other crucial factors.
Those with serious health complications, like anaphylaxis and permanent scars from bed bug bites receive the highest payouts. However, the victim may also have the right to claim emotional distress for the trauma and long-term mental health issues caused by a bed bug infestation. You are also entitled to a refund of your rental and booking fees, though many hotels do not make it easy for guests when it celoms to a refund. That’s why help from a Budget Inn bed bug injury attorney is crucial if you are owed compensation by the hotel chain.
Statute of Limitations for a Bed Bug Lawsuit
Generally, the time limit to file a bed bug infestation claim is 2 years from the date of injury or damage to property. However, you may have special circumstances that will allow for an extension beyond the normal statute of limitations. A bed bug lawyer at our office can verify how long you have for a lawsuit, so contact us as soon as possible. Please be aware that if you miss the deadline to sue the Budget Inn, they are basically off the hook for the harm they caused, as well as compensation you would normally be entitled to.
Contact Normandie Law Firm
Dealing with a bed bug infestation is a painful and traumatic experience, and it’s something you should never have to go through when you are staying at a hotel. If negligence by owners and staff at a Budget Inn hotel is the reason you were bitten by bed bugs, we can help you obtain justice in the form of monetary compensation.
Here at Normandie, victims never pay out of pocket for the cost of legal services. We accept all cases on contingency, meaning that legal fees are a part of the payment you receive from the Budget Inn. In other words, we only get paid by recovering your settlement from a hotel bed bug injury lawsuit. This is all part of the Zero Fee Guarantee, which we provide you with from the very first consultation.
Contact us today and schedule a free case evaluation if you were bitten by bed bugs while staying at a Budget Inn hotel.