If you have been browsing the Travel supplements recently, looking forward to a trip abroad to escape the dark, cold and wet evenings that the United Kingdom’s winter has to offer, then you may well have heard about bedbugs infesting hotel rooms in various cities around the world and even here in Britain.
You may get the impression that it would only be low-budget, rather unhygienic hotels that were affected by the problem, but this is not the case. The world-famous Waldorf-Astoria in New York is facing two lawsuits after guests complained about receiving bites during their stay and inadvertently taking the bedbugs home with them, incurring costs whilst their own houses were treated for an infestation.
>> Find Out More About Claiming Compensation From A Hotel For Bed Bug Bites
A recent survey of a thousand pest-control firms suggests that the problem with bedbugs is increasing everywhere, and warns of a global pandemic. The BBC advises that a study led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine last year found the number of complaints about bedbugs in London grew annually by an average of 28.5% between 2006-2008, and Rentokil report that the number of bedbug call-outs has gone up by 24% in the first half of 2010.
Whilst not likely to be a deadly foe, the bedbug bites can cause very undesirable dermatological injuries such as rashes and marks on the skin, which may lead to scarring. Furthermore, however, some people will sustain psychological injuries as a result of both the appearance of the bites, and the fear of being bitten again.
Experts have suggested that the recent resurgence of the parasitic insects could be down to a number of reasons, including the rise of international travel, climate change and resistance to pesticides commonly used in the west. The bedbugs appear to be getting harder to beat, with previous treatment methods now redundant to an apparently battle-hardened breed.
However, if the hotel that guests were staying in had been aware of the bedbug infestation and not taken all reasonable steps to treat it, then the hotel are likely to have been negligent in law. This applies equally to any insect bite. I am often asked; can I sue for scars left from insect bites? The answer if often yes. However, each case is different and I will be happy to discuss your matter with you in detail.
If you have suffered from bedbug bites as a result of a hotel stay, then you could be entitled to claim compensation. Guests can sue a foreign hotel if they booked their holiday via a UK based company. If you would like to speak to Bartletts Solicitors about the possibility of bringing a personal injury claim, please get in touch via the contact details at the top right of this page.
>> Read More About Claiming Compensation From Hotels
Recent Case Studies:
Family Sues Hotel For Food Poisoning
Guest Slipped And Fell In Hotel’s Dining Area
