Despite the recent surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, many hotels are beginning to open for business, and some people are taking those long-awaited vacations. And because several states have “reopened,” plenty of people who had been self-quarantined and isolated in their homes for months are itching to get-away for a break.
Some people are booking with VRBO, Air B&B, or hotels and motels. Unfortunately, many of those same people will wind up itching for other reasons–bed bugs.
Bed Bugs Are Still Around
Even with hotel beds and rooms remaining unoccupied for months during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, bed bugs never took a vacation. They continue to live in secluded places, like upholstered furniture, behind headboards, and around mattresses and box springs. Bed bugs are easily transported between people, which is why they frequently make their way into your chosen place of stay.
What to Do If You Get Bitten By A Bed Bug
If you get bitten, here’s what to do:
- Take photos of the room and the bed (with the bugs on the mattress, if possible), the bites on your skin (if they’ve appeared yet), your room number, and hotel signage. Perhaps also get a picture of the stationery with the hotel name, address, and phone number.
- Immediately file a complaint with the hotel manager. No guest should EVER go through an experience like bed bug bites when staying at ANY hotel or motel.
- Document your conversation with the hotel manager. Get his or her name and contact information. Jot down any questions you asked as well as the manager’s responses. If you fill out a formal complaint form, get a copy for yourself.
- See a dermatologist as soon as possible. Ask the doctor for a written diagnosis and a copy of any prescription or over-the-counter medication the doctor may recommend.
- Finally, call the Lawyers for Bed Bugs in Hotels at The Lapidus Law Firm. The city or state where you stayed doesn’t matter… there are some hotel chains with headquarters located in the DC Metro area, so we can represent you regardless of the location where the bed bug incident occurred.
Conveniently enough, Marriott’s global headquarters are located right in the heart of the DC Metro area–Bethesda, MD. And while our bed bug services are not limited strictly to Marriott’s hotels, it certainly makes it easy to file a claim against Marriott should you contract bed bugs from one of their 30 hotel brands (and thousands of locations) and chains across the world.
And remember, bed bugs don’t care how nice the hotel is–you can just as quickly catch them from a Marriott Budget Roadside Motor Inn room as you can in one of Marriott’s gorgeous Ritz-Carlton luxury suites. Marriott owns hotels in every price range, so there’s a good chance you’ll stay at a Marriott-owned hotel and not even know it.
Lawyers for Bed Bugs in Hotels
If you travel after being at home for months during the pandemic, make sure to check your room for bed bugs. Even if you do and you wind up contracting them, take the steps mentioned above and then call the Lawyers for Bed Bugs at The Lapidus Law Firm at (202) 785-5111 or (301) 852-7500 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
Should we take your case, we’ll fight on your behalf for a fair and reasonable settlement. And while we can’t guarantee that will be the outcome, we can promise to leave no stone unturned in going after the hotels to make sure they’re brought to justice.