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Who is Liable for a Person's Injuries if They Are Hurt in an Airbnb Property?

Millions of people have rented an Airbnb in an effort to have a nice, relaxing time. In the world of COVID, many people find Airbnb rentals to be great ways to have a socially distant vacation. But what many people never think about is what happens if they are injured on an Airbnb property? Read on to learn who could be found responsible and then contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 if you have suffered an injury and require a free legal consultation.

Airbnb Accidents Are More Common Than Many People Realize

A person can be subjected to just about any kind of accident in an Airbnb rental, and they happen all over the country. Common examples include slip and fall accidents, injuries from bed bugs, injuries caused by the building collapsing, or being exposed to dangerous substances.

The Owner of an Airbnb Owe Their Guests a Duty of Care

The owner of an Airbnb does owe any legal guests a duty of care, and the owner must maintain their premises in a safe manner. If they notice dangerous conditions (or the court determines that they should have noticed dangerous conditions), then they are legally required to either give notice of them or repair them. Examples of unsafe conditions include:

  • Slippery surfaces
  • The presence of hazardous substances
  • Broken stairs or staircases
  • Defective locks on doors

If a person is injured due to illegal activity, then the owner could also be found negligent for not taking reasonable steps to maintain security at the property.

Airbnb is Almost Never Liable

You will notice that we have talked about the owners of Airbnb properties but not Airbnb itself. This is for good reason – Airbnb is only liable if someone is injured on a property that they own and list. Keep in mind that in the world of personal injury law, this is a relatively new issue. As the law evolves, Airbnb might begin to share some blame for certain injuries and accidents on properties listed on their site.

It Can Be Harder Than You Think to Recover Damages from a Property Owner

Note that even if a property owner is at fault for your injury, that does not mean that you can easily recover compensation for your damages. Note that most homeowner’s policies do not cover injuries that occur when the property is being used as a business, which generally applies when the property is being rented via Airbnb. Airbnb has responded to this by offering additional coverage but not all homeowners have it.

Does this mean that you cannot recover damages if you are injured on an Airbnb property? No, but it does mean you need a legal professional on your side from the beginning. You can get that when you work with The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000. Call us today to begin the process.