Airbnb/Vrbo
Airbnb and Vrbo give property owners the opportunity to rent out their homes to travelers throughout Florida. As of 2023, Florida had the highest number of Airbnb and Vrbo listings in the Country.
Question: “Who is responsible if someone is injured while staying at an Airbnb (Vrbo) property?”
Answer: Similar to a hotel, guests have the right to a safe visit while staying in an Airbnb (Vrbo) property. Airbnb (Vrbo), as well as the host, are liable if a guest is injured during their stay due to negligence of the property owner (host).
How to prove negligence?
A Plaintiff in a Florida premises liability case must prove that the property owner (host) knew or should have known about the dangerous condition. We can prove that a condition was dangerous by actual knowledge (which is oftentimes challenging) or by constructive knowledge – that the owner (host) should have known the condition was dangerous because the condition occurred regularly or existed for such a long period of time that the owner would have learned of it had they been using reasonable care in maintaining their property.
To help prove your case, it is imperative you take pictures/videos of the dangerous condition contemporaneous with your slip and fall or trip and fall.
Similar to a slip and fall or trip at a premises (like Home Depot, Publix, or Target) our attorneys will file a claim directly through the property owner (host) and Airbnb (Vrbo). We will then seek to negotiate a fair resolution with the appropriate claims handler. If we cannot come to a fair resolution, we will file suit.
Common Airbnb (Vrbo) injuries occur from:
- Broken stairs or floors.
- Cracks in walkways.
- Torn or worn carpets.
- Leaky plumbing.
- Loose tiles.
- Holes in the ground.
- Live wires.
- Faulty grills and fire pit arraignments.
- Poorly installed rope swings or playground equipment.
- Roof collapse.
- Dangerous swimming pool conditions.
- Inadequate security.
Common Airbnb (Vrbo) Injuries include:
- Broken Hand/Wrist
- Broken Foot/Ankle
- Torn Shoulder
- Torn Knee
- Burns / Cuts
The good news: Airbnb (Vrbo) offers “host liability insurance” with every booking up to $1 million for injuries sustained by guests, provided the homeowner’s primary insurance denies coverage (which is common when a property is rented out for commercial or business purposes). In the past, we have settled claims directly through Airbnb (Vrbo).
How to determine compensation? The compensation a victim recovers may include past and future medical expenses, past and future lost income, and past and future pain and suffering / emotional distress. The specific amount of compensation always depends on the facts and circumstances of the claim, the nature and extent of the injuries suffered, whether they are permanent injuries, and whether the injuries affect other aspects of your life. You should seek immediate medical care if you are injured at an Airbnb (Vrbo) property.
If you suffered significant injuries while staying at an Airbnb (Vrbo) through no fault of your own contact the lawyers at Lyons & Snyder, P.A. for a free consultation. We are available 24/7.
