Being injured while on vacation may be distressing, yet it is important to know what steps to take to protect yourself. At Lardiere McNair & Stonebrook Ltd., LPA, our experienced Personal Injury Attorneys will help you navigate this difficult process.

If your accident occurs at a vacation rental, such as Airbnb or Vrbo, understanding your rights and the host’s responsibilities can make all the difference.

• Immediate Steps to Take After an Injury, whether minor or severe.

1. Get Medical Attention- Your health is the priority.
2. Document the Scene
   • Take photos or videos of the area where the injury occurred.
   • Note hazardous conditions (slippery floors, loose steps, broken furniture).
   • Get the names and contact information of any witnesses.
3. Report the Injury
   • To the Host: Notify the property owner or manager as soon as possible.
   • To the Platform.
4. Keep Records

Save all communications, receipts, medical records, and any expenses related to the injury.

• Liability and Insurance Coverage

Airbnb:

• Host Protection Insurance:
  • Provides hosts with $1 million USD in coverage
  • Does not cover intentional acts, injuries from guest’s own negligence,

Vrbo:

• Liability Insurance:
  • $1Million USD in liability protection if the guest is accidentally injured while staying at the property.

*Note: Both platforms expect the host’s liability insurance to cover these incidents. However, many standard policies exclude short-term rentals.

• Who Can Be Held Liable?

• The Host: For failing to maintain a safe environment or not warning about known dangers.
• The Platform (Airbnb/Vrbo): Rarely liable, unless there is a claim of negligence in vetting or platform-related safety issues.
• Third Parties: Contractors, maintenance providers, etc., if their actions contributed to the injury.

If you are faced with an injury claim against a vacation rental, consider seeking professional legal advice to ensure you are fairly compensated for your losses. Call Lardiere McNair & Stonebrook Ltd., LPA, (614) 534-1355 and schedule a free consultation.

Aline Wright is a Paralegal at Lardiere McNair & Stonebrook, Ltd., LPA. 

Disclaimers: Artificial intelligence is used as a tool to supplement, enhance, make suggestions, and generate blog language from the thoughts, ideas, and opinions of our human lawyers.  The final product is reviewed and edited by an attorney. 

The information presented here has been prepared by Lardiere McNair for promotional and informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.  This information is not intended to provide, and receipt of it does not constitute legal advice.  Nor does the receipt of this material create an attorney/client relationship.  An attorney client relationship is not established until such time as Lardiere McNair enters into a written engagement agreement with a specific client for a specific legal matter.

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