Airbnb accident attorneys in Virginia

Do Airbnb operators have to eliminate hazards before you arrive?

At a regular hotel or motel, typically, the staff is trained to prevent accidents, and the management has experience or training in dealing with the different types of emergencies that can arise. Because Airbnb operators may not have the same experience and training, they may overlook obvious hazards and not know what to do when one of their guests is injured.

Everyone has a duty of care to avoid actions that can cause reasonably foreseeable injuries. For Airbnb operators, meeting the duty of care means paying attention to details. Airbnb operators may be held liable for injuries caused by hazards they knew about and hazards they should have known about. Before inviting someone into their home, Airbnb operators must:

• Check the property for hazards.
• Fix hazards as quickly as possible.
• Post warning signs when they are unable to eliminate a hazard right away.

What types of Airbnb accidents cause injuries?

Bad things can happen when Airbnb operators fail to eliminate hazards that could harm you and your loved ones. Injuries that may occur at unsafe Airbnb properties in Virginia include:

• Stairway falls caused by loose handrails, broken stairs, and inadequate lighting
• Slip-and-fall injuries caused by tripping hazards, slippery floors, uneven surfaces, loose carpeting, and broken sidewalks
• Dog bites caused by unrestrained pets
• Burn injuries caused by kitchen fires, explosions, malfunctioning heaters, lack of fire extinguishers, and faulty smoke alarms
• Drowning, near-drowning, entrapment, and other injuries caused by malfunctioning pool drains and pools without security fences that feature self-closing and self-latching gates
• Severe lacerations caused by glass doors without stickers to make them visible
• Bathroom injuries caused by showers without adhesive anti-slip protection on the floors

Who is responsible for Airbnb injuries?

Airbnb operators may be held liable for injuries that occur in different areas of their property, including yards, carports and garages, sleeping quarters, and common areas. Operators are not liable for damages that occur near or adjacent to the rental property, such as cars parked on the street that are damaged or broken into.

Regular homeowner’s insurance does not cover property loss or physical harm suffered by Airbnb guests. For this reason, Airbnb hosts are required to carry a separate commercial insurance policy.

Airbnb now offers its operators the opportunity to purchase an insurance plan that covers them for up to $1 million in losses and injuries suffered by guests. However, Airbnb insurance contains several exceptions. For one thing, it’s not valid for injuries resulting from deliberate and intentional harm caused by Airbnb operators. So, Airbnb insurance does not cover the following:

• Illegal activities
• Physical and sexual assault
• Injuries not directly related to Airbnb property

How can your Virginia Airbnb accident lawyer help?

GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys will investigate the Airbnb accident and advise you on the best strategy moving forward. Then, we will file a claim against anyone whose negligent actions contributed to your injuries. If the other side refuses to make a reasonable offer, GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys is always prepared to take your case to trial.

An Airbnb accident injury claim or lawsuit includes the following types of damages:

• Current and future medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Reduced earning potential
• PTSD
• Reduced quality of life
• Lost wages
• Medical devices
• Wrongful death