A stay at an Airbnb or Vrbo vacation rental property can be a relaxing way to visit South Carolina in an environment many consider more welcoming than a traditional hotel. However, not every visit ends well.
According to Airbnb, short-term rental properties are often run by ordinary people hoping to make a little extra money, so you never know what to expect. Some homeowners operate their properties in a professional way, but some cut corners or don’t fix potential hazards immediately.
If you are injured by a defective staircase, insufficient lighting, or some other issue at a short-term rental property, you should contact a South Carolina Airbnb injury lawyer at Jebaily Law Firm right away. Our experienced attorneys are ready to help you pursue compensation for your injuries. We have the experience and the knowledge of personal injury law that will allow us to effectively seek justice for you.
Contact us today for a free consultation about how a personal injury attorney from our law firm can help you recover compensation.
Why You Need Our South Carolina Vacation Rental Injury Attorneys
Jebaily Law Firm has some of the state’s most experienced vacation rental injury lawyers. Serving the Grand Strand and Pee Dee regions of South Carolina, Jebaily Law Firm has been helping injury victims for more than 50 years. Our attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience with personal injury cases.
We have the skills and the understanding of premises liability and personal injury law to pursue the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries due to dangerous conditions on a short-term rental property.
What Are Airbnb and Other Short-Term Rental Platforms?
Internet-based short-term rental platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo are online marketplaces that list homes and apartments for rent to visitors on vacation or with other short-term needs. Private individuals own the properties, and the online platform serves only as a broker.
Because Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar Internet-based home-sharing platforms do not own the rental properties, you generally cannot sue them directly for injuries suffered at the homes they list. Instead, you typically file a suit against the homeowner, and the short-term rental platform’s insurance policy would cover your losses.
A rental platform will not be eager to pay for your expenses if they don’t have to. That’s why you should contact our Airbnb injury attorneys in South Carolina to get the representation you need.
Common Premises Liability Cases Involving Airbnb, Vrbo, and Other Internet Platforms
Premises liability is an area of law that covers a property owner’s liability for injuries that occur on their property due to the property owner’s negligence.
Owners of short-term properties can be liable for injuries caused by hazards such as:
- Defective stairs
- Uneven flooring or carpeting
- Damaged walkways
- Defective decking
- Insufficient lighting
- Unsecured furniture and appliances
- Swimming pool hazards
- Inadequate security
- Other unmarked hazards at vacation rentals
Liability for Injuries at South Carolina Airbnb, Vrbo, and Other Rentals
If a property owner knows about a hazard, such as a damaged walkway or an area without sufficient lighting, but chooses not to do anything to fix the problem or warn about it, they may be liable for your injuries under premises liability law. Internet-based short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo don’t own the property, so they would generally not be directly liable. However, they do provide property owners with an insurance policy that can be used to pay for your losses.
The property owner may also be liable if you are hurt due to a crime. A study published by the National Library of Medicine showed that an increase in Airbnb listings in a neighborhood was associated with increased crime in the area. If you are assaulted or injured by criminals while staying at an Airbnb or Vrbo property, you may be able to sue the homeowner for inadequate security at the home.
Claims Under Airbnb Host Protection Insurance and Other Insurance Coverage
Airbnb provides homeowners with a $1 million host liability insurance policy. The policy covers hosts who are found responsible for:
- Injury to a guest or anyone else on the premises
- Theft of or damage to any property owned by a guest or visitor
- Damage a guest causes to common areas or nearby properties
Airbnb’s host liability policy does not cover intentional acts. Some hosts carry other liability insurance that may provide coverage in situations Airbnb’s policy does not cover.
Vrbo also provides hosts with a $1 million liability insurance policy covering injuries to guests and damage caused by guests. Both services automatically provide these policies at no additional charge, so unless the host has intentionally opted out of the service, you can be confident they are covered.
Steps to Follow After an Airbnb Accident in South Carolina
If you’ve been injured in an Airbnb or Vrbo accident in South Carolina:
- Seek medical help immediately after the accident, even if you don’t think your injuries are severe at first. Some injuries become apparent only over time.
- Take pictures of the dangerous condition as it appeared at the time of your accident.
- Get contact information for any witnesses who might have seen what happened.
- Report what happened to Airbnb through their online system so you have a record of the incident.
- Report the incident to the host immediately.
- Consult a vacation rental injury attorney at Jebaily Law Firm in South Carolina.
How Our Attorneys Help People Hurt in Vacation Rental Accidents
If you were injured in a vacation rental accident in Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Florence, or surrounding areas, contact our Airbnb injury lawyers in South Carolina immediately. Whether you contact us by phone, text, email, video chat, or in person, the attorneys at Jebaily Law Firm will treat you like family. Our top concern is to protect your rights and help you get your life back.
We are prepared to thoroughly investigate the accident, file a claim for you, and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. We will take the case to trial if they don’t offer a reasonable settlement.
Contact us even if you aren’t sure whether you have a case. We offer a free case review so you can tell us all the details of the accident, and we can determine how strong your case is. We have a history of taking on tough cases and fighting hard for our clients no matter what.
