If you are injured while staying at an Airbnb, it is super important to take certain steps to protect yourself as a premises liability lawyer can share more information about:
First, you should seek medical attention. Your health and safety should be prioritized above anything else. If your injuries are serious or life-threatening, you should immediately call 911 or emergency services, or go to the nearest hospital for treatment.
Second, you should report the incident to the host of your Airbnb property as soon as possible. You should provide them with any details about what happened and any injuries that you sustained. The host may be able to provide you with some information or procedures for handling the situation.
Third, you should thoroughly document the incident. You should take photographs and/or videos of the area where the accident/incident occurred. You should also photograph and/or video any visible injuries sustained to your body and/or any damage to any property, whether it be to the Airbnb property or to your own personal property. Documentation is extremely important if you eventually need to file a claim for your injuries and/or damages as our friends at Kiefer & Kiefer can attest.
Fourth, you should report the incident to Airbnb and file a claim with them. To do this, you should contact Airbnb’s Resolution Center to file the claim either through its website or by calling them. You will then provide them with the details of what happened and the injuries that you sustained. There are several avenues available to you to receive compensation. One avenue is Host Protection Insurance through Airbnb, which provides primary liability coverage up to $1 million USD per occurrence for your bodily injury or property damage related to your Airbnb stay. Most personal injury and damage claims settle for less than the $1 million USD coverage provided by this policy. Another potential avenue is through Airbnb’s Guest Refund Policy due to the safety issue that caused your injuries or due to damage to your property. Lastly, some Airbnb hosts may have additional insurance coverage beyond what AirBnb provides, such as homeowner’s or renter’s insurance that includes coverage for short-term rentals. One avenue that does not provide any coverage for personal liability claims or injuries to guests is its Host Guarantee.
Finally, you need to keep records of all medical treatment you receive for your injuries and for any other expenses or losses you incur as a result of the incident. This documentation is crucial for your claim for compensation. You should also screenshot and print/email to yourself everything in the event something happens to your cell phone.
Regardless, you should familiarize yourself with Airbnb’s coverages and policies, rights and options in case any issues arise during your stay, and should you have any questions, you can contact Airbnb’s support team for assistance. However, if you are injured or if your property is damaged during the course of your stay at your Airbnb, it is important to act quickly and responsibly by contacting a lawyer near you so you can protect your health, property, and rights and ensure that you receive the assistance and compensation that are entitled to you.