Vacation Rental Property Accident Lawyer

Hotels and motels provide lodgings for all sorts of purposes, but there are people who wish for a more personalized experience when they are away from home. This is why companies like VRBO and Airbnb have exploded in popularity, while providing those with extra properties or space in their home with a side hustle.

Of course, there are downsides to these arrangements, like accidents on properties due to negligence by the property owner. For example, you may be injured in a trip and fall because of broken concrete in the driveway. In some cases, a vacations rental guest may be attacked by dog that belongs to the owner or another guest.

As someone who was injured at a rented vacation property, it’s essential that you talk to a personal injury lawyer right away. Our legal experts are ready to help, 24/7, so please contact the offices of Kenmore Law Group.

Common Causes of Accidents at Vacation Rentals

When you book a vacation home, apartment, or some other property, you expect that the owner has taken all reasonable measures to ensure your comfort and safety. However, many of these owners are focused on profits above anything, even if it means that guests are exposed to hazardous conditions.

Here are just some of the accidents that can cause harm and suffering when you are renting a vacation home:

• Fires and burn injuries resulting from defective appliances
• Electrical shock caused by faulty wiring
• Uneven, loose, or broken steps that can caused you to fall down the stairs
• Slip and fall accidents due to plumbing issues (leaking pipes and clogged drains, for example)
• Scalding injuries from a defective water heater
• Injured by falling objects that are not properly secured to the wall, ceiling, or roof
• Dog bites and other pet-related injuries

Injuries Resulting from Lack of Maintenance by a Property Owner

Failure to keep up with repairs, landscaping, plumbing issues, and many other aspects of owning a property is unfortunately common when it comes to rented lodgings. Those who are injured should go to a hospital right away to keep their injuries from getting worse and causing irreversible damage. Possible injuries you can sustain at a vacation rental include:

• Broken bones
• Burn injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Deep cuts that can lead to infections
• Dislocated knee or shoulder joint
• Soft tissue injuries (tearing of muscles, tendons, and ligaments)
• Back injury, such as herniated disc
• Damage to the spinal cord
• Compromised vision from an eye injury
• Hearing loss, most commonly associated with head trauma

Who can I Sue? Do I have a Claim against the Owner?

Yes, in most cases of accidents on someone else’s property, it’s the owner who is responsible for any injuries to the victim. This is based on the concept of premises liability, which makes owners liable for bodily harm and/or property damage to another party. The most important factor is negligence, meaning that the owner failed to exercise reasonable care to ensure that the property was in a safe condition.

A common example of premises liability accidents is where people fall down because of a slippery substance on the floor. Perhaps there was an appliance inside the rental that was slowly leaking water, but the owner failed to make repairs before renting out the house to a guest. If a guest slips on the water and ends up being injured, the owner is liable for the harm they suffered.

Sometimes, a property listing site like Airbnb can also share liability for accidents on a property. It could be that the site was allowing someone to keep listing their property, even though many customers complained about unsafe conditions. This can include security issues that increase the potential for break ins, sexual assault, and other crimes, but the booking site failed to remove or suspend the owner’s account.

Other Parties that May be at Fault

In most cases, the party that you would sue for being injured at a vacation home is the property owner. But there may be others that contributed to the hazard that caused you to be injured. These include, but are not limited to:

• A housecleaner or cleaning company
• A property management company
• A realtor / leasing company that represents the property owner
• Contractor doing renovations on or near the property
• Landscapers / landscaping company
• Plumbers, electricians, appliance installers, and other service providers

There are plenty of cases where lawsuits are filed against multiple entities, and this can help you maximize the amount on a vacation rental insurance claim, no matter what type of accident you had.

How Much Time Do I have to File a Lawsuit?

Per the statute of limitations in California, you have 2 years from the date of an accident to file a personal injury claim. So, whether have a burn injury or suffered a concussion from a trip and fall, you have 24 months to file a compensation claim.

Failure to file a claim within the SOL means you will lose the right to go after the property owner for damages such as pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages. Exceptions are given by the courts from time to time, but very few people qualify for additional time to file a lawsuit once the statute of limitations expires.

Contact a Vacation Rental Accident Injury Lawyer

We understand that struggle you are going through as someone who is recovering from an accident. From your mental health to your finances, the impact of an injury caused by someone else can be life-changing.

Our primary goal is to educate you on your rights and legal options, which is why we encourage you to contact us for a free consultation. If you decide to go through with an insurance claim against the property owner, VRBO, or anyone else that’s liable for the accident, we will represent you for $0 upfront. Upon the successful recovery or your settlement, a percentage of the funds will go towards covering our expense. If we fail to secure monetary damages on your behalf, you owe us nothing for the cost of legal services.

Kenmore Law Group is here for you 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, so please get in touch with us at your earliest opportunity.