Wilmington has become a popular tourist destination as word about the area gets out to the rest of the country. People in the area are increasingly turning to Vrbo and Airbnb to make extra money. However, there are hazards when you rent someone else’s property, even if it is only for a short time.
Renters can take extra precautions to stay safe in a vacation home.
If you have been injured at someone else’s vacation rental property, you can file a premises liability claim with the homeowner and the rental website’s insurance for financial compensation. Call the attorneys at Horton Mendez if you have been injured at a vacation rental.
Risks of Injury at a Vacation Rental Home
There are several ways that you can be injured at a vacation rental:
- You can slip and fall on the premises
- The carbon monoxide detector may not be operational (or there may not even be one in the first place)
- You could be physically attacked by the host or by someone in the area
- You or a loved one can be injured in a swimming pool accident
- A deck railing or joist collapses
Your worst nightmare is that your vacation can turn into a disaster because the place that you selected to stay is unsafe. Although some dangerous conditions come as a complete surprise, other hazardous situations can be avoided.
While you know to take care of your own home, you may not necessarily be able to trust what someone else does with their home. They are holding out their home to you, but you do not always know that they maintain their home and take safety concerns seriously. While the host is responsible for your safety, you can also take steps on your own to avoid accidents.
The first thing that you should do is read the reviews for the property. Services like Airbnb and Vrbo allow previous guests to rate the property and describe any concerns that they had. The guests will note whether there was anything unsafe and detail how responsive (or unresponsive) the host was. If there are any major safety issues, you should know automatically to steer clear of the property.
How Else Can You Be Safe Renting a Vacation Home?
Here are some other safety tips for a vacation rental:
- Make an initial walkthrough of the property when you first arrive, noting any safety hazards. If there are any issues, you should bring them to the host’s attention immediately and allow them to resolve the problem. If they do not listen, you should find a new property and take the issue up with the company.
- Google Earth will give you a good look at the neighborhood and the outside appearance of the property.
- Let family and friends know where you are staying ahead of time, especially when you are renting a room in someone else’s home or you are not the only guest staying at the property.
- Communicate with your host ahead of time so you get a sense of whether they are responsive and trustworthy. If the host does not answer or is not communicative, you should find a new place to stay.
- Be very careful, and learn everything to know before you pay for a non-refundable property. You would not get your money back if you begin to reconsider.
- If a property is priced so cheap that it appears to be an outlier, do additional research and due diligence on the property.
Remember that you always have options for a vacation rental. There are often hundreds of options in an area, and you can always move on to the next one. Nothing is worth your physical safety, and if it does not feel right, it is not right. Your safety may be worth a few extra dollars for your stay.
Again, the host is the most critical aspect of vacation rental safety. They are the ones who you would be suing if you are injured on their property. Airbnb or Vrbo do provide hosts with a $1 million insurance policy for premises liability injuries that do not involve intentional actions by the host.
What If You’ve Been Injured at an Unsafe Vacation Rental?
If you have been injured in a premises liability accident at a vacation rental, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation.
First, you would need to prove that the host was negligent. The same rules that govern every premises liability case would apply to your case. Your attorney would need to gather evidence that shows that the host knew or should have known of a safety issue and did not do enough (or anything) to remedy it.
The attorneys at Horton & Mendez will fight for you to receive maximum compensation for injuries that you suffered at a vacation rental. We can do the following in your case:
- Investigate the circumstances of your injury and gather evidence that shows that the property owner was to blame
- Prepare a claim to file with the insurance company or a complaint for your lawsuit
- Negotiate a possible settlement of your claim
- Argue your case in court if you cannot reach a settlement agreement
Contact a Wilmington Vacation Rental Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved one have been injured at a vacation rental, you need legal help now. The attorneys at Horton Mendez are in your corner when the insurance company tries to give you the runaround. We leave no stone unturned in getting the most possible money for our clients. To learn how we can help you, send us a message online or call us today at (910) 668-8067.
FAQs About Cases Involving Vacation Rentals
How do I win a slip and fall case against a vacation rental owner?
You must prove that either:
- The owner was responsible for the dangerous condition
- They knew or should have known about the danger but did not take steps to fix it
You have the burden of proof in your case.
How do I win a negligent security case against a vacation rental owner?
You must prove that the owner knew or should have known about risks in the area, but they did not take the proper steps to secure the property.
