Over the past few years, Airbnb has become increasingly popular. Many travelers now look into renting an Airbnb home instead of a hotel when they are going on a trip. While it may seem like an ideal way to travel, it can come with some downsides. Just like any other rental property, it is possible to become injured while staying in an Airbnb. These accidents can cause serious injuries that have the potential to impact a person’s future. Because this type of peer-to-peer rental is still in the beginning stages, it can be difficult to determine liability. This is why it is important to retain the services of an experienced attorney to navigate the case.
Types of Airbnb Accidents
When people rent an Airbnb to stay for their trip, they expect that the home or apartment is safe. This means that it is in proper condition and cannot cause harm to anyone staying there. If the property is not maintained, accidents can happen. Often times, these are premises liability accidents. This can include instances such as unsafe stairways, deck collapses, and more. When premises liability accidents happen, the property owner is generally liable for the accident.
Host Protection Insurance
Accidents can happen to anyone. This is why Airbnb offers Host Protection Insurance. This provides primary coverage for Airbnb hosts and landlords that are named in a lawsuit. The insurance protects against liability claims that are brought against third parties for bodily injuries up to $1 million. In the event that a stay goes unexpectedly and a guest becomes injured due to the property conditions, the host has access to this insurance.
When dealing with Host Protection Insurance, it is important to understand what is not covered. The insurance program is limited to certain types of liability. Coverage is not provided to hosts in the event of:
- Injuries from something that is done intentionally and is not an accident
- Loss of earnings
- Communicable diseases
- Contractual liability
- Injuries that were caused by the intoxication of a guest
Guests who need to file a claim regarding an incident that occurred at an Airbnb can contact the company to be connected with a third-party claims administrator.
Receiving Compensation
When a guest is injured in an accident on an Airbnb property, they will first be provided with the host protection insurance. This $1 million applies first to the damages incurred due to the accident. However, there are some situations in which the insurance may not be enough to cover the losses. This may be the case if the guest was hospitalized or needed surgery because of the accident.
When this happens, the injured party may wish to receive additional compensation. Usually, most people carry homeowners’ insurance on their property. This provides coverage for third-party injuries. While this is true, some insurance policies may not cover a homeowner if they are using their home for profit. These situations can be complicated, which is why it is important to receive the help of a skilled attorney to fight for rightful compensation.
Contact our Firm
If you or a loved one has been in a personal injury accident in Pennsylvania, it’s important that you contact an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney to help you with your case. Contact Spear Greenfield to get the right attorney in your corner.
Call or text (215) 273-9636 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
