What To Do After Your Injury At A VRBO Rental

Have you sustained an injury while staying at a South Florida VRBO rental? VRBO has gained much popularity over the last few years, especially in tourist hot spots like South Florida, as many travelers discover the convenience of renting an entire home or apartment instead of staying in a traditional hotel or resort. VRBO provides tourists with flexibility, convenience, and nearly all the comforts of home.

Unfortunately, despite being careful, accidents do happen and guests do get injured while staying in their VRBO rental. Unlike staying in a traditional hotel, you’re not able to call the hotel and work out a solution when you’re injured while staying in a VRBO rental. So what does that mean for determining liability and recovering compensation? Can you file a claim against your VRBO host?

In this article, we explain what to do if you’re injured while staying in a VRBO rental. If you have any questions, or want to speak with someone about your injury, please contact us today. Our experienced team will be happy to discuss your situation and talk to you about your rights.

What Are Some Common VRBO Injuries?

Staying in a new house or apartment means getting used to unfamiliar surroundings. It’s easy to understand how an accident can occur, and some of the most commonly reported VRBO injuries include:

• Falling down steep or uneven staircases, or stairs that don’t have a handrail. Even someone who is very steady on their feet can lose their balance and sustain an injury.
• Injuries from unsafe neighborhoods or parking lots. Muggings, robberies, assaults, and car thefts can leave you with serious injuries.
• Slipping or tripping on uneven or damaged flooring, especially in low lighting. A serious fall onto a hard surface can mean the end of your vacation.
• Being electrocuted by faulty light sockets.
• Falling out of a chair that has a broken leg.

Who Is Responsible For My Injury?

Because home vacation rentals are a relatively new industry, the law is not black and white, but here are some facts you should know:

• The owner of the VRBO property where you are staying is expected to ensure that it’s safe and free of hazards that can cause injuries – this is part of VRBO’s terms and conditions for hosts.
• VRBO has a one million dollar liability insurance policy in place to protect any guest who is injured while staying in a rental. However, depending on the severity of your injury, it is possible that your incurred expenses will exceed this amount.
• While your first thought may be that you need to file a claim with your host’s homeowners insurance, the fact is that many insurance companies will not provide coverage for injuries that occur while the property is being rented to someone else.
• Your best course of action is to contact an attorney who has experience dealing with VRBO injury cases, and learn how you can recover costs for expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages that occurred as a result of your accident. Trying to navigate the days following your injury alone can be frustrating and overwhelming, so please seek the advice of a qualified legal team.

If you’ve been injured while staying at a VRBO rental in South Florida, and have questions about what steps you should take next, please contact Mausner Graham Injury Law today.