At the David W. Martin Law Group, our personal injury attorneys have talked about the potential dangers that lurk in hotels and resorts throughout South Carolina. Whether you and your family live in the state, or are here for vacation, swimming pool accidents, resort activity incidents and injuries, and even slips and falls inside the resort can change how your stay unfolds without notice.
While most people know that the hotel or resort can be held liable for their accidents and injuries, more and more people are choosing to use private home rental websites to book their stays in South Carolina. The question becomes, what happens if you or someone you love is injured during their stay at an Airbnb or Vrbo vacation rental? We have answers.
South Carolina Property Owners and Managers Owe Visitors a Duty of Care
Like other properties that invite guests to stay on the premises, Airbnb and Vrbo hosts owe their guests a duty of care because they use their properties as businesses. This means if a guest suffers an injury while on their property that was the result of the property owner or manager’s breach of their duty of care, the rental host would be liable for their guest’s injuries.
Are Airbnb and Vrbo Property Owners Required to Carry Liability Insurance?
Most property owners — especially those who are opening their homes or other premises to the public for vacation rentals — would be wise to carry liability insurance in case someone is hurt while using the property.
However, if they do not have personal property insurance, both Airbnb and Vrbo provide owners and property managers with host liability protection for all stays processed through their online checkout resources up to $1 million in liability insurance at no additional cost to the owners.
With some exceptions — like damage or injuries caused by intentional actions — this insurance helps protect hosts from liability claims for bodily injury to guests or visitors, damage or theft of guest property, and damage caused by guests to the property.
How Do I Pursue a South Carolina Airbnb or Vrbo Host for My Injury Damages?
If you sustain an injury at an Airbnb or Vrbo rental, you will typically not pursue the host directly. Instead, you will likely be dealing with either their personal liability insurance provider, or the coverage provided by Airbnb or Vrbo.
Either way, you will be up against a corporation that is going to challenge your claim immediately, with the goal of undervaluing your claim — or denying it outright. While it may seem that you have an open and shut claim, the insurance company will see it differently, and will fight to keep you from accessing the financial recovery you deserve.
We can help.
If you or a loved one has been injured during your stay at an Airbnb or Vrbo rental property in South Carolina, call (803)-548-2468 or contact us online to set a meeting with our personal injury attorneys today. We can take the lead in pursuing the insurance coverage that will pay for your complete damages, so you can focus on physical and emotional recovery instead of fighting with a corporate rental company and its insurance provider for the outcome you deserve.
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