Vacation Rental Injury FAQ: Airbnb and Vrbo Claims.

Yes. A parent or legal guardian can bring an injury claim on behalf of a child, and in most states the deadline for a child’s claim is longer than for an adult’s. Any settlement for a minor usually needs court approval, which is a protection for the child, not an obstacle.

Tell us what happened. We will explain how a claim for your child works in the state where the rental was, and what to save now.

There is a deadline, and it varies by state and by the type of claim. This deadline is called the statute of limitations, any law that bars claims after a certain period of time passes after an injury. Once it passes, you may lose the right to recover anything.

Because the clock differs from state to state, do not guess. Evidence also fades fast. Listings change and photos get deleted. Acting sooner protects your case.

It depends on the state where the injury happened and the kind of claim. Personal injury and wrongful death deadlines are set by each state’s statute of limitations and can range widely. There is no single national deadline, so the safest move is to ask early.

We can help you understand the deadline that applies to your situation. A free review costs nothing and protects your rights. See who is liable for more on deadlines.

Often, yes, but it depends on the facts. You may be able to sue the host, the property owner, a property manager, and in some cases Airbnb itself. Whether the platform is responsible depends on its safety representations and how it handled the listing. A free case review is how you find out.

Most rental injury claims start with the host or owner, who has a duty to keep the property reasonably safe. The platform’s role is fact-specific. Learn more on our who is liable page.

Sometimes. Airbnb is not automatically responsible for every guest injury, but it is not automatically off the hook either. Whether Airbnb is liable depends on the facts, including its safety promises, its host and listing practices, and its own programs. The host or owner is usually the central party.

Airbnb publishes guest protections like AirCover and host safety standards. How those apply to your case depends on what was promised and what actually happened. See Airbnb injury claims.

Usually the host or property owner is the first party responsible, because they control the property and must keep it reasonably safe. The platform, Airbnb or Vrbo, may also share responsibility depending on the facts. Often more than one party is liable, and we look at all of them.

Sorting out responsibility is detailed work, and it is our job, not yours. We identify every party who may be at fault. Read more about who is liable.

Depending on the facts, liable parties may include the host, the property owner, a property manager, the rental platform, or a third party like a pool service or contractor. The core legal idea is premises liability: whoever controls a property must keep it reasonably safe for guests.

When a preventable hazard hurts a guest, that failure is called negligence. More than one party often shares the blame. Our who is liable page explains how responsibility is decided.

Possibly. A waiver does not always end your right to sue. Courts often refuse to enforce waivers that try to excuse a property owner’s own negligence, and the rules vary by state. Do not assume you have no case because you clicked “agree” or signed something at check-in.

Never rely on a host’s word that a waiver blocks your claim. Let a lawyer review the document. A free case review is the way to find out where you stand.

Maybe, depending on the terms and the type of claim. Airbnb’s and Vrbo’s terms of service include arbitration clauses, but how they apply to a personal injury or wrongful death claim is fact-specific and disputed in some situations. Do not assume you have lost your right to be heard.

These terms are complex and change over time. A lawyer can review how they affect your specific claim. The first step is a free review.

Sometimes. Like Airbnb, Vrbo is not automatically responsible for every guest injury, but it is not automatically off the hook either. The host or property owner is usually the central party, because they control the home.

Whether Vrbo shares responsibility depends on the facts, including what the listing promised and how Vrbo handled safety complaints. See our Vrbo injury claims page.

In some cases. Emotional distress is usually claimed as part of a larger injury case, such as a hidden-camera or assault claim, rather than on its own. Whether it can be pursued, and against whom, depends on the state and the facts.

If you were harmed at an Airbnb, a free case review is the way to find out what your claim may include.

It depends on the facts, how serious the injury is, how it changed your life, your medical costs, lost income, and who is responsible. No honest lawyer can promise a number without learning the details, and we never quote past results. A free review is the way to understand what your claim may involve.

Claims commonly account for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our compensation page explains the types of damages in plain terms.

If you have a valid claim, you may be able to recover for medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, lost earning ability, and pain, suffering, and emotional distress. If a loved one died, surviving family may recover wrongful death damages. Compensation is called “damages.”

Every case is different, and we never promise a specific result. Our compensation page breaks down each type of damage you may be able to claim.

No indoor cameras are allowed. Under Airbnb’s policy, hosts are not allowed to have security cameras and recording devices that monitor any part of a home’s interior, even if they are turned off or disconnected. This rule took effect April 30, 2024. Disclosed outdoor cameras are allowed.

A recording device found inside an Airbnb therefore almost certainly violates Airbnb’s own rules, and may break the law. See our hidden camera page for details.

No. Airbnb bans all indoor cameras and recording devices, including in hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms, and living rooms, even if the device is off. Vrbo similarly prohibits surveillance devices inside a home. Outdoor security cameras may be allowed only if they are disclosed and not pointed at private areas.

If you found a hidden indoor camera, you were likely the victim of a serious privacy violation. You may have a claim against the host and others. Read more about your privacy rights.

Do not unplug or destroy it. Tampering can erase evidence. Photograph and video the device exactly where it is, get yourself somewhere safe, call the police and file a report, and report it to the platform in writing. Then call a lawyer before accepting any refund or signing anything.

A quick refund is not the same as accountability. The steps you take in the first hours can make or break a claim. Our hidden camera guide walks through each one.

Often, yes. Secretly recording someone in a place where they reasonably expect privacy can be an invasion of privacy and, in many states, a crime. You may have claims against the host and potentially the platform. You usually do not have to prove the footage was shared. The violation itself can be the harm.

Privacy laws and deadlines vary by state, so acting sooner helps. Learn more on our hidden cameras and invasion of privacy page.

The most common warning signs, according to the CDC, are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. The CDC notes these are often described as “flu-like,” which is part of the danger. People assume they caught a bug and keep breathing in the gas.

Take it seriously if several people feel sick at once, symptoms improve outdoors, or pets seem ill too. Get to fresh air and call 911. See our carbon monoxide page.

Often, yes. Hosts and owners have a duty to keep guests reasonably safe, which generally includes working carbon monoxide detectors and properly maintained heating equipment. Many state and local laws require CO detectors in rentals. When a detector is missing or broken and you are poisoned, that can be the heart of a claim.

The CDC reports more than 400 Americans die each year from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires. Learn more on our carbon monoxide poisoning page.

You may be able to. A poorly maintained hot tub or water system can grow Legionella bacteria, and the people responsible for that upkeep may be liable for the illness that follows. Legionnaires’ disease is a serious pneumonia. The CDC reports about 1 in 10 people who get it die from complications.

Symptoms often appear days after exposure, so people miss the connection to a recent trip. These cases are time-sensitive. See our Legionnaires’ disease page.

In many places, yes. Numerous state and local laws require working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in rental properties, and hosts generally have a duty to provide a reasonably safe home regardless. A missing or disabled detector is a common, and serious, safety failure that can support a claim.

Requirements vary by location, but the absence of basic safety equipment is often central to a case. Learn more about who is liable and carbon monoxide claims.

Possibly, even though a criminal hurt you. If the property was left unsafe and that lack of security let the crime happen, the people who controlled the property may share responsibility. This is called a negligent security claim. Broken locks, no lighting, or ignored party risks are common factors.

Violent crime is real and not rare. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported 23.5 violent victimizations per 1,000 people in 2022. Learn more about negligent security claims.

You may have a claim. Owners who offer a pool or hot tub must keep it reasonably safe, with barriers, working drain covers, and warnings. When those are missing, the results can be devastating. The CDC notes more children ages 1 to 4 die from drowning than any other cause.

Even a nonfatal drowning can cause brain damage or permanent disability. These cases require fast investigation. See our pool, hot tub, and drowning page.

It might, but it does not replace a claim against the responsible parties. Some renters, homeowners, travel, or health insurance policies may cover certain costs after a rental injury, but coverage depends on your policy and the situation. Insurance for your own losses is separate from holding a negligent host or platform accountable.

Do not let an insurer’s quick offer settle your rights for less than your claim may be worth. Talk to a lawyer first. See what your claim may be worth.

Airbnb publishes guest protections it calls AirCover, and a separate host liability program for hosts. Neither is a substitute for an injury claim, and accepting a payment through the app can affect your rights.

Before you agree to anything, talk to a lawyer about what your claim may be worth. Our Airbnb injury claims page explains how AirCover fits in.

Get medical care first, even if the injury seems minor. Then report it to the host and platform in writing, photograph the hazard and your injuries, preserve the listing and your messages, avoid quick settlement offers, and call a lawyer. Acting quickly protects both your health and your claim.

Evidence disappears fast in rental cases. Hosts fix hazards and listings change. Our step-by-step guide on what to do after an injury walks you through it.

You may, and figuring out fault is our job, not yours. Many guests assume they have no case because they do not know who is responsible or whether the platform can be sued. The only way to know is a free review. We investigate the property, the listing, and the parties involved.

There is no cost and no obligation to find out. If you do not have a claim, we will tell you honestly. Start a free case review or call us any time.