Assaulted at a Short-Term Rental? You May Have a Claim Against the Owner

Assaulted at a Short-Term Rental? Hold the Owner Liable for Negligent Security

You booked what seemed like a safe vacation or business stay. Instead, you were assaulted, attacked, robbed, or sexually assaulted on the property. The owner failed to provide basic security that could have prevented it. You’re not alone—and you have legal options.

Property owners have a legal duty to protect guests from foreseeable harm. When they fail, injured guests can hold them accountable through a legal claim called negligent security. This page explains what that means, how it works, and what you should do next.

When Property Owners Must Provide Security

When you rent an Airbnb, VRBO, or other short-term rental, the owner is legally responsible for keeping the property reasonably safe. This means installing working locks, providing adequate lighting, installing security cameras or alarms, or hiring security personnel—depending on what’s appropriate for the location and property type.

When an owner fails to provide these basic security measures and a guest is harmed, that failure is called negligent security. It can form the basis of a legal claim.

The core idea is simple: property owners can’t prevent every crime. But they can take reasonable steps to deter criminal acts. When they don’t, and a guest is assaulted or attacked, the owner may be held accountable.

What a Negligent Security Claim Covers

A negligent security claim at a short-term rental can cover a wide range of harmful situations:

The Attack Itself – Assaults and physical attacks by intruders or other guests – Robberies and theft-related violence – Sexual assault or abuse enabled by lack of security – Any violent crime that occurred because the property lacked reasonable security

Your Injuries – Broken bones, head trauma, internal injuries, cuts, and bruises – Catastrophic outcomes: permanent disability, disfigurement, psychological trauma, or death – Ongoing medical complications and long-term care needs

Your Damages (What You Can Recover) – All medical bills: emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment – Lost wages and lost earning capacity if the injury prevents you from working – Pain and suffering: compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life – Wrongful death damages if the assault was fatal

The Owner’s Negligence We investigate what security measures the owner failed to provide: – Broken, missing, or inadequate locks and deadbolts – Lack of exterior lighting in common areas, parking lots, or entry points – No security cameras or alarm systems – No gated access or controlled entry – Failure to hire security personnel despite known risks – Failure to respond to prior assaults, robberies, or guest complaints – Failure to warn guests about known security risks or prior crimes

Why Property Owners Have a Duty to Protect Guests

Short-term rental owners are not bystanders. Under Florida law and the laws of most states, property owners owe guests a legal duty of reasonable care. This duty includes taking steps to prevent foreseeable criminal acts—assaults, robberies, sexual assaults.

Reasonable security measures vary by location and property type. A beachfront condo in a safe neighborhood may need different security than an urban apartment in a high-crime area. But every owner must assess the risks and take appropriate steps.

Guests are not responsible for preventing crimes by third parties. You didn’t cause the assault. You rented a property in good faith, expecting basic safety. The owner’s job is to make the property reasonably safe.

Prior incidents matter. If the property owner knew (or should have known) that assaults, robberies, or other crimes had occurred at the property before, and the owner did nothing to enhance security, liability increases significantly.

How a Negligent Security Claim Works

A negligent security claim follows a clear legal framework:

Step 1: Establish the Owner’s Duty We prove that the property owner owed you a legal duty to provide reasonable security.

Step 2: Show the Owner Failed That Duty We investigate what security measures were (or weren’t) in place. Did the property have working locks? Exterior lighting? Security cameras? If the answer is no, the owner failed their duty.

Step 3: Prove the Failure Caused the Assault We connect the dots: the missing security measure directly enabled the attack. For example, no working locks allowed an intruder to enter easily.

Step 4: Document Your Injuries and Damages We gather medical records, bills, police reports, witness statements, and expert testimony.

Step 5: Pursue Compensation We negotiate with the property owner’s insurance company or prepare the case for trial. Most cases settle.

Timeline – Investigation and evidence-gathering: weeks to several months – Settlement discussions: months – Trial (if needed): months to over a year

What to Expect When You Contact Us

When you reach out, here’s what happens:

Free, Confidential Consultation You speak with an attorney who listens to what happened. There’s no obligation.

Detailed Questions We ask about the property, the attack, the owner’s security measures, and how the assault has affected you.

Investigation We review your medical records, police reports, and any prior incident reports filed at the property.

Expert Analysis We work with security experts to determine what reasonable security measures should have been in place.

Clear Explanation of Your Options We explain whether you have a strong claim, what compensation might look like, and what the process entails.

You Focus on Recovery While you heal, we focus on holding the owner accountable and pursuing fair compensation.

Why Choose This Firm for Your Negligent Security Claim

Our firm focuses exclusively on catastrophic injuries—including those caused by negligent security at short-term rentals. Here’s what that means for you:

Deep Expertise in Negligent Security We have extensive experience investigating property security failures and building negligent security claims. We understand the unique liability issues in the short-term rental industry.

Licensed Attorneys, Florida Bar Admission Our attorneys are licensed in Florida and admitted to the Florida Bar. We handle premises liability cases nationwide, bringing local knowledge and national reach.

Thorough Investigation We work with security experts, medical specialists, and investigators to build a strong case.

Prepared for Trial Most cases settle, but we’re prepared to take cases to trial if necessary.

No Upfront Costs We handle all costs upfront. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Insurance and Liability Coverage

Most short-term rental properties carry liability insurance through homeowner’s or commercial policies. Airbnb and VRBO offer limited host protection programs, but these often exclude or limit coverage for violent crimes.

We investigate all available insurance and pursue claims against every responsible party. If insurance is insufficient, we may pursue claims against the property owner directly.

Your Next Step

If you were assaulted or attacked at a short-term rental and believe the property owner failed to provide reasonable security, you have legal options. We offer a free, confidential consultation to discuss what happened and what your claim might be worth.

Contact us today for a free legal consultation. Speak with an attorney who focuses exclusively on catastrophic injuries from negligent security at short-term rentals. There is no obligation, and you pay nothing upfront.