Catastrophic Injuries at Short-Term Rentals: You May Have a Claim

Florida Vacation Rental Injury Lawyer for Catastrophic Cases

When you suffer a catastrophic injury at an Airbnb, VRBO, or other vacation rental in Florida, the property owner may be legally responsible. We represent guests and families injured in serious, life-altering accidents at short-term rentals. Our firm focuses exclusively on catastrophic injuries—spinal cord injuries, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, severe burns, and wrongful death. We take cases nationwide, with a focus on Florida.

Catastrophic Injuries We Handle at Vacation Rentals

We represent only guests injured in serious, permanent accidents at short-term rentals. We do not handle minor injuries.

Catastrophic vacation rental injuries include:

• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis (paraplegia and quadriplegia)
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Amputations and limb loss
• Severe burns
• Catastrophic back and neck injuries
• Wrongful death

Short-term rentals create unique hazards. Owners are often absent and don’t manage properties day-to-day. Turnover is rapid. Maintenance suffers. Guests don’t know the property and may miss hidden dangers. These factors create serious accident risks.

Common Accident Scenarios

Pool and water accidents: Drowning, near-drowning, spinal cord injuries from shallow-water diving, or electrocution from faulty equipment.

Falls: From balconies, stairs, or decks caused by broken railings, uneven flooring, or poor lighting.

Assaults and violent crime: Attacks enabled by broken locks, unsecured gates, poor lighting, or missing security cameras.

Fire and burn injuries: Faulty wiring, unserviced smoke detectors, unsafe heating, or flammable materials.

Structural hazards: Ceiling collapse, gas leaks, or other dangerous conditions.

Wrongful death: Fatal injuries from any scenario above.

Who This Page Is For

This page is for you if:

• You were a guest at a vacation rental when you suffered a catastrophic injury
• A family member was killed in a vacation rental accident
• Your injury caused permanent impairment or life-altering disability
• You’re unsure whether you have a legal claim

How Liability Works at Short-Term Rentals in Florida

Property owners in Florida must maintain safe premises. They must warn guests of known hazards. This duty applies to vacation rental owners, even if they don’t live on site.

Owners must maintain:

• Working locks and gates
• Adequate lighting
• Secure railings
• Safe stairs
• Functioning safety equipment

Owners must also warn guests about known dangers—a broken step, shallow pool, or criminal activity nearby.

If an owner fails to maintain the property or warn of hazards, and you’re injured, the owner is liable.

Negligent Security at Vacation Rentals

If a property owner fails to provide reasonable security—working locks, gates, lighting, or cameras—and that failure allowed an assault, robbery, or violent attack, the owner is liable for your injuries.

Many guests don’t realize they may have a claim when attacked on an unsafe property. The rental platform (Airbnb, VRBO) typically claims immunity as an intermediary. However, the platform may be liable if it:

• Failed to disclose known hazards
• Failed to remove a dangerous listing after complaints
• Failed to respond to safety reports

Understanding Florida’s Comparative Negligence Rule

Florida’s comparative negligence rule allows injured guests to recover damages even if partially at fault. You can recover as long as you are not more than 50% responsible for the injury.

Under Fla. Stat. §768.81, if you are found 51% or more at fault, you cannot recover. If the property owner’s negligence is the primary cause, the 51% rule does not prevent your claim.

Example: You fall from a broken balcony railing. The owner failed to maintain or repair it. The owner’s negligence is the primary cause—not your carelessness. You would likely recover, even if partially inattentive.

Can You Sue Airbnb or VRBO for Injury?

Airbnb and VRBO are platforms, not property owners. They typically claim immunity under federal law and are not sued directly. The property owner (the host) is the defendant.

However, the platform may be liable in limited cases:

• If Airbnb or VRBO knew about a hazard or prior complaints and failed to disclose them
• If the platform failed to remove a dangerous listing

We investigate all potential defendants to maximize your recovery.

What Is the Average Settlement for Vacation Rental Injuries?

There is no “average” settlement—every case is unique. Settlements depend on:

• Injury severity
• Whether the injury is permanent
• Medical costs
• Lost income
• Strength of liability

Catastrophic injuries typically result in significantly higher settlements than minor injuries. According to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, individuals with spinal cord injury and paralysis face lifetime costs for medical care, rehabilitation, equipment, and lost earning capacity exceeding millions of dollars. Settlements account for lifetime expenses, plus pain and suffering.

We do not guarantee or predict a specific outcome. Each case is evaluated individually based on facts, liability strength, and injury extent.

Who Regulates Vacation Rentals in Florida?

Short-term rentals are regulated by local municipalities—cities and counties—not a single state agency. Regulations vary widely. Some cities require licenses, inspections, and safety certifications. Others have minimal oversight.

Regulatory gaps create liability. If a property wasn’t inspected or didn’t meet local safety codes, and that failure contributed to your injury, the owner is liable. We investigate whether the property complied with local regulations.

How the Claims Process Works

Initial consultation: Contact us for a free case evaluation. Describe the accident, your injury, and the property. An attorney reviews your case and explains your options—at no cost and with no obligation.

Investigation: We gather evidence:

• Property photos and inspection reports
• Maintenance records
• Prior complaints and incident reports
• Police reports
• Your medical records
• Expert analysis of the hazard that caused your injury

Demand letter: We send a detailed claim to the property owner’s insurance company. The letter outlines the owner’s negligence, your injuries, and damages sought.

Negotiation: Most cases settle during this phase. We negotiate aggressively on your behalf.

Litigation (if necessary): If the insurance company refuses a fair settlement, we file a lawsuit and prepare for trial.

Timeline: Simple cases may settle in 6–12 months. Complex catastrophic cases may take 2–3 years or longer.

Cost: We work on contingency. You pay nothing upfront. We are paid only if we recover compensation for you.

Why Choose CHG Personal Injury Lawyers

Exclusive focus on catastrophic injuries: We handle only serious, life-altering injuries—not minor vacation rental claims. This focus means deep expertise in complex cases.

Licensed Florida Bar attorneys: All our attorneys are licensed in Florida and admitted to the Florida Bar.

National reach: While based in Florida, we represent clients nationwide injured at Florida vacation rentals or rentals in other states.

Bilingual resources: We provide content and services in English and Spanish.

Deep expertise with short-term rental liability: We understand Airbnb, VRBO, and other platforms. We know how to investigate and hold owners accountable.

Catastrophic injury experience: We have extensive experience with spinal cord injuries, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, amputations, severe burns, and wrongful-death claims. We understand the lifetime impact and fight for full compensation.

Thorough investigation: We conduct detailed investigations with expert analysis, scene reconstruction, and review of maintenance and complaint records.

Honest communication: We do not promise a specific result. We commit to aggressive representation and honest communication about your case.

Frequently Asked Questions