Houston Airbnb Injury Lawyer: Who Is Responsible for a Vacation Rental Accident in Texas?

From touring the Space Center to watching the Rockets courtside, Houston draws visitors from all over. Many tourists choose an Airbnb for the privacy and space they offer, but some vacation rentals aren’t as safe as they look. Where do you turn when you are hurt on your vacation by someone else’s negligence?

The Texas Airbnb premises liability lawyers at Carabin Shaw can help you hold the parties responsible for your accident liable for your injuries. Our experienced law firm offers free consultations, and you don’t pay anything unless we win your case. Our English- and Spanish-speaking experts are available 24/7 at 1-800-862-1260, or you can contact us online to book your no-obligation case review now.

Airbnb properties that look great online may not always live up to their promises. Slippery floors, broken railings, or faulty electrical wiring can cause serious accidents for unsuspecting guests. Common Airbnb accidents include:

• Falls from loose rugs
• Trips caused by inadequate lighting
• Injuries from unstable furniture
• Injuries from malfunctioning hot tubs or swimming pools
• Electrocutions from faulty wiring

These accidents can lead to severe, disabling injuries, requiring extensive medical treatment and time off work for victims.

Most accident victims assume the property host is responsible, and most of the time, they are correct. These parties owe invitees (guests) to the property a duty of care to:

• Inspect the property regularly for hazards
• Make prompt repairs if a problem is discovered
• Warn guests if the issue can be immediately addressed

While the responsibility usually rests on the host, that isn’t the only party who might be held liable for your injuries. Others might include:

• Maintenance contractors
• Airbnb
• Third parties

Airbnb is rarely responsible unless it continued to list a property after discovering it was unsafe. However, that can happen. Third parties like an appliance manufacturer that produced a defective product could also be responsible for your injuries.

Under Texas’s proportionate responsibility rule, you can hold multiple parties liable according to their portion of fault for your accident. This allows your attorney to maximize your damages and hold all at-fault parties accountable. Check out our law firm’s client reviews to see how we’ve helped other accident victims maximize their compensation.

To hold parties liable for your accident, you must do more than show the accident occurred. Your lawyer also needs to prove that the party’s negligence led directly to your accident and injuries. Negligence involves four key elements:

• The responsible party owed you a duty of care to keep you safe
• The party breached that duty through actions or inactions
• The breach of duty led directly to harm to you
• You incurred losses as a result of your accident and injuries

How does your attorney prove negligence? Through a comprehensive investigation of the accident to identify the cause and the parties responsible. They will gather evidence, including maintenance records, previous complaints, photos of the scene, and other documentation. They may also use eyewitnesses or accident reconstruction experts to provide valuable testimony.

In addition to the accident investigation, your lawyer will calculate your damages based on your current and future expenses and losses. Some damages are calculable, such as your medical bills and lost wages. Others reimburse you for intangible losses like mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life.

Your Airbnb accident attorney will send your personal injury claim to the at-fault party’s insurance company to begin the negotiation process. Nearly all personal injury claims are settled at this stage of the legal process. If you can’t arrive at a fair settlement, your legal team will prepare your case for court.

An accident at an Airbnb can bring your much-anticipated vacation to an abrupt and painful end. You deserve compensation from the parties responsible for your injuries. Carabin Shaw and our expert Texas lawyers can help. Call us toll-free now at 1-800-862-1260 or contact us online to schedule your free case review.

For more information:

• Cornell Law School
• Texas Statutes 33