Brooklyn Attorney to Sue an Airbnb Owner for Injuries
Airbnbs are an important part of tourism and travel in the United States right now. However, many of the Airbnbs that operate in New York City are illegally run, violating local housing and lease agreements. In many cases, Airbnb owners are reluctant to address injuries and accidents that happen on their property because they fear liability and legal sanctions against their rental operations. If you or a loved one was injured at an Airbnb in New York City talk to one of the Brooklyn Airbnb injury attorneys at Sullivan and Galleshaw today.
Our attorneys can help you determine who is liable for your injuries, how to take them to court, and how much your case should be worth. If you or a loved one was injured by a defective or dangerous condition on the property at an Airbnb rental site, call Sullivan and Galleshaw today to set up a free legal consultation on your injury case. Our number is (718) 747-9706.
Whom to Sue for an Airbnb Injury Case
Airbnb rentals often have layers of people who are responsible for the rental property. First, the property owner who owns the apartment building may be responsible. Next, if they rent their apartment to a tenant and that tenant runs the Airbnb, they might be liable. Further, Airbnb may have a hand in allowing the injuries to go unaddressed. You may be able to sue any of these parties, though our attorneys explain some of the limitations.
Suing the Building Owner
Many Airbnbs are operated by apartment owners directly. Whether zoning laws allow for it or not, many property owners will rent Airbnbs in their building, potentially alongside long-term rental apartments. If these property owners or homeowners operate the Airbnb rental directly, they are typically responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the property, and any defects or dangers are their fault.
Suing the Apartment Tenant
If you rent an apartment on Airbnb, it is possible that the unit has a tenant with a lease, and that tenant rents the unit out as an Airbnb by subletting it. The landlord or building owner may have no idea that this happens, and they would not generally be liable for the conditions inside the tenant’s unit. That liability falls to the tenant instead. However, the apartment owner might still be responsible for dangers in the lobby, stairwells, elevator, or other shared spaces in the apartment building.
Suing Airbnb
Airbnb itself is not usually liable for injuries sustained at rental locations. Airbnb may be involved in insuring hosts for damage to their property or injuries sustained on their property during a rental, but in most cases Airbnb does not operate the rental site themselves and would not share fault. If you sue the owner of the Airbnb rental and their insurance is not enough to cover the case, Airbnb’s insurance might step in to cover the injuries.
Your attorney can help you understand which parties to sue and join the proper defendants in the lawsuit to get you the compensation you need.
Damages for Injuries at an Airbnb Rental
If you were injured at an Airbnb, your host is likely liable for the injuries you face. These injuries can be quite severe in many cases, potentially including substantial damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Talk to a lawyer about what your case is worth and how to seek compensation for your injuries.
The injuries you sustain because of someone else’s dangerous property can be quite severe. Cuts and scrapes sustained in a fall could require some medical care, but more severe injuries like broken bones and head trauma could require more attention. If you fall from a high height because of a collapsing handrail or balcony, you could suffer life-threatening injuries. Other severe injuries like burns and electrocution could also cause substantial damage requiring expensive medical care, rehabilitation, and other medical costs.
If your injuries are severe enough to keep you from working, you may face damages for lost wages. In severe injury cases, you may be unable to go back to work and could face additional damages for reduced earning capacity. Save your pay stubs and bank records to help prove these damages in court.
Damages for pain and suffering are often a substantial part of any injury lawsuit. These damages cover you directly for the physical harm and mental suffering you faced because of an injury, and these damages are separate from the economic damages for medical bills and lost wages. Proving these damages usually comes down to using your testimony about the injuries and how they affected your life, including how the injury limits your abilities and enjoyment of life and activities you enjoy.
If a loved one was killed in an accident at an Airbnb, the owner could be responsible for the dangerous conditions that led to their death. Electrocution, drowning, and falls from high heights are often fatal, and the damages that the surviving family faces can be substantial. You may be able to sue for medical care, pain and suffering, funeral and burial costs, lost companionship, lost counsel, lost income, and other harms that you and your family face.
Call Our Brooklyn Airbnb Injury Attorneys for a Free Legal Consultation
If you or a loved one was injured because of the dangerous conditions at an Airbnb rental, contact the Brooklyn attorneys for suing Airbnb owners at Sullivan and Galleshaw, LLP. Our attorneys are experienced Brooklyn injury lawyers, and we may be able to take your case and work to get you and your family the compensation you need from the responsible parties. To schedule your free legal consultation, contact our law offices today at (718) 747-9706.