Injured at an Airbnb, Vrbo, or Vacation Rental?

Short-term rentals are everywhere in Jacksonville and along Florida’s beaches, and many are run by owners with no hospitality training and no safety inspections. When a balcony rail gives way, a pool has no barrier, a stairway is unlit, or a carbon monoxide detector was never installed, the people hurt are often guests and their children. Our trial attorneys hold owners, property managers, and other responsible parties accountable.

Why Short-Term Rentals Are Different From Hotels

Hotels are subject to routine inspection and established safety standards. A house or condo listed on a booking platform frequently is not. Owners may skip pool barriers required for residential pools, ignore local occupancy and safety rules, use unlicensed contractors for repairs, or leave hazards unfixed between guests. Insurance is often a fight in these cases: a homeowners policy may exclude commercial or rental use, a platform’s host protection may apply, and a property manager or cleaning company may carry its own coverage. We identify every policy.

Booking platforms typically position themselves as intermediaries rather than property owners, which shapes who can be held responsible. That does not end the inquiry; owners, managers, maintenance companies, and sometimes the platform can all be part of the case depending on the facts.

Common Short-Term Rental Injuries

Drownings and near-drownings in pools and hot tubs without required barriers, alarms, or safe covers. Falls from defective balconies, decks, railings, and unlit stairs. Carbon monoxide poisoning from faulty heaters, generators, or attached garages. Fires and burns where smoke alarms or extinguishers were missing. Injuries from broken furniture, unsecured TVs and dressers, and unsafe bunk beds. Assaults where the rental had inadequate locks or security.

When a Child Is Hurt at a Rental

Many of these cases involve children, particularly drownings and falls. Florida’s pool safety requirements exist because young children are the most frequent victims, and a rental advertised as family friendly should meet them. Our partners are Board-Certified Specialists in Juvenile Law and much of our practice is devoted to representing children and their families.

Short-Term Rental FAQs

I signed the platform’s terms and a rental agreement. Can I still sue?

Often yes. Florida law limits how far a property owner can contract away responsibility for their own negligence, and waivers signed on behalf of children face additional limits. Bring us the paperwork and we will tell you where you stand.

Who is actually responsible, the owner or the platform?

It depends on the facts. Owners and property managers are the most common defendants, and maintenance or cleaning companies can share responsibility. We investigate all of them rather than assuming.

How long do I have to file?

In most Florida negligence cases, two years from the date of the injury. Rentals get repaired and re-listed quickly, so early investigation and photographs matter enormously.

What does it cost to hire you?

Nothing up front. Injury consultations are free, and we work on contingency: no fees unless we win.

Speak Directly with a Jacksonville Trial Lawyer

Call, text, or email us today for a free, confidential case review. Our firm is fully bilingual, and you will work directly with your attorney, never a call center.