Visiting an Airbnb should be relaxing and enjoyable. Sitting down on a couch that suddenly breaks, causing you to fall and strike your head, is a terrifying experience. A simple fall like this can create long-term complications and risks to your health and well-being.
Our Philadelphia personal injury attorney can offer help. We will help you seek compensation for your losses, and you may be able to ensure others do not suffer the same risks.
What To Do After a Philadelphia Airbnb Accident
Faulty furniture accidents can happen for numerous reasons and in various ways. Whether furniture falls on you or you fall on it, there is a significant risk of injury. Tables, chairs, couches, outdoor patio furniture, including swings and playground equipment, can all become dangerous if the owner fails to properly maintain them.
If you suffer injuries for any of these reasons or others, reach out to us for legal help. In the ideal situation, you will follow these steps to protect your health and build confidence in your case.
Get Medical Care First
If you have injuries, including wounds, swelling, or broken bones, ensure you get medical attention right away. In the case of serious injury, such as significant bleeding or the inability to move, call 911 and have help come to you.
As soon as you go to the hospital or emergency center, you start a document trail that shows what the result was of the hazards created by the property owner or Airbnb. We recommend doing this right after you suffer an injury to make it clear what caused your injuries.
Take Photos of the Area and Injuries
Spend a few minutes, if it is safe to do so, taking photos of the accident. This should include photos of the furniture that caused the accident, including any deformities in it, such as previously glued legs on a chair or a worn or broken bracket. The more images you take of the surrounding area, the damage, and the entire layout, the better.
You also want to document your injuries. Taking photos of what happened to you makes it clear to anyone viewing those photos to have a clear indication that the furniture failed, causing you to suffer an injury, and what the injury was.
Inform the Host
After getting medical care, message the host of the Airbnb through the Airbnb application. This creates a clear message with a timestamp that you immediately alerted the host to what occurred. Make sure this is in writing. Even if you call the host to inform them, send a message through the Airbnb app as well. You want the rental company itself to have documentation of what took place.
While informing the host, avoid these mistakes:
- Do not admit fault. Do not say “I didn’t see the chair” or “My child was jumping on the bed when he fell.” Only provide very basic facts about what occurred.
- Do not send them a bill from the emergency room. This could make it seem like you are claiming those costs. You do not want to file a claim yet. You do want to inform them of what occurred.
- Avoid any type of social media communication. This is not the time to leave a review. What you say within that review could be used against you.
By taking these steps, you protect your right to fair compensation later. That is especially true when you speak to Airbnb directly.
File a Claim for Your Losses
In a simple case, with nothing more than a single visit to the urgent care, you can file a claim with Airbnb for liability insurance protection. Only do this in a very simple and straightforward case.
In most others, we encourage you to contact a Philadelphia Airbnb injury attorney. Our legal team works to uncover all of the losses you have, which may be far more than just the injury medical bill. Some of the losses you may have include:
- Medical costs from the emergency care, as well as follow-up and ongoing care needs
- Loss of time at work if you are unable to work for a period of time
- Loss of use of the Airbnb property or your vacation plans due to the injury
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional trauma and mental anguish
- Loss of quality of life
- Disfigurement
Our objective is to consider your current and future implications from these accidents. We build a strong claim for you, one that outlines all of your rights.
Most often, this leads to a direct settlement with the insurance company for your losses. However, if for any reason they dispute or deny your claim, expect us to seek legal action in a court of law. Victims have two years to file a lawsuit under the Pennsylvania statute of limitations.
Contact Us Now for a Free Consultation
Put Kwartler Manus to work on your case. If you suffered an injury caused by faulty furniture at a Philadelphia Airbnb, or any other type of injury, let us build a claim for you. Call our office now to schedule a free consultation with an experienced and compassionate personal injury lawyer in Philadelphia.