Serving all of Florida
Miami Airbnb & VRBO Injury Lawyer
Miami-Dade, Broward & statewide
A short-term-rental injury has more insurance behind it than people think — host, manager, and up to $1M in platform coverage. I spent 20 years on the insurer’s side; I know how to reach it.
— Emanuel Galimidi, former insurance-defense attorney
Who is liable if I'm injured at an Airbnb or VRBO in Florida?
If you're hurt at a short-term rental in Florida, the property owner or host can be liable under premises-liability law when an unsafe condition — a defective stair, an unfenced pool, faulty wiring, a missing smoke detector — caused your injury and the host knew or should have known about it. The platform's host-protection insurance (Airbnb and VRBO each advertise up to $1 million) may also respond, and a property manager or maintenance contractor can share the fault. You generally have two years to file in Florida (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)), and your recovery is reduced by your share of fault — barred only if you're found more than 50% at fault (§ 768.81). Preserving evidence early is critical, because the listing, photos, and your messages with the host can be edited or disappear within days.
Short-term rental injuries — the facts that matter
- Deadline to file
- 2 years from the injury (Florida negligence deadline)
- Who can be liable
- The host, property manager, and the platform can all share fault
- Platform coverage
- Airbnb & VRBO carry up to $1M in host liability coverage
- What it costs
- Free consultation · no fees or costs unless you recover
What they do
What the property’s insurer does after you’re hurt
A rental injury has more parties — and more insurance — than people realize, and each one tries to point at the others. The moves are familiar.
Blame you, not the property
They argue you weren’t watching your step, to shift fault onto you under Florida’s comparative-negligence rule.
Push it to the wrong policy
The platform points to the host; the host’s homeowner insurer says short-term rental is excluded. In the gap, your claim stalls.
Quick lowball before you heal
A fast, small check before the full injury — and the $1M platform coverage — are on the table.
After a crash
What to do after a rental injury
Photograph the hazard now
The broken railing, wet tile, missing pool fence, or dark stairwell — before the host quietly fixes it.
Report to the platform & host
Create a written record in the Airbnb/VRBO app and to the host — it timestamps the claim.
Get medical care
See a doctor promptly — it documents the injury your claim depends on.
Preserve the listing
Screenshot the listing, photos, reviews, and amenities before they’re edited.
Florida law
The Florida rules that decide your claim
2-year deadline
Florida generally gives you 2 years from the crash to file an injury lawsuit. Wait too long and the claim is gone.
A paying guest is an invitee
As a business invitee, you’re owed a duty to keep the property reasonably safe and to warn of known dangers like a broken stair or unfenced pool.
Comparative fault
You can still recover if you are 50% or less at fault; your share reduces the award. How fault is split is often worth fighting.
Platform vs. homeowner coverage
Airbnb and VRBO carry up to $1M in host liability coverage, but many homeowner policies exclude short-term-rental use — so mapping the right policy is the case.
Related pages: Uninsured motorist coverage · Uber & Lyft accidents
A recent result
Their offer wasn't the real number.
Short-term rental · 2023 · their first offer: $20K
One of several recent recoveries handled by the firm. Each case is different and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See more case results →Client reviews
What clients say
“A highly professional law office. Mr. Galimidi is very honest and puts great effort into his work for you — he always gets back to you by email or phone. A phenomenal attorney with a heart for people.”
— Sarah · Google“Emanuel is one of the best attorneys in South Florida. Schedule a call with him before going with anyone else — he will fight for you, and you want someone seasoned handling your case.”
— James · Google“The attention to detail Emanuel has is second to none. Knowledge is power, and he has an abundance of knowledge.”
— Omar · AvvoIndividual results; outcomes vary by case. Reviews are from the firm’s Google and Avvo profiles.
Questions people ask
Airbnb & VRBO injury FAQ
Who is responsible for my short-term rental injury?
Often more than one party — the host or owner, a property manager, and sometimes the platform. The right defendant depends on what caused the injury and which policy applies.
Does Airbnb or VRBO insurance cover my injury?
Both platforms carry up to $1M in host liability coverage that can apply when a guest is hurt by the host’s negligence. Whether it pays — versus the host’s own policy — is often disputed.
The host’s homeowner insurer denied me — is that the end?
Not necessarily. Many homeowner policies exclude short-term-rental (commercial) use, which can push the claim to the platform’s coverage instead. A denial is often the beginning, not the end.
What if I was partly careless?
Florida’s modified comparative negligence lets you recover if you’re 50% or less at fault, with your share reducing the award. How fault is split is often the whole fight.
How long do I have to file?
Generally 2 years from the injury in Florida. Evidence at a rental — the hazard, the listing, the photos — disappears fast, so it’s best to act early.
Tell me what happened. The consultation is free.
You'll talk to a senior attorney who spent 20 years on the other side — not a case manager. No fees or costs unless you recover.
Call 786-442-2873