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Since its founding in 2008, Airbnb has enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity. With its "house-sharing" model, users of the service are able to list their homes for rent on a per-day, per-week, or even per-month basis. Many similar services have subsequently appeared (VRBO.com, etc...) and likewise garnered a following.
Regrettably, and as our drowning accident attorneys know all too well, an unreported number of vacations booked by unsuspecting persons to such leased properties end in tragedy.
Consider the sobering fact that, every single year, more than half of all swimming pool drowning accidents occur in private residences.
Now imagine an Airbnb home with a backyard pool and/or hot tub. The risk of drowning is not mitigated when the inhabitants of the leased home change; if anything, the risk may be exponentially increased due to the unfamiliarity of guests with having a pool right at home, an amenity they may have explicitly looked for.
Instances of young children drowning in Airbnb pools have already begun to gain traction on news outlets nationwide.
One 4-year-old child nearly drowned at a Phoenix, Arizona Airbnb in 2019. He was underwater for an unknown amount before being retrieved. The latest updates only reference the victim being in extremely critical condition, so it is not clear whether he survived or not. However, it is almost certain that he suffered some sort of injury, if not irreversible brain damage due to hypoxia.
Another 3-year-old girl in Glendale, Arizona was not as fortunate. She lost her life in 2020 when she fell into the pool and drowned during a backyard party hosted at a property rented through Airbnb.
As of this writing, few legal precedents have been established to provide an accurate idea of what victims can achieve if they seek damages from a negligent Airbnb homeowner. Nevertheless, if past drowning lawsuits have taught us anything it's that when a drowning (or near-drowning) takes place, victims and their loved ones have the right to seek justice via the civil justice system.
The question that victims often have when they are considering taking legal action is who can be held liable for their pain and trauma. Determining this can be quite complex.
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, it's possible that the homeowner could be held responsible. Likewise, a legal claim may also be brought forth against Airbnb. We know that Airbnb offers some sort of blanket insurance coverage for individuals who list their homes on the platform. And yet, it remains unclear whether these general policies take drownings and other pool injuries into account.
Without a doubt, the exact legal path to follow will vary from case-to-case. For this reason, it's critical to seek an Airbnb pool drowning lawyer experienced in such cases.
If you or a loved one recently suffered injuries or perished in an Airbnb pool drowning, it's highly recommended that you find a legal professional to represent your interests.
If you're unsure whether you have a valid case, or if you have any other questions regarding your legal options, get in touch with our team today to schedule a free legal consultation. We will put you in touch with an experienced drowning lawyer who will be able to analyze your case, carefully explain your options, and then allow you to make such an important decision with as much information as possible.
Our consults are free of cost and free of obligations, so there's no pressure to work with us after you've got the info you need. Call our 24/7 helpline today, or fill out the form on this page, to get started on the path to justice.