What Happens if I Am Injured on a Vacation at a Rental Property In North Carolina?

North Carolina’s beaches and mountain retreats bring in thousands of tourists each year. Vacation rentals offer travelers the chance to kick back and relax, but what happens if you sustain a serious injury on your holiday? In North Carolina, vacation property owners and rental management companies have a duty to keep their rental homes, condos, decks, and properties in a safe and habitable condition to avoid injury to their renters.

If you are personally injured due to the property owner’s failure to keep the premises safe, you need a skilled lawyer to recover compensation for your damages and losses. Here’s what you need to know about your rights and how a vacation rental injury lawyer at Rhine Law Firm, P.C. can help.

Can I Sue the Property Owner if I Get Hurt?

You may have the right to sue the property owner if you are injured due to hazardous conditions at an Airbnb or VRBO, or otherrental in North Carolina. Under North Carolina premises liability law and the North Carolina Vacation Rental Act (NCVRA), property owners have a legal duty to maintain the premises in a safe and habitable condition.

The NCVRA specifically requires landlords of short-term vacation rentals to comply with health and safety standards and to repair dangerous conditions within a reasonable time once they become aware of them.

If you are injured because the property owner failed to address or warn you about a known hazard—such as broken handrails, unsafe steps, or electrical issues—you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries. Depending on the circumstances, liability may also extend to property managers or maintenance companies.

These cases often also involve nuanced legal and insurance issues, particularly when third parties or rental platforms like Airbnb and VRBO are involved. Top of Form

Who Could Be Liable?

In North Carolina, vacation rentals—such as those listed on Airbnb or VRBO—are often managed by more than just the property owner. Depending on the specific circumstances of the incident, multiple parties may bear legal responsibility for injuries sustained on the premises, which can include:

• The property owner
• The short-term rental host
• A third-party property management company
• Maintenance personnel or independent contractors

For example, if a deck collapses and causes injury, the host or property manager may be liable for failing to inspect or maintain the structure as required under the North Carolina Vacation Rental Act. However, if a contractor performed substandard repairs or construction, they too may be held accountable.

Determining liability requires a thorough investigation of who controlled the property, who had knowledge of the dangerous condition, and whether reasonable steps were taken to ensure guest safety. An experienced personal injury attorney can help identify all responsible parties and pursue appropriate legal remedies on your behalf.

Common Causes of Vacation Rental Injuries

Injuries on rental properties often stem from preventable hazards. Common culprits include:

• Slippery floors or loose rugs
• Broken stairs or railings
• Inadequate lighting on walkways or porches
• Electrical hazards
• Pools or hot tubs with missing safety features
• Deck or balcony collapses
• Faulty smoke detectors
• Carbon monoxide leaks

It is not sufficient to demonstrate that an accident occurred. To establish liability in a personal injury claim, you must prove that your injury was the direct result of negligence by the property owner, host, or property manager—meaning they failed to take reasonable steps to maintain a safe environment or to address a known hazard.

What Should I Do After an Injury at a Vacation Rental?

If you’ve been injured while staying at a short-term rental, your first step is always to get medical attention. These additional steps can help:

• Document the scene. Take photos or videos of the area where the injury occurred, especially any hazards that contributed. For example, if you tripped over a loose floorboard or fell down a poorly lit staircase, capture that evidence.
• Report the incident. Notify the rental host, property manager, or rental platform (e.g., Airbnb) in writing. Be factual and brief. Avoid admitting fault or downplaying your injury.
• Collect witness information. If anyone else witnessed the incident, try to get their contact information. Eyewitness testimony can go a long way in supporting your claim.
• Preserve medical records. Keep all documentation related to your injuries, including diagnoses, prescriptions, medical bills, and treatment plans.
• Speak with a vacation rental injury lawyer. An experienced attorney can help you understand your legal rights, calculate your damages, and deal with insurance companies so you can focus on healing.

What Makes Vacation Rental Cases Unique?

Injuries that occur at vacation rentals—such as those listed on Airbnb or VRBO—often involve legal complexities that go beyond those in typical premises liability claims:

• Out-of-state plaintiffs who are unfamiliar with North Carolina’s legal system, procedural rules, and applicable statutes, such as the North Carolina Vacation Rental Act and premises liability laws. Even in-state plaintiffs are often unaware that North Carolina is one of the last states which adhere to a contributory negligence doctrine, which means that if a plaintiff in any way contributed to his/her fall or injury, they may be completely barred from recovering anything.
• Multiple overlapping insurance policies, including the property owner’s homeowner’s insurance, optional or required short-term rental coverage, umbrella policies, or limited coverage provided through the rental platform (e.g., Airbnb’s Host Protection Insurance).
• Third-party platforms like Airbnb and VRBO are typically structured as online intermediaries or marketplaces.

Because of these layers, determining who bears legal responsibility for your injury requires a careful analysis of the facts, contracts, and insurance policies involved.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

At Rhine Law Firm, P.C., we have over 30 years of experience. We are determined to provide our clients with experienced, intelligent representation that gets real results when they are injured in vacation rentals. We offer free, no-obligation initial consultations with experienced rental property accident lawyers. Appointments are available online and by phone, and we have evening and weekend availability.

About Us

Rhine Law Firm, P.C. serves clients throughout North Carolina and nationwide, specializing in complex civil litigation led by Joel Rhine. With expertise in personal injury, car accidents, property damage, sex abuse, and more, the firm is passionate about taking on challenging cases. They emphasize providing personalized legal representation, prioritizing their clients’ best interests while offering state-of-the-art legal strategies. Rhine Law Firm’s dedicated attorneys enjoy the fight for justice and are committed to guiding clients through complicated legal processes. The firm offers free consultations, flexible appointment scheduling, and Spanish language services.