According to KXXV-TV, a woman is suing a Waco man following a violent fall while staying in his Airbnb. 
The home involved in the lawsuit is reportedly a popular tourist destination. It was renovated by Chip and Joanna Gaines during season one of the television series “Fixer Upper.” It is owned by Clinton “Clint” Harp.
The lawsuit indicates the woman was staying at the home in 2016 when she fell down a front staircase and suffered severe injuries. The lawsuit claims that the design of the staircase is dangerous and is in violation of industry standards regarding stairways and handrails.
KXXV reported that Texas Accessibility Standards mandate vacation and public rentals have handrails continuously throughout staircases, on both sides. They also mandate that all steps must have uniform rise heights and tread depths.
In addition to the violations, the lawsuit indicates that Harp failed to instruct the woman about the dangers of the staircase.
Harp has appeared as a carpenter on the popular HGTV show and premiered his own wood-working show on the DIY Network in May. The lawsuit seeks between $200,000 and $1 million in damages.
Can I File a Lawsuit if I am Injured in an Airbnb?
People who rent their homes to guests on applications such as Airbnb have a duty to make sure that the premises are safe. If a family does not provide safe spaces for guests, it can be held liable and may have to pay significant damages.
Accidents involving rental properties can include slip-and-falls by guests that result in substantial injuries. If you rent your property out to guests, you may want to check to make sure that you are properly insured. If an accident takes place and an insurance company discovers you are renting out your home for commercial purposes, it is possible that you may be in violation of your agreement with the insurer.
If you have been injured while staying in a rental property such as an Airbnb, contact our personal injury attorneys. We can potentially review your case and determine if you are eligible for damages that can help pay for treatment or time missed at work.
We are the personal injury law experts of Central Texas. Contact us today.
