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If you’re injured at a hotel or Airbnb in Maryland, you may have a premises liability claim against the property owner, the short-term rental host, or both. Maryland law requires property owners and rental hosts to maintain reasonably safe conditions for guests — and when they fail to do that, they can be held legally accountable for the resulting injuries. What makes these cases complicated is what comes next: the property owner stops returning calls, the rental platform hides behind its terms of service, and it’s suddenly unclear who is actually responsible. A Maryland personal injury attorney can identify every liable party, cut through that deflection, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Who Is Liable for an Injury at a Hotel or Airbnb in Maryland?
Hotels and short-term rentals like Airbnbs fall under premises liability rules in Maryland. As a paying guest, you are classified as an invitee, which means the property owner owes you the highest standard of care. That duty includes regularly inspecting the property for hazards, repairing dangerous conditions within a reasonable time, and warning guests about risks that are not immediately obvious.
For traditional hotels, liability typically falls on the hotel owner or management company. If a guest slips on a wet lobby floor, gets injured from a broken railing in a stairwell, or is hurt in a poorly maintained pool area, the hotel may be held responsible if it knew about the hazard or should have discovered it through reasonable inspections. Large hotel chains generally carry substantial liability insurance, which can make the claims process more straightforward than dealing with an individual property owner.
Airbnb and short-term rental injuries involve more layers of potential liability. Depending on the circumstances, you may have a claim against the property owner, a separate landlord who leased the property to the host, a property management company, or even Airbnb itself. Airbnb provides hosts, not guests directly, with up to $1 million in liability coverage through its AirCover program. A guest seeking compensation would need to file a claim against the host, whose exposure is then potentially covered by AirCover. However, that policy has significant limitations and does not cover every type of injury
Common injuries at hotels and Airbnbs include:
- Slip-and-fall accidents in bathrooms and lobbies
- Burns from malfunctioning appliances or hot water systems
- Injuries from broken furniture or fixtures
- Exposure to hazards like mold, bed bugs, or carbon monoxide
- Hot tub and swimming pool injuries
In each of these situations, the central question is whether the property owner or host knew about the dangerous condition, or should have known, and failed to take reasonable steps to fix it or warn guests.
How Does Maryland’s Contributory Negligence Rule Affect Your Claim?
Maryland’s contributory negligence rule means that if you are even partially at fault for your injury, you are completely barred from recovering any compensation. Maryland is one of only a handful of states that still follows this doctrine, making it one of the strictest premises liability standards in the country. In practice, this gives property owners and their insurers a powerful incentive to find any evidence of shared fault — a wet floor you may have seen, a warning sign nearby, or a choice you made that contributed to the accident — and use it to deny your claim entirely.
In practice, an insurance adjuster may look for any evidence that you contributed to the accident. They might argue that you ignored a posted warning sign, wore inappropriate footwear near a pool, entered an area that was clearly off-limits, or were distracted by your phone when you tripped. Even a seemingly small detail can be used to shift blame and eliminate your right to compensation under Maryland law.
This is why documenting the scene and being careful about what you say after an injury matters so much. Even a casual remark to the hotel manager or Airbnb host could be taken out of context and used against you later. Working with an attorney early in the process helps protect your claim from these tactics and preserves your ability to pursue the damages you are owed.
What Should You Do After an Injury at a Hotel or Short-Term Rental?
The steps you take in the hours and days following an injury at a hotel or Airbnb can significantly affect the outcome of your claim. Steps to take include:
Prompt Medical Treatment
Start by seeking medical attention, even if the injury seems minor at first. Conditions like concussions, soft tissue damage, and infections may not produce symptoms right away, and a medical record linking your injury to the property creates essential evidence for your case.
Gather and Preserve Evidence
While still at the property, photograph and video the hazard that caused your injury, along with the surrounding area, including any missing warning signs or poor lighting. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses who saw what happened.
Report the Incident and Injury
Report the incident to hotel management or the Airbnb host in writing if possible, and save a copy of all correspondence. If you are staying in a short-term rental, take screenshots of the listing description and any messages with the host about the property’s condition before the listing is edited.
Avoid Giving Statements without Legal Advice
Avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance company before consulting an attorney. Adjusters may contact you quickly and ask you to describe the incident in detail, but the goal is often to get you to say something that undermines your claim under Maryland’s contributory negligence rule. An attorney can manage these communications and ensure your rights stay protected.
What is the Deadline to File an Injury Claim?
In Maryland, you generally have three years from the date of your injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. That deadline is set by Maryland’s statute of limitations and applies to most premises liability claims, including injuries at hotels and Airbnb rentals. Three years can feel like a long time, but evidence deteriorates, surveillance footage gets deleted, and witness memories fade faster than most people expect. The sooner you act, the stronger your case.
Injured at a Maryland Hotel or Airbnb? Talk to McGowan & Cecil, LLC
If you were hurt at a hotel or short-term rental in Maryland, the premises liability attorneys at McGowan & Cecil, LLC can help. With over 120 years of combined experience, our team knows how to hold negligent property owners and hosts accountable. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your options and protect your right to compensation.