Airbnb Guest Fell Down Stairs — Now Suing Me for $180K

I have been hosting on Airbnb for 3 years without issues. A guest fell down the interior stairs and broke her ankle and wrist. She is suing me personally for $180,000 in medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The stairs have a handrail and meet building code. She admitted to my co-host she had been drinking, but now her lawyer claims the treads were “unreasonably slippery.” I have homeowners insurance and Airbnb Host Protection Insurance.

I am freaking out. $180K would bankrupt me. What do I do?

7-year Superhost here. CHECK YOUR HOMEOWNERS POLICY for a “business pursuits” exclusion. Some policies deny coverage for injuries during short-term rental use.

Every host should: (1) get short-term rental specific insurance, (2) carry a $1M umbrella policy ($200-300/year), (3) hold property in an LLC, and (4) install security cameras in common areas.

Update: Notified homeowners insurance — they assigned a defense attorney. Filed with Airbnb Host Protection too. My policy covers short-term rentals.

Co-host provided written statement about the drinking. Building inspector confirmed code compliance. Defense attorney thinks this will settle for $30K-$50K, all covered by insurance. Getting an umbrella policy and setting up an LLC going forward. Thanks everyone.