It's Not Personal, It's Business: Short-Term Rentals And Personal Injury

Exchange of goods or services is an old practice, but advances in technology and communications have helped the "sharing economy" boom in recent years. Perhaps your home will be vacant for a period while you're away, or maybe you have an under-utilized room in your home. Technology makes it easy to connect with people around the world who may need accommodations when they visit your community.

On the flip side, as a guest in one of these situations, you now have access to private residences to experience a community as a local might, or can stay in unusual places that would otherwise be off limits – like an actual castle. Companies such as Airbnb facilitate connections between hosts and guests. While most stays are positive and uneventful, what happens if a guest suffers an injury while using a rental?