Airbnb Faces Lawsuit After 18-Year-Old Killed In Sunnyvale House Party Shooting

SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA (April 26, 2023) – The popular home and apartment sharing company Airbnb is facing a lawsuit after an 18-year-old was killed in a Sunnyvale shooting at a house party. 

The incident took place at an Airbnb on Navaro Drive in Sunnyvale. An 18-year-old man was shot twice by a 17-year-old, as he was surrounded by around 200 other young people. 

Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. Despite life-saving measures, he later died due to the severity of his injuries. 

Parents of the victim have since filed a lawsuit against Airbnb. Their attorney claims that Airbnb was illegally renting out the residence by not following Sunnyvale’s laws which require Airbnb owners to live on site. 

The family’s attorney has claimed that when you illegally rent out an entire place, it is likely that parties will be thrown and that someone will be hurt. 

Airbnb claims that they were not obligated to follow the Sunnyvale ordinance.

Liability For Sunnyvale Airbnb Assaults

Assaults at Airbnbs are much more common than many people realize. According to one report by Business Insider, Airbnb deals with thousands of sexual-assault allegations every year. However, they manage to keep most of these incidents out of the public eye through monetary settlements and legal tactics such as arbitration agreements. By Airbnb’s own calculations, there have been around 193,000 safety incidences. There have also been a number of high profile shootings at Airbnbs.

• Two people were killed in a Airbnb shooting in Pittsburg during a house party. 
• Around 50 people were shot in a Airbnb shooting in Houston during a birthday party. 
• Five people were killed in a Airbnb shooting during a Halloween party in California’s Bay Area. 

Depending on the facts of any case, Airbnb could face civil liability for any assault that takes place on their premises. Property owners have a legal obligation to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition. Pursuant to California Civil Code 1714, everyone is responsible for an injury to another person resulting from a lack of ordinary care in the maintenance of his or her property. This includes taking steps to protect guests from violent activity. A number of municipalities in California require Airbnb owners to live on site. When a property owner fails to follow state or local regulations, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any assault at an Airbnb. 

• Eye witnesses should be interviewed. 
• A police report should be created. 
• Surveillance footage of the incident should be sought. 
• An Airbnb personal injury attorney should be contacted. 

Any person that is injured while staying at an Airbnb may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, Airbnb is doing everything in their power to deny all liability when guests are injured on their property. This is why any person injured at an Airbnb should consult with a skilled personal injury attorney as soon as possible. An Airbnb personal injury attorney can examine the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are. 

Investigating Safety Incidents At California Airbnbs

We at Samer Habbas & Associates, PC extend our best wishes to all of the people who have been harmed while staying at an Airbnb. There have been so many safety incidents at Airbnbs over recent years. This company should be transparent about what is taking place and take real action to help protect their guests from physical harm. 

Have you or someone that you care about been injured while staying at an Airbnb? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of experienced Airbnb attorneys are here for you. We care deeply that victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after any incident we may be able to help. You can reach out to us anytime at 949-727-9300.