Many people have probably lost count of all the waivers of liability they have signed in the past. Waivers can be a prerequisite for joining a gym, signing up your child to play soccer, and many other things. Even though, in most cases, nothing comes of the waiver, it's important to understand the meaning when an accident does occur.
What a Waiver Means
If you were to read a waiver, and few do, it mainly states that the provider of a service cannot be held financially responsible for accidents that occur. For a waiver to be enforceable, though, it must be legal and that usually means:
Doing Your Due Diligence
The main thing a wavier should mean to you, however, is that it might indicate a history of problems with the party requesting your agreement. Ask questions about the waivers and find out why the waiver is being presented to you.
You don't have to sign a waiver right away, however, some places do put pressure on people to take action quickly or miss out on something. If you have time to have a lawyer look over the waiver before you sign it, do so.
Do some research before you join or sign up for something. Read reviews and see if you can inspect the facility. Ask about supervision issues, particularly if you are signing up your child for something.
Are Waivers Legal?
If you or a loved one is hurt or loses their life after signing a waiver, don't just assume you have no case. Not all waivers hold up in court. For example, a waiver cannot absolve a party of all responsibility. For example, if a gym fails to maintain its equipment and an injury occurs, the waiver likely means nothing. The gym still must do its part to make things safe for patrons.
When you or your child has been hurt, you may have a course of legal action regardless of any waiver you might have signed. Speak to a personal injury lawyer to find out more.
Hello, I'm Phillip Kerr and I just love the legal profession and courtroom drama. Have you ever watched judge shows on TV? I know that these shows are not an accurate representation of the courtroom, but there is something you may have noticed. Some individuals come into the courtroom well-dressed, articulate, respectful and with the knowledge and documents necessary to support a case, while others come unprepared, slovenly dressed and appear as if they do not have a care in the world. How you present yourself and the knowledge that you have of the law will have an impact on how you are treated, even if you have legal representation. This blog is designed to assist those who are going to trial in doing just that.