Our world is full of many “new norms” as we continue to combat the spread of COVID-19. One of these norms is the rapid increase in liability waivers nearly everywhere you go. Whether you’re heading to your neighborhood pool, local gym, or even workplace, you’ve likely encountered new contracts waiving any liability from the establishment you’re visiting. Although the main purpose of these waivers is to protect businesses if a situation arises in which a customer or visitor contracts COVID-19, they could potentially imply that you lose rights once you sign on the dotted line. 

Poirier Law Firm’s Julie Poirier was recently interviewed about this issue and urges individuals to be cautious about what they are signing. Many of these liability waivers are short and concise which can allow them to initially appear straight-forward, however, you must take it upon yourself to ensure that you are not agreeing to anything that could potentially put you at risk. If you are faced with the requirement to sign a liability waiver before entering a business or your place of employment, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself: 

• Thoroughly read through the document. Never sign a contract that you have not read in its entirety.
• Ask for clarification if you are confused about any of the contents of the waiver.
• In most circumstances, if you are unsure about signing a waiver, do not sign. If you have to sign, consult with an attorney before doing so. 

You may be wondering what options you have if you have already signed a liability waiver that is now putting you in harm’s way. Oftentimes, these waivers are written in a way that allows attorneys to argue different interpretations of their contents. This allows many waivers to be successfully disputed in court. If you are concerned about how you could be impacted by the sudden surge of required liability waivers, or are wanting to dispute a waiver you have already signed, contact Poirier Law Firm today. Is it all of our responsibility to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and you should not feel as though you are exposed to unsafe circumstances by being required to sign your rights away.