What is a liability waiver form?

Injuries happen. Protect yourself and your company from potential lawsuits by having customers or clients sign a liability waiver form.

The purpose of a liability waiver form.

A liability waiver form is a legal contract that educates one party about the risks associated with an activity. Once signed, it prevents the participant from opening a lawsuit against the company in the event of damage or loss, effectively shifting responsibility for injuries from the company to the customer.

Such forms are common for companies whose businesses include some inherent amount of risk. For example, if your company offers horseback riding lessons, it’s a good idea to have customers sign a liability waiver form before they get on a horse.

Information to include.

Liability waiver forms vary depending on the company and industry, but there are certain elements common on most forms. Here’s a list of the most important information to include in your liability waiver form:

• Caution to participants — A statement telling readers how important this document is. It’s typically at the top and highlighted, so it’s difficult to miss.
• Activity risks — Describe the risks involved in the activity or service your company provides. The more detail the better.
• Voluntary assumption of risk — A clause stating that the signer is fully aware of the risks involved and voluntarily accepts them.
• Release clause — A clear statement that says the company will not carry the burden of liability in the event of harm or loss. Arguably the most important part of the liability waiver form.

At the end, leave a space for the reader to add their signature. This shows that they’ve read and agree with the form.

To make the process easier, you can also use electronic signature software like Adobe Acrobat Sign. That way, customers can legally sign your liability waiver form remotely with the click of a button, so you don’t have to worry about printers, scanners, and filing cabinets.

Discover what more you can do with Acrobat Sign to simplify creation and authorization of legal documents for your business.