{"id":5098,"date":"2016-04-04T11:47:54","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/liability-and-insurance\/if-a-business-has-a-release-form-does-that-mean-it-can-never-be.html"},"modified":"2024-05-23T03:22:41","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T08:22:41","slug":"if-a-business-has-a-release-form-does-that-mean-it-can-never-be","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/liability-and-insurance\/if-a-business-has-a-release-form-does-that-mean-it-can-never-be.html","title":{"rendered":"If a Business Has a Release Form, Does that Mean It Can Never Be Sued?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If a Business Has a Release Form, Does That Mean It Can Never Be Sued?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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If you’ve ever done something wild and crazy, like bungee jumping, skydiving, or breaking the world hot dog-eating record, you probably had to sign a release form. You may have signed without looking at it, not thinking about who and what you were releasing them from. These documents may protect businesses from liability for property damage, personal injury, and wrongful death.<\/p>\r\n

Small businesses, independent contractors, and many others use general release forms to protect themselves from legal action if anything happens at their locations. High-risk activities like skydiving have more specific liability releases. If you operate a potentially risky or costly business, your business insurance may require a release or waiver.<\/p>\r\n

Some Definitions<\/h2>\r\n

Small business owners should know the legal vocabulary necessary to understand business release forms:<\/p>\r\n