Adventure centre insurance

bladespin

Hi guys, I hope this is the right place to ask this:

It seems everyday now I'm reading about outdoor (and indoor) activity centres closing due to colossal insurance costs. It seems such a shame as I see my children's access to a wide spectrum of activities funneling down all the time, when I was growing up H&S wasn't a thing and we turned out pretty ok as far as I can see.
I don't want to start another thread about claims cultures etc etc. But I'm wondering why we can't have a system of 'accepted risk' for these places, where you sign a waiver stating that you understand there are risks involved but accept that and want to participate, probably not possible here but it's a curiosity that's bugged me for some time as I've seen this done elsewhere for all sorts of sports/activities.

Why is there no waiver option here?

FishOnABike

Most places, certainly the more adventure type places, do have a discalimer that people sign acknowledging it is a risk acvitity but if something happens and it ends up in court a discalimer usually isn't worth the paper it's written on.



Smaller claims are frequently uncontested and settled out of court as a payout can often be less than the cost of defending against (even a somewhat dubious) claim.


Larger claims have proportionaly larger legal costs so even if there is proportional fault any reduction in an award has to be weighed up against the increased legal costs.


For insurers it's just a matter of the bottom line, not right or wrong.

bladespin

FishOnABike wrote: »

Most places, certainly the more adventure type places, do have a discalimer that people sign acknowledging it is a risk acvitity but if something happens and it ends up in court a discalimer usually isn't worth the paper it's written on.

That's essentially what I'm wondering, why not?

I've heard the same thing about a work contract I signed years back restricting me from working in the same field if I left (didn't come to anything either way thankfully).

I take it these agreements not recognized as contracts, and if so what would it take to get them recognized?

*Not trying to change the world here or anything but...