Exculpatory agreements, commonly referred to as waivers or releases, are documents that protect businesses and individuals from claims arising from negligence. Businesses with unique liability exposures often find they cannot operate profitably without the protection afforded by these agreements.

Real Life Claims: A caregiver suffered a severely fractured wrist after rushing to the aid of a seizing, developmentally disabled teen wearing a bicycle helmet. As the women attempted to support the victim’s head, her wrist was slammed violently into the pavement.

In the News: Two football players were working out at a local fitness center where they were both members. They were both experienced weightlifters and had performed the lifts using the same weights numerous times before.

In the News: A routine check on a respected youth leader’s work computer revealed a hidden cache of child pornography. This material included hundreds of videos and pictures of underage boys engaging in illicit behavior.

Resistance Band Injuries: An individual at a fitness facility was working out with a resistance band when the band broke and struck him in the face, severely injuring his right eye. Luckily the main impact from the band hit him above the eye and not directly on the eye or he most likely would have lost his eye.

MRSA in the News: Employees at a fitness center began reporting a high frequency of severe infections over a period of two weeks. The managers of the facility started investigating these infections and discovered that several members of the fitness center had also contracted severe infections.

Real Life Claims: A 2-year-old boy was brought to a family practice office by his mother for a follow-up visit. In the emergency department, the child received treatment for a friction burn to his right hand after he got it stuck in a moving home treadmill.

Stability balls are quickly becoming one of the most common and widely used pieces of fitness equipment in homes and fitness centers today. They are inexpensive and versatile.

Real Life Climbing Wall Injuries: A camper suffered serious injuries after falling 30 feet from a climbing wall. The camper was using safety equipment including harnesses and a helmet. There was also adequate padding on the ground.

Children Filmed by Pinhole Camera in a Locker Room: While inspecting a high school locker room an employee made a startling discovery, a pinhole camera was stationed in one of the lockers and was positioned to catch students undressing and showering. An investigation determined a 17-year-old student placed the camera there and at least one student under the age of 18 was recorded.