assumption of risk legal definition

noun

1. In contract law, the act or agreement to take on a risk of damage, injury, or loss, often stated as the risk “passes” to the purchaser upon the occurrence of a certain event, e.g., shipment of goods.
2. In contract law, an employeeÂ’s express agreement to undertake the risks that normally accompany or arise from that occupation.
3. In tort law, that a plaintiff voluntarily accepted or exposed himself to a risk of damage, injury, or loss, after appreciating that the condition or situation was clearly dangerous, and nonetheless made the decision to act; in such cases, the defendant may raise the plaintiffÂ’s knowledge and appreciation of the danger as an affirmative defense. Successful invocation of assumption of risk as an affirmative defense will result in a reduction or elimination of damages assessed against the defendant. This defense has been strictly limited in many states, and is unavailable in certain types of actions, e.g., product liability cases. See also negligence.