Shop wavier or release of liability

Any of you guys that run custom shops have your customers sign a release of liability when working on their vehicles? I'm starting a small shop and would just like to know the legal side and what forms need to be used. Thanks

My lawyer is writing mine, it should be done next week. It cost about $250 but well worth it! If your planning on running a shop its best for everyone.  www.nsanehotrodz.com

someone can't sign away their right aganist your negligence. if the 4-link you installed comes apart at 70 mph and the truck crashes, you're liable. it's always best to get a contract of work intended, price and payment terms, and a litigation statement(saying winning party has the right to/not sue for attornies fees) signed by both parties involved. you could maybe get someoen to sign away the liability of you scratching their ride in your shop but i doubt anyone's going to do it. regardless of what is signed, contracts can be overturned.

--------------------------------------------- Originally posted by Layumon22s if the 4-link you installed comes apart at 70 mph and the truck crashes, you're liable.  ---------------------------------------------  Not if that someone was a dumbass and was just out doing donuts in the parking lot the night before or other acts of negligence to their own vehicle...   I totally agree with you though, there isn't much room for a contract on stuff like that but i would still have a contract for each customer to sign. I have one for when i do vehicle wraps, it keeps me clear when they come back and part of it is peeling off... yes, that would be my fault if they hadn't been going through the car wash for the last couple of weeks cause they were to lazy to wash it by hand like i instructed them too. So there is a place for a contract in any shop, but don't think that's your get away free card when someone comes back complaining that you put their life in jeopardy... 

If I was a custom suspension shop, I would make it clear all fabrication is meant for off road/show use only.  Have a lawyer draw up a nice document to have each client sign.  You can cover your ass to the biggest extent.  But as Dougy touched on, its not always the end all be all get off the hook free card.  To add to that, I would have some serious insurance as well if I was a fabricator.  If you ever do get sued, and someone wins if your part failed and hurt/killed them you could be out 10's of thousands and more.  Imagine a control arm braking at 70mph, a lot could happen.  I would be covering my ass.       

If you are not 100% sure of your ability as a fabricator or whatever your doing, you should probably think about a different line of work! Just a thought.

110% sure on my work. There are just so many factors to consider that are out of the fabricators hand when the end user gets turned loose with their new toy.

Be sure it says everthing is for off road use only.  It is the only way.  Nothing to do with work quality. If you are making a suspension adjustable, and someone adjusts it wrong at the wrong time ,or is just a bad driver you need it clear nothing you do is to be used on the street. That is how the shop I used to work for had it worded, and it printed out on the bottom of every reciept. You do not want to be liable for another companys parts either.

we have our customers sign one when there has been other work done to the vehicle that we did not perform. It always seems to be the last person who work on it that is liableeven if the previous work is less than desirable.

1st step: Form an LLC, INC, etc so you seperate yourself from the business.  That way the business is liable, not you personally.2nd step: Get a legitimate insurance policy3rd step: Create a 'release'.