What is meant by assumption of risk?
Assumption of risk in sports means that, as an athlete, you accept the risks inherent in your activity. If you play hockey, ski or in-line skate, the risk of accident and injury is greater than if you play bridge or practice yoga! The principle of assumption of risk can be explained as follows: as an athlete, you accept the usual, ordinary and normally foreseeable dangers connected to an activity. Essentially, this means that your choices are your own responsibility, and as such, you cannot blame or sue anyone if one of these risks becomes a reality. For example, if you fall while skiing and break your arm and leg, you will have difficulty holding the ski resort responsible for your injuries, unless the resort committed a fault. In court, judges have often addressed the principle of assumption of risk in civil liability cases. In fact, it has often been invoked as a defence by the party sued. In certain cases the victims claim is defeated or reduced. Remember that the defence of assump
