§ 20-19-1 — Legislative purposes

The West Virginia Legislature finds that motorsport activities are engaged in by a large number of citizens of West Virginia and that such activities also attract to West Virginia a large number of nonresidents, significantly contributing to the economy of West Virginia. Since it is recognized that there are inherent risks in motorsport activities which should be understood by participants therein and which are essentially impossible for the operators of motorsport businesses to eliminate, it is the purpose of this article to define those areas of responsibility and those affirmative acts for which the operators of motorsport businesses shall be liable for loss, damage, or injury suffered by participants, and to further define those risks which the participants expressly assume and for which there can be no recovery. It is the intent of the Legislature to expand the liability protections afforded with respect to motorsports and to not eliminate any other liability protections that may be available under statutory or common law.

Legislative History

2024 Reg. Sess., SB774; 2023 Reg. Sess., HB2569