---
title: O.C.G.A. § 51-16-4. Rebuttable presumption of assumption of risk relating to healthcare facilities or premises of healthcare providers.
collection: code
id: 51-16-4
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 51-16-4 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-16-4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-16-4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-16-4/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t51-(v39)-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=90608a4d_0#page=123
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-16.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-16-3.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: TORTS / COVID-19 PANDEMIC BUSINESS SAFETY
---

# O.C.G.A. § 51-16-4. Rebuttable presumption of assumption of risk relating to healthcare facilities or premises of healthcare providers.

(a) Except for gross negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, reckless infliction of harm, or intentional infliction of harm, in an action involving a COVID-19 liability claim for transmission, infection, exposure, or potential exposure of COVID-19 to a claimant at any healthcare facility or on the premises of any healthcare provider, resulting in injury to or death of a claimant there shall be a rebuttable presumption of assumption of the risk by the claimant.

(b) The provisions in this Code section shall not be construed so as to limit or restrict the immunities from liability provided in Code Section 51-16-2.

## History

Code 1981, § 51-16-4, enacted by Ga. L. 2020, p. 798, § 3/SB 359; Ga. L. 2024, p. 198, § 2/SB 430, effective July 1, 2024.

## Law Reviews

For article with annual survey on torts, see 73 Mercer L. Rev. 243 (2021).

## Amendments

The 2024 amendment, effective July 1, 2024, deleted “when a healthcare facility or a healthcare provider has posted at a point of entry, if present, to the premises, a sign in at least one-inch Arial font placed apart from any other text, a written warning stating the following:

“‘Warning

“Under Georgia law, there is no liability for an injury or death of an individual entering these premises if such injury or death results from the inherent risks of contracting COVID-19. You are assuming this risk by entering these premises.’” from the end of subsection (a); and deleted “; further failure to participate as provided in subsection (a) of this Code section shall in no way limit or restrict the immunities from liability provided in Code Section 51-16-2 nor shall such failure to participate be admissible” from the end of subsection (b).