Minimizing Volunteer Liability Risk

Assuming your organization is not liable for accidents or incidents caused by a volunteer could be a costly mistake for the organization. Although volunteers are not employees, your organization could still be held liable for injuries caused by them.

There are several steps you can take to minimize your organization’s risk from lawsuits:

• Identify and assess all foreseeable risks that could cause losses for your organization.
• Develop and implement strategies to reduce or eliminate any of the identified risks.
• Establish and inform volunteers of the proper way to conduct operations performed on behalf of your organization.
• Train volunteers on safety practices that can decrease risk of injury both to and by your volunteers.
• Talk to your insurance carrier to determine whether your policy covers accidents or incidents caused by volunteers and in what circumstances. Many volunteer accident policies only cover injury to the volunteer.
• Once you understand the exclusions to your current policy, you can then determine what other compensatory coverage is available.

Removing all risk of volunteer liability is not possible, but you can help shield your organization by working with your insurance company and attorney and establishing comprehensive best practices.

By Matt Milner, Supervising Senior, mmilner@legacycpas.com

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