Is My Volunteer Time Insured?
Volunteer insurance coverage is a type of insurance that protects volunteers from liability and injury while they are performing authorized activities for an organization. Volunteer insurance coverage can vary depending on the type of organization, the nature of the volunteer work, and the state laws and regulations.
In Arizona, volunteers are generally not covered by workers’ compensation, which is a system that provides benefits to employees who are injured or become ill as a result of their work. This means that volunteers may not receive medical care, wage replacement, or disability benefits if they are hurt while volunteering1. However, some organizations may choose to purchase workers’ compensation coverage for their volunteers as an optional endorsement to their policy.
Alternatively, some organizations may provide other types of insurance for their volunteers, such as general liability, accident medical, or auto liability. General liability insurance covers claims of bodily injury or property damage caused by the volunteer’s negligence. Accident medical insurance pays for the medical expenses of the volunteer if they are injured while volunteering, regardless of fault. Auto liability insurance covers the volunteer’s legal liability for bodily injury or property damage caused by an auto accident while using their own vehicle for volunteer purposes.
The type and amount of insurance coverage for volunteers may depend on several factors, such as the risk level of the volunteer activity, the availability and cost of insurance, and the organization’s budget and resources. Some organizations may require volunteers to sign a waiver or release form before they start volunteering, which may limit or waive the volunteer’s right to sue the organization for negligence or damages. However, waivers and releases may not be enforceable in some situations, such as when the organization acts with gross negligence or intentional misconduct.
Therefore, it is important for both volunteers and organizations to understand their rights and responsibilities when it comes to volunteer insurance coverage in Arizona. Volunteers should ask the organization about their insurance policies and procedures before they agree to volunteer. Organizations should review their insurance needs and options with a qualified agent or broker and consult with a legal advisor if they have any questions or concerns.
If you volunteer for a non-profit in your professional capacity, will you be covered for professional liability? Does the organization that you sit on their board have Directors and Officers liability insurance to protect you and other members for their services? What policy are you expecting to protect you or are you prepared to personally cover the expense to defend or pay damages should a circumstance get to that point. Contact us to discuss the exposure that may be present.
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Consumer Article:
“Do You Volunteer Your Time AND Insurance?”
Abstract: Millions of Americans donate time—their most valuable asset—to serve as a volunteer board member
on non-profits, booster clubs, churches, PTAs and civic organizations, just to name a few. If you’re sued as a
volunteer, will your personal insurance cover you?
Millions of Americans donate time—their most valuable asset—to serve as a volunteer board member on nonprofits, booster clubs, churches, PTAs and civic organizations, just to name a few. The decisions these folks make can have a dramatic impact on their respective organization—and not always for the better. If a volunteer endeavor goes bad, would a volunteer board member have coverage against a lawsuit under his or her homeowner’s policy?
Homeowners’ Insurance
The last thing volunteers want to consider is what would happen if their favored organization file suit against them
as a result of their efforts. But it happens, and not infrequently. This does happen, especially when volunteers
make decisions that directly influence the finances of an organization. Often, the only insurance these volunteers
have to back their efforts is a homeowner’s policy. Unfortunately, this policy may be of little assistance.
The reason homeowners’ policies do not usually cover liability stemming from actions as a volunteer is the nature
of the claim. The policy is designed to cover claims of “bodily injury,” such as someone slipping on cracked
pavement in your driveway; and/or “property damage,” such as accidentally setting your neighbor’s house ablaze
when burning some brush on a windy day.
Claims against board members do not usually involve bodily injury or property damage. Rather, they involve bad
decision making that results in financial loss to the organization, such as the decision to invest in an IT system
that turns out to be a debacle, costing the organization tremendous time and money.
Professional Services
There is another problem. Homeowners policies do not cover “professional services.” This is important to note,
because board members are often asked to serve in a capacity consistent with their profession. For example, a
church member who is a CPA may be asked to serve on the church’s board as finance chairman. Even though he
is not paid for his services, the “professional services” exclusion under his homeowner’s policy would still apply.
In addition to the above, homeowners policies do not cover claims of personal injury unless this coverage is
specifically added. Personal injury insurance is added to the homeowner’s policy to cover claims such as libel,
slander, wrongful eviction, and false advertising.
What to Do
Events causing claims are unpredictable. While the reasons shown above prove it’s unlikely, not all claims against
volunteer board members are excluded by a homeowners policy. Decisions to purchase personal injury coverage
and a personal umbrella policy will increase your ability to find coverage for a suit against you.
The best method for insuring the actions of board members is for the organization to purchase a directors and
officers (D&O) liability policy. These policies are relatively inexpensive for most non-profits. Before volunteering,
request information on the organization’s D&O policy. The absence of this insurance leaves you at risk of having
no personal insurance to defend a suit brought against you by the organization and should influence your decision
to serve.
Please call our office to determine if your volunteer activities are covered and if your insurance limits should be
increased.
Call Today: (480) 348-2200 GET A QUOTE
For guidelines on reprinting this article, go to http://www.iiaba.net/VU/Lib/ArticleReprints.htm.
NOTE: Policy coverages and circumstances can change at any time, so the information above may not be
accurate at the time of reprinting or subsequently to that time. IIABA does not assume and has no responsibility
for liability or damage which may result from the use of any of this information. The most current, up to date
version of this article can be found at IIABA’s Virtual University at http://www.iiaba.net/VU.