Injured while Volunteering for a Charity Lawsuit Attorney

Working for a charity is a fulfilling activity for many people who wish to help others in need. There are many activities that fall under the category of volunteer work, from clean up events by environmental organizations and fundraisers for schools and law enforcement agencies. If you’re religious, you may want to work with a church charity or Jewish community center.

Non-profit organizations have hired employees, but volunteers make up a large portion of their workforce. These people donate their time and energy, which allows the charity to focus most of their money on the people and causes they care about. Those who volunteer are called on to perform a wide variety of tasks, like taking care of animals, setting up soup kitchens, and building homes after a natural disaster. Unfortunately, poor planning, inexperience, and lack of supervision can result in an accident during a charity event.

As someone that suffered an accident injury while volunteering, you may be wondering about your right to sue while working for a charity or non-profit for free.

The definition of “work” takes on a different meaning when you are volunteering, as you are not receiving a salary or hourly wage. As a result, you may not qualify for medical expenses and lost wages though a workers’ compensation claim. In that case, how can you seek payment if you were injured due to negligence by an organization you were volunteering for?

Our law firm is available 24/7 if you need a lawyer that can help you file an accident claim against a non-profit organization. Simply give us a call at your earliest convenience to schedule a free case evaluation.

A lot of groups call themselves a “charity,” but these organizations have to meet certain guidelines in order to be classified as a charity under federal and California laws. It’s important to understand these rules, as there are specific steps you must take when you are seeking monetary damages from a non-profit.

To give you a general sense of the eligibility requirements, here are the key factors that define what it means to be a charity:

• The purpose of the organization must fall within a non-profit category, such as collecting donations, conducting important research, or providing educational opportunities.   
• A non-profit cannot serve private interests, like an individual’s political or financial interests.
• The organization cannot engage in lobbying or other political activities in order to influence lawmakers.
• Funding for the charity must come from public funds, like donations and grants.
• The organization must have bylaws that comply with state and federal policies for the governance of non-profit entities.

Another key factor with charities is that they are tax-exempt and registered as such with the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). As a result, they should have annual reports and financial statements that are filed with the IRS in order to retain their tax-exempt status. They must also be organized as a trust, association, or some other type of “entity.”

Yes, you can file a lawsuit for injuries while volunteering if the cause of injury is due to negligence or misconduct by the charitable organization. For example, if the charity failed to provide you with adequate tools or protective equipment, that may be grounds for a negligence-based injury claim. But there are many other examples of negligent behaviors that can lead to an accident, so it’s important to discuss your incident with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible.

Though we use the word “lawsuit” for simplicity, most of these cases are settled through accident claims, which are filed with the non-profit’s insurance company. Of course, if the charity does not have coverage through an insurance provider, filing a lawsuit may be the only option.

Compensation from a charity volunteer injury case is largely based on your physical injuries. However, you may also be entitled to the following payments:

• Damage to your personal belongings
• Mental anguish / emotional distress
• Damage to your professional and/or personal reputation

It all depends on the charity you are working for, as each organization has the option to provide or not provide workers’ compensation coverage. Thus, you will need to check in with the administrators at the organization to see if you can file for workers’ comp benefits. Even without workers’ compensation, most non-profits have some form of insurance coverage that compensates volunteers in the event of an injury.

If none of these options are available, you can file a lawsuit against the organization through the appropriate court system. An accident injury lawyer can help you explore your rights and legal options if you were injured while volunteering for a non-profit organization.

Staying quiet and not making a fuss may seem like the right thing to do after an accident. However, not reporting your injuries can invalidate your right to an accident claim. Even if the organization offers workers’ compensation, you cannot receive these benefits unless you report the incident right away.

To protect your right to monetary damages, stop whatever you are doing and get yourself to a safe place if you are in a dangerous area, like a construction site. Next, talk to whoever is in charge to ensure that the incident is documented. Ideally, there should be an incident report that is filled out and sent over to the insurance company, which you should ask for a copy of before leaving the scene.

Aside from reporting the accident, make sure to seek medical attention within 24 hours. We know how inconvenient this may be, but it’s the best way to document your injuries and ensure that you have proof of the harm you’ve suffered. This is required for any type of insurance claims or lawsuit, so please see a doctor right away. In the event of a severe or life-threatening injury, go to the ER (or call for an ambulance) first, then contact the charity to tell them about your accident.

Along with your medical records, there are many other forms of evidence you’ll need for a volunteering accident injury claim. If at all possible, take photos of your injuries, obtain contact information from witnesses, and set aside any paperwork that shows how the accident has impacted your life. Pay stubs, for example, are helpful in showing missed work days and wages as a result of your recovery needs.

Finally, contact a lawyer with experience in personal injury lawsuits against charities and non-profits. Our attorneys will provide you with a free case review and help you determine the best way to move forward.

Some accidents are unavoidable, but others are caused by another party’s careless or reckless conduct. As a victim of negligence, you have the right to monetary compensation under California law. But lawsuits against charities are very complicated, especially if you are suing as someone that readily volunteered your services.

Our lawyers are here to fight for you and the compensation you deserve. We can help you initiate an accident claim if you were recently injured. If, on the other hand, you need a second opinion on an existing claim, we can help you with that as well. If you choose our law firm to handle your case, you will never pay out of pocket under the Zero Fee Guarantee. We work on contingency and wait to recover payment at the end of your case. Winning your case is the only way we get paid, so there is no risk to your finances if you don’t receive compensation from a personal injury claim.

For a free consultation or free second opinion from an accident injury attorney, contact us as soon as possible.