Reducing Volunteer Liability in Mobility Assistance

A volunteer helps an older adult step out of a vehicle. The curb is uneven, and the client loses balance. In seconds, a routine interaction becomes an injury and a potential claim.

Nonprofits that rely on volunteers for hands-on support must address a critical question: What risks do volunteers face when assisting vulnerable individuals, and how can organizations reduce liability?

Organizations that provide physical assistance often underestimate how quickly these situations create exposure. When volunteers help with mobility, the risk of injury rises, and so does volunteer liability.

What Risks Arise When Volunteers Assist With Mobility and Accessibility?

Volunteers often assist with:

• Walking support or arm assistance
• Wheelchair transfers
• Entering or exiting vehicles
• Navigating stairs, ramps, or uneven surfaces

Each scenario introduces real risk. According to VIS risk-management guidance, falls represent the most common type of accident involving volunteers. A simple misstep, a cluttered walkway, or poor lighting conditions can lead to injury.

Other common exposures include:

• Miscommunication: A client feels rushed or unsafe, leading to sudden movement or imbalance.
• Improper lifting techniques: Volunteers strain themselves or lose control during a transfer.
• Hazards in the environment: Loose rugs, uneven sidewalks, or tight spaces lead to injuries.

Even well-meaning actions can result in injury claims, such as a client falling from a wheelchair due to excessive speed or a lack of communication. These incidents often lead to allegations of negligence.

How Does Volunteer Liability Apply in These Situations?

Liability arises when a volunteer’s actions cause injury or damage. Negligence means someone failed to act safely or appropriately when they should have.

That can include:

• Not following proper lifting procedures
• Failing to communicate clearly with a client
• Taking on tasks outside assigned responsibilities

Volunteer insurance protects volunteers and organizations in the event of accidents or allegations. Coverage such as volunteer accident and volunteer liability insurance helps address medical costs, legal defense, and claims that could otherwise strain organizational resources. Providing separate insurance protection for volunteers helps ensure that claims involving volunteers do not erode the liability limits your organization relies on to protect its operations and staff.

Good intentions do not prevent claims. Even false accusations require legal defense, which can place financial and operational strain on the organization.

What Steps Can Organizations Take To Reduce Risk?

Strong risk management starts with preparation. Every task should begin with one key question: What could go wrong?

Organizations can reduce exposure by taking these steps:

• Train volunteers thoroughly. Teach safe lifting techniques, communication skills, and mobility assistance protocols.
• Match tasks to capabilities. Assign volunteers based on physical ability and experience.
• Inspect environments. Remove fall hazards such as clutter, poor lighting, or uneven surfaces.
• Set clear procedures. Define how volunteers assist with wheelchairs, vehicles, and walking support.
• Provide supervision. Have staff or experienced volunteers oversee higher-risk interactions.
• Enforce boundaries. Prevent volunteers from taking on tasks outside their roles without approval.

Training volunteers to communicate with those in their care is critical, especially when clients may feel anxious or physically vulnerable.

Why Is Volunteer Liability Insurance Critical for These Risks?

Even the best training cannot eliminate every risk. Insurance fills that gap.

Many organizations assume their general liability policy will cover volunteer-related incidents. Shared limits can create gaps and the potential for an underinsured claim and significant out-of-pocket loss for the organization. If a serious claim occurs, legal costs and settlements may reduce the protection available for the organization itself.

Dedicated volunteer liability insurance provides:

• Coverage for legal defense and settlements
• Protection for volunteers acting on behalf of the organization
• Separation from the organization’s own liability limits

Volunteers should be protected under a separate policy so that a volunteer-related claim does not reduce the liability coverage your organization relies on. The policy offered by VIS is only $2.15 per volunteer per year. (VIS also offers excess automobile liability insurance for volunteers who use their personal vehicles on assignment, at $7.75 per volunteer.) 

Protecting Volunteers and the People They Serve

Mobility assistance allows organizations to deliver meaningful support to vulnerable populations. It also introduces risks that require attention.

A strong approach combines:

• Structured training
• Clear procedures
• Active supervision
• Proper insurance coverage

VIS members enjoy 24/7 access to the VIS Vault, a collection of risk-management resources, including detailed guidance on training and safety protocols. For details about the specialized volunteer insurance VIS offers, click the “VIS is…” tab at the top of the page and scroll down to the FAQ section.

FAQ on Volunteer Assistance Risks

What risks do volunteers face when assisting vulnerable individuals?

Volunteers face risks such as falls, miscommunication during assistance, improper lifting injuries, and allegations of negligence or misconduct.

Does general liability insurance cover volunteer actions?

It may provide limited coverage, but sharing limits with volunteers reduces protection for the organization itself. Separate volunteer liability coverage helps protect both the organization and its volunteers.

How can nonprofits reduce liability when volunteers assist clients?

Provide training, match tasks to volunteer capabilities, inspect environments for hazards, implement clear procedures, and maintain supervision.

About the Author

William R. Henry, Jr. is Vice President and Director of Member Benefits at Volunteers Insurance Service Association, Inc. (VIS), where he leads membership development and delivers risk management solutions tailored to volunteer-based organizations nationwide. A recognized authority on volunteer risk management, he is a frequent speaker and author on best practices for safe and effective volunteer engagement. He is accredited by the International Association of Business Communicators. With a background in communications, journalism, and public affairs, Henry brings a strategic perspective to supporting nonprofit organizations across the United States.

About VIS

Volunteers Insurance Service Association, Inc. (VIS) is a membership organization serving more than 3,500 volunteer-based nonprofit organizations and public entities nationwide. VIS is the only association that offers these three insurance programs designed specifically for volunteers: volunteer accident, volunteer liability, and volunteer excess automobile liability.

If you are interested in protecting your volunteers through the unique VIS insurance program, please click on the “Get volunteer insurance now” link on the home page, or call 800.222.8920. For more information on VIS’s risk-management resources for members and our vendor partners, click on the “Member Benefits” tab.