New German Law to Ease Liability for Volunteer Work
On 13th November 2024, the German government passed a new law entitled “20/13749: Draft Law on Liability Relief for Voluntary Association Activities (PDF)”. This law aims to make it easier for volunteers to engage in charitable work by reducing their personal liability for any damages or accidents that may occur during their activities.
Key Provisions of the Law
The new law introduces the following key provisions to provide liability relief for volunteers:
- Limitation of liability: Volunteers will only be liable for damages if they have acted intentionally or with gross negligence. Negligence alone will not trigger liability.
- Exclusion of liability for minor negligence: Volunteers will not be held liable for damages caused by minor negligence.
- Presumption of non-negligence: In the event of an accident or damage, volunteers will benefit from a presumption that they have not acted negligently.
- Contributory negligence of the injured party: If the injured party has contributed to the damage or accident through their own negligence, the volunteer’s liability may be reduced or eliminated.
- Insurance coverage: The law encourages associations to provide liability insurance for their volunteers. However, it does not make such insurance mandatory.
Benefits of the Law
This new law is expected to provide the following benefits for volunteers and voluntary associations:
- Increased protection: Volunteers will have greater peace of mind knowing that they are not personally liable for minor negligence or accidents that may occur during their activities.
- Encouragement of volunteerism: The law aims to encourage more people to engage in volunteer work by reducing the fear of personal liability.
- Strengthening of associations: Voluntary associations will be strengthened as they can rely on a larger pool of volunteers who are willing to contribute their time and efforts without the fear of excessive liability.
Conclusion
The new German law on liability relief for voluntary association activities is a positive step towards supporting and encouraging volunteerism. By reducing the personal liability of volunteers for damages or accidents, the law makes it easier for people to give back to their communities through charitable work. The law is expected to have a significant impact on the voluntary sector in Germany, enabling associations to expand their activities and reach more people in need.
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Drucksachen a new article on 2024-11-13 11:00 titled “20/13749: Gesetzentwurf Entwurf eines Gesetzes über haftungsrechtliche Erleichterungen für ehrenamtliche Vereinstätigkeit (PDF)”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
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