Can I Sue A Hospital or Nonprofit Organization?

Yes, you absolutely can!

Just Because an Organization is a Nonprofit Doesn’t Mean It Can’t Be Sued

Nonprofit organizations own vast amounts of real estate open to the public. If they’re negligent in managing or maintaining it and someone is hurt, they may be subject to legal action that may recover compensation for those injuries. These organizations also carry insurance, so what’s obtained will probably come from the insurance company, not the organization.

What is a Nonprofit?

A nonprofit organization doesn’t operate to make a profit. It exists to benefit the public, its members, or a particular group of people or causes. Earnings could be donated to another nonprofit, used to meet beneficiaries’ needs, or invested back into the operation. Some obtain funds through donors, while members may contribute, they receive grants, sell products or services, or benefit from related businesses, according to Forbes Advisor.

There are dozens of nonprofit categories under federal tax law. The most used are charitable organizations, religious or church organizations, private foundations, and political organizations.

Why Might a Non-Profit be Sued in a Personal Injury Matter?

A non-profit may own vehicles, and its employees or volunteers may drive them, which opens up possible liability for vehicle accidents. If they don’t properly maintain these vehicles or a negligent employee causes an accident and injuries, the organization may be subject to an insurance claim or lawsuit so the victim can be compensated for their injuries and losses.

These vehicles include cars, vans, buses, ambulances, and commercial trucks. A church may own a car for its pastor and a van to transport members. Organizations that rely on donated food, goods, or furniture use trucks to transport them. Schools or colleges own a wide range of vehicles. Some religious organizations own private jets if one crashes into your house.

Nonprofits are significant land and building owners in the US. Most hospitals and colleges are nonprofits, and they have campuses with all kinds of buildings that someone from the public may use. If the public or a contractor is invited in, but the organization fails to keep the property safe, it may be liable for injuries they cause.

How Much Resources Do Nonprofits Have?

Most nonprofits are small-budget operations, but some are huge. The Salt Lake Tribune reported in 2022 that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints owns about $15.8 billion worth of property, including 16,000 parcels totaling 1.7 million acres.

The church owns meetinghouses, temples, shopping centers, office towers, apartment buildings, skyscrapers, and cattle ranches. It owns 2% of Florida’s land mass, making it the state’s largest single property owner. The church owns property in at least 3,120 towns and cities in every state and the District of Columbia. The church also owns several properties in Kentucky.

ProPublica has a list of registered nonprofits in Kentucky online. These are the top five in revenue for 2022:

All this property, real estate, and buildings should be well-insured if a visitor is the victim of negligence and gets hurt.

What’s Needed for a Successful Personal Injury Claim Against a Nonprofit?

Cases are built on evidence, whether a church van hits your car or you slip and fall in a hospital parking lot. Depending on the circumstances, that can be photos and videos of the area of the accident, reporting the accident to the organization or police, and seeking medical help as soon as possible to document your injuries. It also involves not discussing what happened and how you were hurt on social media.

You would have the burden of showing the organization was negligent in some way, that caused your injuries, and you suffered physically, emotionally, and financially. That involves proving the nonprofit owed you a duty or obligation to act reasonably given the circumstances, and they failed. The nonprofit’s insurance carrier would pay for their legal defense, a settlement, or a jury verdict if your case can’t be resolved.

Get the Help You Need from an Attorney You Can Trust

If you or a family member are injured or killed in an accident involving a nonprofit organization, we can help. Call the Fleck Firm at (270) 446-7000 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. We’ll discuss what happened, your injuries, how Kentucky law may apply, and your best options. Insurance companies have lawyers. You should have one, too.