Terms of Use
The short version. Accident Victim Assistance is a nonprofit. We provide information, referrals, and grants to families affected by serious accidents. We are not a law firm and using this site does not create an attorney–client relationship. Any legal advice comes from an independent attorney you separately retain.
1. Who these terms apply to
These terms apply to anyone who uses avahelp.org, truck.avahelp.org, or submits any form to us. If you do not agree with them, please do not use the site.
2. What we do — and what we do not do
Accident Victim Assistance provides:
- Emotional support and outreach after a serious accident
- Funeral-expense and living-expense grants when funds are available
- Referrals to independent attorneys, mental-health providers, and other resources
- Educational information about the recovery process
We do not:
- Provide legal advice or representation. We refer to independent attorneys — your relationship, fee arrangement, and any advice are between you and that attorney.
- Provide medical advice. Talk to a licensed clinician for medical decisions.
- Guarantee a specific outcome in any case, claim, or grant application.
3. Applying for help
By submitting an application, you confirm that:
- The information you provide is truthful to the best of your knowledge
- You are the person listed, or the authorized representative of that person
- You consent to be contacted by our team about your request
- You understand that grants are made from limited donor funds and are not guaranteed
4. Referrals to attorneys
Any attorney to whom we refer you is an independent professional, not our employee or agent. AVA does not receive referral fees, kickbacks, or contingent compensation from any attorney. You are free to accept, decline, or replace any referral at any time.
5. Content and intellectual property
All content on avahelp.org — text, images, logos, videos, and code — is owned by or licensed to Accident Victim Assistance and protected by copyright. You may share our public content for personal, non-commercial purposes with attribution. You may not scrape, republish in bulk, or use our content for advertising.
6. Prohibited use
You agree not to:
- Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information
- Submit information about another person without their consent
- Attempt to bypass, disrupt, or overload our systems
- Use our forms or contact channels to send spam or abusive content
7. Disclaimers
The site is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Information on the site is for general education and is not a substitute for professional legal, medical, or financial advice. Laws and regulations change frequently; we do our best to keep content current, but do not warrant its completeness or accuracy on any given day.
8. Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Accident Victim Assistance, its directors, staff, and volunteers are not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of use of the site or of services referred through it. Our total liability for any direct claim will not exceed one hundred dollars ($100).
9. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the District of Columbia, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Any dispute must be brought in the courts of the District of Columbia.
10. Changes
We may update these terms from time to time. Material changes will be posted here with a new "Effective" date.
11. Contact
Questions about these terms? Write to help@avahelp.org or call (888) 996-8814 or (202) 440-5214.