The DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance) is the umbrella association of the accident insurance institutions for the industrial and public sectors (the BGs and the public-sector accident insurers respectively). It assumes responsibility for the common interests of its member institutions and promotes their functions in the interests of both member companies and insured individuals. The DGUV represents the statutory accident insurance institutions in their dealings with policymakers, regional, national, European and international institutions, and employers' and employees' representative bodies.

The institutions of the DGUV, as an registered association, are the Members' Meeting and the Governing Committee. Employers' and employees' bodies enjoy equal representation within both of these institutions, as they do within the autonomous administration of the individual accident insurance institutions. The Members' Meeting, the "parliament" of the DGUV, meets at least once a year to discuss essential issues and rule upon them. The Governing Committee is elected by the Members' Meeting. It conducts the DGUV's business and elects the Managing Director.

The DGUV is located in Berlin and maintains offices in Sankt Augustin (near Bonn) and Munich.