What You Should Know About The Florida Good Samaritan Act
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
Lets say your driving down the highway and you see that someone's car is in a ditch. You stop nearby and rush to the scene. Once there you can see the driver is unconscious and trapped in the car. Immediately you call 911, but you are worried that they may not come in time. You could try to get the driver out yourself, but your unsure whether you could get sued for doing so. What should you do? Will you be protected from legal action later on?Laws can vary from state to state. Some offer protection for those who come to someone's aid and others can be sued even when their actions have saved the victim's life. With the laws varying, it can make it hard to know what to do or what your rights are in these type of situations. In Florida, they have what is called the Florida Good Samaritan Act or Good Samaritan Laws that describe what you can legally do in this type of situation.
What Is Florida Good Samaritan Act ?
The Good Samaritan Laws gives partial protection to those that aid someone in an emergency situation from being sued for their actions. The law is mostly aimed at medical professionals that may be reluctant to save someone in an emergency settings out of fear of future legal actions against them. If you do not have medical training and attempt to save someone, you may not be protected for your actions especially if you end up injuring the victim as a result.
How Does The Florida Good Samaritan Act Protect Me?
Thanks to the Good Samaritan Laws, more lives can be saved without fear of having to deal with legal actions later on. If you see someone stuck in an emergency situation and are capable of giving aid, you won't hesitate to do so and it could be the difference between the victim dying or surviving. This also means that others are less reluctant to save your life in an emergency situation as well.
What Doesn't The Florida Good Samaritan Act Protect Me From?
However, the Good Samaritan Laws do not completely protect you. An individual who renders aid can still be found liable if the helper does not exercise due care which results in increased harm or an injury. Basically, if the assistance you provide is seen as excessive or negligent, you could be sued for your actions. If your help was considered reasonable for the situation despite not saving the victim or resulting in more harm, you may still be safe under the law.
If you don't feel confident about your ability to save someone or are unsure what to do to aid someone in an emergency situation, then stick to the side lines. If you do not have medical knowledge or have been trained for an emergency situation, your actions are much more likely to harm the victim rather than save them. It also makes it more likely that you could be sued for your actions.