Florida’s Good Samaritan Law makes it possible for those who happen upon an accident to render aid to victims without fear of facing lawsuits if they accidentally cause further harm to the victim. The law also protects medical personnel.
Following Florida’s Good Samaritan Law After Accidents
After being a part of a car accident, you should first see to your safety and the safety of others in your vehicle. Check yourself and other occupants in your vehicle for injuries. If able, you should also check the occupants of other cars involved for injuries. If anyone is hurt, you should call 911 and get help on the way.
In some cases, victims may need emergency assistance before a qualified emergency responder can arrive. You may wonder if it’s a good idea to take action and fear legal reprisal if you were to accidentally injure someone further.
Florida’s Good Samaritan Law offers protection to people who take reasonable action to help victims of any type of accident or emergency. As long as the care was provided in “good faith” (with good intentions), good Samaritans would be exempt from being sued.
Florida’s statute goes over the measures that would be protected from prosecution:
Florida Statute FS 768.13
“(2)(a) Any person, including those licensed to practice medicine, who gratuitously and in good faith renders emergency care or treatment either in direct response to emergency situations related to and arising out of a public health emergency declared pursuant to s. 381.00315, a state of emergency which has been declared pursuant to s. 252.36 or at the scene of an emergency outside of a hospital, doctor’s office, or other place having proper medical equipment, without objection of the injured victim or victims thereof, shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of such care or treatment or as a result of any act or failure to act in providing or arranging further medical treatment where the person acts as an ordinary reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances.”
When possible, those involved in accidents and witnesses to emergencies should allow medical professionals to render aid to victims. However, in some situations, people on the scene may have to take action to get someone out of harm’s way, before help arrives. People on the scene can generally take measures into their own hands without fear of legal ramifications.
However, individuals or medical professionals who show reckless disregard, gross negligence, or wanton disregard for a victim’s safety could still face punishment.
What Does the Good Samaritan Law Cover?
There are some additional guidelines included in the Good Samaritan Law that people should be aware of:
- It’s important to know that victims can refuse help (if they are conscious) and those on the scene should respect those wishes
- The protection from litigation applies to people who take action to help an injured animal
- The original intent of the Good Samaritan Law was to allow off-duty doctors to treat victims in emergency situations without fear of medical malpractice lawsuits
- Anyone can use automatic external defibrillators (AED) to save a victim’s life as long as they have the proper training to operate such a device
Getting Help Earning Support After a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Accident
A frightening Fort Lauderdale accident caused by someone’s carelessness can leave you injured and perhaps facing further harm while waiting for proper medical attention. Those found at fault for such an accident can be held accountable for your medical bills and other damages.
Allow Cowen Edwards Trial Lawyers to handle the stress and frustration of battling insurance companies to earn support while you use that time to focus on healing. Contact us to schedule a free consultation and tell us what happened. Let us know about your biggest hardships since the accident and then let us go to work holding an insurer fully liable.
If you need our help with your case, you won’t need to have any money to hire us. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the accident settlement check you receive.
