A Good Samaritan is Not Always Good

In Broward County, a Good Samaritan recently helped save the life of a young boy. The 10-year-old was climbing a tree, but slipped and fell onto a fence. A passerby saw the injured boy and applied pressure to his puncture wounds. Rescue personnel took the boy to the hospital with critical injuries, but the Good Samaritan’s quick actions helped his chances of survival.

When an accident occurs, a Good Samaritan is often the first to respond at the scene. Sometimes, a Good Samaritan can help save a life. Other times, a Good Samaritan can do more harm than good. Luckily, in the case of the tree climber, all went well.

In Florida, a Good Samaritan can be held civilly liable for harm caused by a rescue attempt in certain isolated cases. Florida Statutes Section 768.13 states that a Good Samaritan must act as an “ordinary reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances.”

This applies to actions, such as rendering medical aid or calling for help, as well as failure to act. If a rescuer voluntarily undertakes a rescue and this deters other potential rescuers from taking action, the rescuer may not abandon the rescue attempt mid-way.

If you are injured, there may be several parties to blame. Consult an experienced Florida personal injury attorney to identify potentially liable parties. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and more. At the Law Office of Paul B. Genet, P.A., we are strong advocates for the injured.