Good Samaritan laws are designed to provide protection to those who render emergency aid to people in distress. The idea behind the statute is that someone should not be sued if they are trying to do a good deed and help someone even when there is no legal duty to help another. The policy reason behind good Samaritan laws is that without such laws, some people may avoid helping others for fear of being sued.
These laws vary from state to state, but most provide protection from ordinary negligence. The good Samaritan must be really, really negligent (called gross negligence ) in order to be liable. Tennessee’s good Samaritan law provides protection to those who render emergency aid unless those individuals act with gross negligence. Texas law provides protection to those who in good faith administer emergency care unless they are willfully or wantonly negligent.
- What if some unexpected event causes damage to a plaintiff after a defendant’s negligent act?
- Can an employer be held negligent if it retains or hires an employee who is dangerous to the public?
- Can a business be liable for injuries caused to its patrons by third parties?
- What was the case of Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Company concerning proximate causation?
- What are the two types of causation in tort cases?
- What is res ipsa loquitur?
- What is negligence perse?
- Are children held to the same standard of care as adults?
- What is a reasonable person ?
- What is negligence and what are the elements of a negligence claim?
- What are some defenses to intentional torts?
- Is there a tort that you can use or sue under if someone files false criminal charges against you?
- What are some other examples of intentional infliction of emotional distress?
- What is a famous intentional infliction of emotional distress case involving Hustler Magazine?
- What is intentional infliction of emotional distress?
- Does a person have a tort claim if they are wrongfully detained for shoplifting in a major department store?
- Are punching and kicking the only acts that are regarded as battery?
- Can an injury in a sports contest constitute a battery?
- What was the famous plate snatching case?
- What are some examples of intentional torts?
