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Questions tagged [good-samaritan]

The Good Samaritan law offers protection to people giving reasonable assistance to those who are injured or ill or in danger to be injured or killed.

The law exists to reduce bystanders hesitation to help, in fear of being sued for unintentional injury or death. For example if Mr. A breaks the arm of a child while rescuing it form drowning, this law protects Mr. A form being liable for injuring the child.

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Fred closes a stranger's truck door; the truck later burns down. What is Fred's liability?

This question comes directly from an episode of the call-in automotive advice show Car Talk. The original call occurred in or around 1994, but recently re-aired in episode 2349, "We Specialize in All Makes Foreign and Domestic". In his call, "Fred"…
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Does the law make exceptions for Good Samaritans?

I know very little about the law. When I watch court television shows, it seems like if a Good Samaritan breaks the law to stop a bad guy, the law/court turns a blind eye. Are there cases where the law recognizes wrongdoing for the well-intentioned…
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Does a Good Samaritan law protect a person from murder charges if they kill someone who had been violently attacking a police officer?

I am wondering if Good Samaritan laws protect a person from being charged with murder if they kill a person who had been violently attacking a police officer. For example, say that a person is walking down a street and he/she comes upon a person who…
user39281
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Police voluntarily given a boat for pursuit: risks to owner?

In a number of videos (example), recently in Florida there was an on-going theft of a jet-ski. The police approached a boat owner who had just launched his boat for the day and asked if he would be willing to take them down to locate the…
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Does U.S. law require reporting of suspected child abuse by unrelated citizens?

I happened to notice someone commenting that there is a legal requirement to report suspected child abuse for a non-guardian relative of a child suspected of abuse. I obviously would encourage the individual to report abuse no matter what, but I'm…
dsollen
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Has a food donor been sued for giving away spoiled food?

Regarding food waste, on John Oliver's series "Last Week Tonight" he states: That's a common misconception. We all think that if someone gets sick you could get sued. I thought that until earlier this week. But we looked into and couldn't find a…
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The Social Action Responsibility and Heroism Act (England and Wales)

Is there an equivalent law in SCOTLAND and NORTHERN IRELAND to The Social Action Responsibility and Heroism Act 2015 (England and Wales)?
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Good Samaritan / Bad Samaritan

While I know that in common law countries there's no legal requirement to provide assistance, is there any liability for failing to do so once you've volunteered to? I'm interested both in a general answer, and in a hypothetical variation of the…
Display Name
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Does the Good Samaritan law make it legal for a third party driver to interfere with a road rage event while it is happening?

I would like to know if the Good Samaritan law makes it legal for a third party driver to try to break up/interfere with a road rage event while it is happening. Say for example that you are driving on a highway and you start to pass up a pickup…
user39281
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Am I Allowed to Refuse a Rescue? What Issues Would That Cause?

Suppose my one-person boat sinks and I escape in my life raft. Later, party X comes along and offers to rescue me. Suppose, for whatever reason, I don't want to go with X. Question: Am I obliged to accept X's offer anyway? Related issues it would…
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Liability for damage in rendering aid in case of mistaken danger?

This example is entirely fictional. One morning whilst walking to my car, I notice that my elderly neighbour who lives alone is laid out on the floor of her living room. I knock on the window, but get no response. I bang on the door, still no…
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In what jurisdictions is there a “duty to assist“ others in distress?

Apparently in the U.S. there is no duty to assist others, no matter how grave their plight. In what jurisdictions is this not the case?
TylerDurden
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