Doing the right thing can be hard. It’s always easier to turn your head and look the other way when someone else is in trouble. It takes courage and selflessness to lend a helping hand instead.
In the spirit of promoting the kindness and altruism that all societies need, many states have enacted “Good Sarmatian” laws. Georgia’s Good Samaritan law is a measure that protects people from legal liability when they try to help someone who is injured or in danger.
Rendering life-saving aid is not without risk, though — especially for those who don’t have the proper training. Sometimes the person needing help can be hurt or further injured, even if the rescuer has the best intentions. Essentially, the Good Samaritan law is a safety net meant to protect those who help a fellow human in need.
What Protections Does the Good Samaritan Law Provide?
Georgia’s Good Samaritan law protects those who offer aid in good faith to someone in need of medical care or who may be in imminent danger. The law is supposed to encourage people to lend a helping hand to others in the face of danger or adversity rather than hesitating out of fear of a lawsuit.
Most people don’t have medical or emergency training. But when someone needs help, adrenaline can kick in and urge a well-meaning person into action. The quick thinking and aid that even an untrained person can provide is sometimes the difference between life and death.
Unfortunately, a well-meaning would-be hero without training can sometimes cause further harm to an accident victim. With that scenario in mind, Georgia’s lawmakers created the state’s Good Samaritan law. The only people the law does not protect are those who help in exchange for financial rewards. The act must be charitable and offered of a person’s own free will.
Georgia’s Medical Amnesty Law
Georgia also has a medical amnesty law similar to its Good Samaritan Act. However, the law offers limited protection from criminal charges instead of civil liability. The “Georgia 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law” helps shield individuals who seek medical help for someone thought to be suffering from a drug overdose.
Unfortunately, the fear of prosecution and jail time may prevent someone from involving the authorities or medical providers when help is needed. They may be more concerned with saving themselves from jail time than saving the life of someone in need. The Medical Amnesty law is meant to curb these fears and encourage people to do the right thing when faced with a potentially drug-related medical emergency.
Injured While Receiving Medical Assistance? Your Legal Options
Have you been injured while receiving medical assistance? Get in touch with a Georgia accident injury attorney at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC to discuss your legal options for recovering compensation. For more information on Georgia’s Good Samaritan law and how it may affect your personal injury claim, contact our office for a free consultation.
