We live in a lawsuit-happy society. In this day and age, it’s not uncommon for well-intentioned citizens to be sued if they cause an injury while giving first aid. For this reason, many states have passed what are known as Good Samaritan Laws. Nebraska is one of those states. Here’s what you need to know.
Nebraska’s Good Samaritan Law
According to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,186 (1961):
“No person who renders emergency care at the scene of an accident or other emergency gratuitously, shall be held liable for any civil damages as a result of any act or omission by such person in rendering the emergency care or as a result of any act or failure to act to provide or arrange for medical treatment or care for the injured person.”
This means that if you arrive on the scene of an accident before any medically-trained help, you may administer first aid to any injured people without having to worry about whether your aid could result in an injury. In states without Good Samaritan Laws, the injured party would be able to sue you if you caused an injury while giving first aid.
An Example
Let’s say you see a car in front of you crash into a tree. You pull over, call for help, and decide to help the driver. When you approach the crashed car, you notice the driver is unresponsive and doesn’t appear to have a pulse.
You decide to remove the driver from the car so you can administer CPR. You do your very best CPR until the emergency responders arrive and take over. Fortunately, because of your rapid attention, the driver lives.
However, when he wakes up, he complains that his chest hurts. His X-rays reveal a cracked sternum. Although he may want to sue you for cracking his sternum, Nebraska state law indicates that he may not because you were acting as a Good Samaritan when you provided aid.
Do You Have Good Samaritan-Related Lawsuit?
Whether someone is trying to sue you for an injury related to your Good Samaritan deed or whether you are interested in suing someone who caused you injury, Inkelaar Law can help. We’re happy to answer any questions you might have about the Nebraska Good Samaritan Laws and how they apply to your situation. Give us a call at (877) 537-4665 or contact us online to ask your questions.
