Can a volunteer be sued/held liable? Yes, with an explanation.
Most states have Good Samaritan laws like AR stated. As long as the vol or for hire EMS person is working within their training they cannot be sued. If they overstep that boundary and attempt something that they are not certified/trained to do then they are liable.
easy example A first responder can perform the heimlich maneuver on a choking victim. He can put his fingers in the mouth and try to remove any seen obstructions. Those actions he cannot be sued for because he was trained to perform them. But when he pulls out the xacto knife and attempts to perform a tracheostomy he has overstepped his boundary and will be held liable for any injury he causes.
Many Good Samaritan laws have a flip side that most people are not aware of. If a trained person fails to respond he can be held liable/negligent. One of the reasons all EMTs around here have jump bags in their POV.
If a trained EMS responder, not on duty fails to stop and render aid they can be held liable, be charged. If EMT Jones and his wife are going home after dinner and a movie with the wife and the guy in from of him runs off the road and has an accident, EMT Jones is required by law to render aid until relieved by other EMS personnel.
Most states have Good Samaritan laws like AR stated. As long as the vol or for hire EMS person is working within their training they cannot be sued. If they overstep that boundary and attempt something that they are not certified/trained to do then they are liable.
easy example A first responder can perform the heimlich maneuver on a choking victim. He can put his fingers in the mouth and try to remove any seen obstructions. Those actions he cannot be sued for because he was trained to perform them. But when he pulls out the xacto knife and attempts to perform a tracheostomy he has overstepped his boundary and will be held liable for any injury he causes.
Many Good Samaritan laws have a flip side that most people are not aware of. If a trained person fails to respond he can be held liable/negligent. One of the reasons all EMTs around here have jump bags in their POV.
If a trained EMS responder, not on duty fails to stop and render aid they can be held liable, be charged. If EMT Jones and his wife are going home after dinner and a movie with the wife and the guy in from of him runs off the road and has an accident, EMT Jones is required by law to render aid until relieved by other EMS personnel.
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