Proposed Florida law & the debate around the legal duty to help someone in distress

[Admiral Ackbar]

While this is seem like a good idea initially. I can see a lot of problems with this. If a person renders aid do they have immunity from lawsuit if something goes wrong? Does this cause a greater risk than the risk it relieves. What if a male pulls a woman out of the water and gives her CPR. Afterwards she goes all #Metoo on him? Part of freedom is the freedom to do nothing. Mark me down as a no.

[jimmyz]

Right. One can be sued. So I will not engage unless I have to.

I could not let a mom and her kids burn-up in a car. F*ck liability suits and slimmy lawyers.

[MisterVeritis]

I could not let a mom and her kids burn-up in a car. F*ck liability suits and slimmy lawyers.

Cool. You say that before you lose everything.

[jimmyz]

Cool. You say that before you lose everything.

I have a 3 million dollar liability umbrella policy that covers me well. But the little guy could get it in balls.

[Peter1469]

It should be a federal law that you must help someone in distress UNLESS it puts you in danger as a result.

Absolutely no.

This BULL$#@! of taking videos while someone is being beaten and is injured etc and not helping needs to stop

Agree.

[Peter1469]

I have a 3 million dollar liability umbrella policy that covers me well. But the little guy could get it in balls.

Mine is $1M, I should increase it.

[jimmyz]

Mine is $1M, I should increase it.

Umbrella liability coverage is relatively inexpensive in relation to the coverage limit. It only makes sense if you have a larger net worth with assets that could be at risk in a worse case situation.

[Lummy]

I agree completely. You should do the right thing BECAUSE it is the right thing, not because the law compels you to under threat of punishment.

Exactly. I agree 100%.

It would be another gov't overreach if being a 'good/decent' person were federally mandated, however.

Yup. There are all kinds of possible reasons why someone would not lend assistance, not least of which is that they might not feel they could help. They might not feel competent to help, or they might weigh possible negative consequences the law doesn't recognize; that's a chapter of law right there.

It's just wrong to yoke someone who might lend aid with the possibility of legal action if they don't, especially when the outcome is not known.

[Lummy]

What about the situation where a whole 'hood of people watch a gang mugging, raping and robbing in the street outside their windows? Are they all legally liable if they don't help? Are they all outlaw?

Of course not. They all get a "bye".

[MisterVeritis]

I was a volunteer trained first responder while I still worked. I decided I would absolutely help when at work. I would not help outside of work as a general rule. There are way too many ways for one's help to be turned around as a cause for legal and possibly criminal action.