Oklahoma has “good Samaritan” laws that protect people who take action after a traffic accident to help injured victims. These laws prevent them, in some circumstances, from any legal liability if their actions accidentally cause further harm to injured victims.
Knowing how state law governs the actions of good Samaritans can help people understand their duties and restrictions when moving to help someone in trouble after a car crash.
What Does Oklahoma’s Good Samaritan Law Do?
Good Samaritan is a term applied to those who act to help victims after an accident. They may put their own safety in danger to help those with injuries, but lawmakers want to make sure they don’t unfairly face legal harm for attempting to assist victims.
Technically, a driver who causes an accident can also be considered a good Samaritan if the motorist attempts to assist injured victims further than just calling 911.
People taking action as good Samaritans on the scene of an Oklahoma City car collision can take certain steps to help out without having to fear being sued for any unintentional harm caused. In many cases, a victim can’t give consent to allow certain life-saving attempts to be performed.
This set of laws gives those on the scene the ability to proceed in “good faith” without consent. Good faith in this case would mean the good Samaritan took action with the intention to help the victim.
The protections state legislators have granted good Samaritans are covered in the Oklahoma Statute Title 76, Section 5:
“(2) Where no prior contractual relationship exists, any person who in good faith renders or attempts to render emergency care consisting of artificial respiration, restoration of breathing, or preventing or retarding the loss of blood, or aiding or restoring heart action or circulation of blood to the victim or victims of an accident or emergency, wherever required, shall not be liable for any civil damages as a result of any acts or omissions by such person in rendering the emergency care.”
What Can I Do As a Good Samaritan After an Oklahoma Accident?
The statute listed in part above goes into the help a good Samaritan can offer without being put at risk of lawsuits filed by victims.
In simpler terms, a person on the scene can provide this assistance without fear of litigation:
- Attempts to stop bleeding
- Attempts to provide artificial respiration (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation)
- Attempts to restart the breathing of someone who has stopped breathing
- Attempt to restart the heart of a victim
The Good Samaritan Laws also cover emergency responders, doctors, and surgeons providing emergency care when victims aren’t always able to give consent. Medical professionals and law enforcement can take some actions and be protected from lawsuits.
Surgeons are usually able to operate if it’s in the best interest of the patients and required to save their lives.
Contact An Oklahoma Car Accident Lawyer If You Are Hurt in a Collision
Good Samaritans should be protected from litigation over their actions in most cases. It should always be the at-fault motorist who is held 100% responsible for an accident and the injuries that result. A skilled Oklahoma attorney can help victims hold drivers and their car insurance providers fully liable for recovery costs.
If a reckless motorist strikes you or your car and you are seriously injured, you should speak to a skilled Oklahoma car accident lawyer at Ylla|Gosney. We help victims and their families in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and across the state.
Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation case consultation. It’s the best way to find out what your case may be worth before you speak to an insurance representative who may tell you something very different. If you require a car accident attorney to get the most out of your accident claim, you won’t need any money to hire us. We don’t get paid unless your case is won. Then our attorney’s fee comes out of the settlement check an auto insurer must provide to you and your family.
