You probably remember a tragic incident last year when a Florida man drown in a pond while others recorded his struggle to survive on video. The Cocoa Police Department had recommended to the state attorney’s office that the group face charges of failure to report a death.
But recently the state attorney’s office announced that the group will not be criminally prosecuted. While there is a statute requiring people to report a dead body (Florida Statute 406.12), there is not a law requiring to report a person in distress or danger.
The situation is different in the case of an automobile, truck, or motorcycle accident. Florida Statute 316.062 “Duty to give information and render aid” say, in part: “…..and shall render to any person injured in the crash reasonable assistance, including the carrying, or the making of arrangements for the carrying, of such person to a physician, surgeon, or hospital for medical or surgical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is necessary, or if such carrying is requested by the injured person.”
We understand that not everyone is a trauma surgeon or nurse and no one expects you to perform miracles on an injured person, but using common sense you may be able to save someone’s life. If you are concerned about personal liability, Florida’s “Good Samaritan Act (Florida Statute 768.13) says in part: “Any person, including those licensed to practice medicine, who gratuitously and in good faith renders emergency care or treatment either in direct response to emergency………….shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of such care or treatment or as a result of any act or failure to act in providing or arranging further medical treatment where the person acts as an ordinary reasonably prudent person would have acted under the same or similar circumstances.”
Did you know you can visit the Broward County chapter of the Red Cross website and click “Take a Class” to sign up for CPR, first aid, and other very important classes? This kind of training and knowledge may help you save someone’s life someday, not necessarily someone involved in an accident, but someone in your own family or circle of friends!
Fort Lauderdale Accident Attorneys
If you’re involved in an accident and you have done your duty about notifying the police, helping others, notifying your insurance company, and giving information to authorities you’ll want to call an attorney. We can’t count the number of times people have told us, “I really wish I would have called you” over the years. An experienced accident attorney will help protect your rights and guide you through the process of getting compensation for your damages and injuries if appropriate. We can be reached at 954-356-0006 7 days a week.
FYI: The Good Samaritan Act also applies to giving aid to animals! So help an injured dog or cat if you see one, it’s the right thing to do.
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