Todd Dicker
Registered
I'm amused by many of the assumptions in this thread based on...oh I don't really know. Television shows? Popular culture? Old comic books? It reminds me of the "laws of the road" rookies try to tell me exist with regard to a paramedic or EMT stopping to help someone on the side of the road in an accident. "Oh, don't get paramedic license plates, if you drive by an accident and don't stop you can get sued," or "when they announce on a plane they need someone with medical experience to help with an emergency, keep your mouth shut or the lawyers will get you."
Most jurisdictions recognize a "Good Samaritan" act performed by a professional that didn't have the "duty to act" but assisted in a reasonable manner. Most jurisdictions also recognize when a professional doesn't have a duty to act and chose not to do so for whatever reason. And yes, I can sue you for wearing ugly shoes if I want...that's the way we guarantee everyone has access to remedy their torts (heh heh, that's what SHE said).
But, to go around in fear of being sued and living life by the rules of "watch out, the lawyers will see" seems to me to be a rather paranoid way of going through life...especially when I know damn well that if I see someone seriously hurt, my muscle memory and self-respect will direct me to act, and damn the lawyers. Probably the same will be true as a diver if I can ever figure out which end of the hose goes in my mouth.
Of course, I do carry a $3 million umbrella policy, so F^&k em anyways.
Most jurisdictions recognize a "Good Samaritan" act performed by a professional that didn't have the "duty to act" but assisted in a reasonable manner. Most jurisdictions also recognize when a professional doesn't have a duty to act and chose not to do so for whatever reason. And yes, I can sue you for wearing ugly shoes if I want...that's the way we guarantee everyone has access to remedy their torts (heh heh, that's what SHE said).
But, to go around in fear of being sued and living life by the rules of "watch out, the lawyers will see" seems to me to be a rather paranoid way of going through life...especially when I know damn well that if I see someone seriously hurt, my muscle memory and self-respect will direct me to act, and damn the lawyers. Probably the same will be true as a diver if I can ever figure out which end of the hose goes in my mouth.
Of course, I do carry a $3 million umbrella policy, so F^&k em anyways.