Bill Would Protect Individuals Injured While Assisting During Crises
Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Daniel Benson to ensure that individuals who are hurt while providing assistance during emergencies receive ambulance service free of charge was advanced by an Assembly panel on Thursday.
“The purpose of New Jersey’s Good Samaritan law is to encourage individuals who are in a position to assist during an emergency to do so without reservation,” said Benson (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “Those who rescue others in dangerous situations often act without consideration for their own well-being, and at the very least, these selfless individuals ought to be able to rest assured that they won’t have to worry about the cost of emergency medical transportation.”
The bill (A-2403) would provide that any Good Samaritan who is afforded immunity from civil liability under New Jersey’s “Good Samaritan Act” is not required to pay for ambulance service if he or she is injured while rendering good faith emergency care.
The bill was advanced by the Assembly Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Committee.