It could even be some lawyer who hears about the case and contacts the family, telling them if they sue and win, they can pay off those medical bills. My mom worked for a DA's office for like 7 years and she says this happens allthe time. Some good for nuffin' defence guy gets wind of some poor familys troubls and sees an opening to get rich. :angry:
Good job for jumping right in being so recently certed and all!
Generally in order to prove that you were negligent or in some way responsible for the man's death, they have to prove that had you done something more, better, faster the man would have lived. I can't see how this would be unless he bled out from a arterial bleed from an extremity that you could have put pressure on and missed.
When patients lawyer up, every agency being sued at the advice of their legal team starts pointing the fingers elsewhere. Sort of like elementary school children crying "Not It!" Since you are the one without a team of lawyers, you are the target of choice.
Try not to take it personally. I know that's hard to do, but it has nothing to do with you or the family's feelings. Remind yourself that the family was sincerely grateful for your efforts before a team of highly paid legal-eagles told them that you actually killed Daddy. This is a game and there's huge amounts of money to be made playing it well. Not by you of course, but you are just fodder for the fight at this point. The lawyers are going to toss everything in their path into the flames and see which one coughs up money to save themselves the hassle and embarrassment.
Also naming you in the suit increases the likelihood that you will remember some damning piece of information that makes their case that the hospital/facility/responding EMS agency was the one at fault. Getting the other people being sued to fight amongst themselves helps the suer.
Try not to take it personally. I know that's hard to do, but it has nothing to do with you or the family's feelings. Remind yourself that the family was sincerely grateful for your efforts before a team of highly paid legal-eagles told them that you actually killed Daddy. This is a game and there's huge amounts of money to be made playing it well. Not by you of course, but you are just fodder for the fight at this point. The lawyers are going to toss everything in their path into the flames and see which one coughs up money to save themselves the hassle and embarrassment.
Exactly what I was thinking. I don't think it was the family's initial idea to sue the good samaritan that came to help them...at least, I truly hope not. But we all know it happens.
I was in an MVA a few years ago in my POV right outside of my work place. A girl T-boned me as I was crossing two lanes to pull into the lot. I offered to call her a unit and she accepted one but refused transport. She denied injury. Just shy of a year later she sued me, my insurance company as well as her own, claiming disability, and walked away with 26 grand.
This was the second lawsuit she had initiated and won following several traffic accidents. She was 24 years old. I don't suspect this was her last.
Moral of this story is to keep your mouth shut about your work affiliation if you can help it. Anonymity is your friend.
i just dont understand people. i always stop for mva's and have had a couple of times where yes i have a whacker car and people see my light bars, emt license plate and stickers and stop my car for help. i was always told i have a duty to stop to my level of cert but i also feel that i have an obligation to which i dont mind. i just wish people would appriciate what we do instead of attacking those who do. they want someone to blame for there loss and instead of thinking that :censored::censored::censored::censored: happens which sucks but is true they go after the ones who helo thinking money will fix their problems.
Can you find the statute or administrative law that states this? In ten years, you are the first person I have heard say this. I have always been taught that there is no duty to act while off duty.
I have just spent the last hour and a half or so trying to find the actual law that states what you claim. So far, I haven't had any luck.
I'm not sure who told you that, but we do not have a duty to act here. So no more using "I was on a run" for a late to work excuse... <_<
So long as you don't walk up and announce you're an EMT, theres nothing legally anyone can do if you just walk away. Always remember when you're off duty that you're risking your cert and your own lively-hood for whoever you stop for. Most times, its just not worth it.
I'm not sure who told you that, but we do not have a duty to act here. So no more using "I was on a run" for a late to work excuse... <_<
So long as you don't walk up and announce you're an EMT, theres nothing legally anyone can do if you just walk away. Always remember when you're off duty that you're risking your cert and your own lively-hood for whoever you stop for. Most times, its just not worth it.
Sorry, but you were told wrong. And believe me, you do this long enough and more times than not you will just walk away. Its a terrible thing, not being able to save everyone, I know, but still, without a cert you cant save ANYone.
Protect yourself
Protect your partner
Protect your patient
in that order.
