By Shelly williams/se news editor
Random acts of kindness have lost value.
Consider this: You could be on your way to dinner with a friend when you see her car crash into a light pole. You pull over, jump out of your car and try to help. Thinking you see smoke coming from the car, you quickly pry your friend from the car for her own safety.
She gets the needed medical help, but she is now a paraplegic and blames you. You’ve landed in court for saving your friend’s life.
That’s exactly what happened to Good Samaritan Lisa Torti in 2004 for trying to rescue her friend, Alexandra Van Horn, from her accident.
According to ABC News, Van Horn’s lawyers said Torti caused the permanent injury by “yanking her like a rag doll” from the car. Who knew lending a helping hand can now get you sued?
A California law states if a person stops to help another and unintentionally harms the victim in distress, the victim can sue the rescuer.
That’s like giving the Heimlich to a choking person and then being sued because the victim’s rib was accidentally broken in the process. Personally, I’d take the broken rib and not sue someone who saved my life.
Granted, there is that medical aspect of any situation. If a person is trapped in a car, you should wait for professionals to get them out as to not injure the victim further.
But what if paramedics can’t get there that second? Would you pull over, make sure everyone is OK and do what you could until medical personnel could arrive or just keep driving to avoid risk of being sued?
It’s a sad thing when we can’t offer a helping hand anymore without having to face a court order.
Nobody appreciates help anymore unless it’s the help they want, and even then it’s not enough — they want your money too.
Personally, I’d be happy just to be alive.
