Good Samaritan Laws in Arizona — Are You Protected?

Did you know that you don’t have any legal duty to provide emergency help to someone who is in peril, sick, or injured? Unless you caused the peril or injury, Arizona law doesn’t require you to act. The classic law school example: you don’t have a duty to rescue a drowning stranger, even if a life preserver is within arm’s reach.

But many people do help — and Arizona’s Good Samaritan laws protect them when they do.

Arizona’s Good Samaritan Statute

Under A.R.S. § 32-1471, any person who renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency is not liable for civil damages as a result of that care — as long as the care was provided in good faith and without expectation of compensation, and the person didn’t act with gross negligence.

This means if you stop at an accident scene and provide first aid, CPR, or other emergency assistance, you’re protected from a lawsuit if your efforts don’t go perfectly. The law encourages people to help by removing the fear of being sued.

The Limits of Protection

Good Samaritan protection is not absolute. It does not cover situations where you were grossly negligent — meaning you acted with a conscious disregard for the safety of the person you were helping. It doesn’t apply if you caused the emergency in the first place. It doesn’t cover care provided for compensation (medical professionals on duty, for example, are held to professional standards). And it generally doesn’t apply once you leave the emergency scene and the person is in the care of medical professionals.

What This Means at Accident Scenes

If you witness a car accident on a Phoenix highway, you’re not legally required to stop and help. But if you choose to — and we hope you would — Arizona law protects you from liability as long as you act reasonably and in good faith. Call 911. Check on the occupants. Provide basic aid if you’re able. Don’t move someone with a potential spinal injury unless there’s immediate danger like fire.

If you’ve been helped by a Good Samaritan and suffered additional injury, or if you provided aid and are facing legal action, the Law Badgers can help you understand your rights.