This morning, several Miami folk left their homes thinking that they had all the time in the world to do things on their to-do lists: shop, schedule an oil change for the car, vote on American Idol this week, follow the Miami Heat to the NBA Championship - just like we all did.
Except these few of our fellow Miamians had their life change today. What happened?
They were involved in a huge, horrific traffic pileup on Dolphin Expressway this morning. It was a multi-car pile up. News reports are that one person died in the car crash(es), and nine people were seriously injured.
And, out of those 9 people who were hurt but hopefully will live to tell their stories of what happened today, more than one may well have survived because other Miamians stopped and helped them.
Dolphin Expressway Crash - People Stop to Help those in Need
WSVN-TV interviewed men who didn't just rubberneck, but stopped their vehicles and ran to help people who were injured, trapped, screaming in pain. The victims of the Dolphin Expressway accident today undoubtedly are grateful to them, as well as their families.
It's also probably very true to say that all of Miami is both proud and grateful that we have people like this living in our community. Heroes. No other word for them.
Florida's Good Samaritan Law
It's sad to say that in the past - and it's still true in some other states - that Good Samaritans like those who went into action today might have involuntarily exposed themselves to a lawsuit in the future. Yes, sad but true that there are people who got sued just for trying to do the right thing.
Not in Florida. Not now.
In Florida, we have laws in place to protect Good Samaritans in situations like this one today. The Florida Good Samaritan Act, Florida Statute 168.13, provides immunity to those (including physicians) to stop to help in an emergency.
Florida personal injury attorneys are all for seeking justice in situations like this -- going after product liability claims when cars or trucks or SUVs fail in some way, or suing for road conditions that should have been fixed, or whatever else may cause horrible accidents like this one today.
Justice in this country depends upon brave plaintiffs bringing negligent defendants to task for their bad acts.
However, it's also justice to protect those who stop and risk themselves as they act to help others in trouble. Like the heroes today.
The Florida Good Samaritan Law is a good thing. It's something that Florida can be proud of - right along with the character of those Floridians we saw on that highway today.
By on April 26, 2011 1:31 PM
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