Helping At The Scene
G.S. 90-21.14 — first aid without expectation of pay, short of gross negligence
In North Carolina, any person who voluntarily and without expectation of compensation renders first aid or emergency treatment to someone unconscious, ill or injured, when the circumstances require prompt decisions and any delay would seriously worsen the person's condition or endanger their life, is not liable for resulting injury or death unless it was caused by gross negligence, wanton conduct or intentional wrongdoing.
- It also covers a person who uses an automated external defibrillator.
- It does not cover care given in the normal and ordinary course of a person's business or profession.
The protection is from civil liability, a lawsuit for damages, and the section sets its own limits on who and what it covers. Whether it applies to a particular act is a question for a court and for a licensed North Carolina attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.S. 90-21.14 — First aid or emergency treatment; liability limitation
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.