Helping At The Scene
RCW 4.24.300 — care without pay at the scene, short of gross negligence
In Washington, any person who, without compensation or the expectation of it, renders emergency care at the scene of an emergency, or helps transport an injured person for emergency treatment without pay, is not liable for civil damages from that care or transport, other than for gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct.
- A person giving emergency care in the course of regular, paid employment is excluded.
- School district employees who give emergency care during an official school activity have the same protection.
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 Washington attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- RCW 4.24.300 — Immunity from liability for certain types of medical care
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Washington attorney.