Emergency medical technicians and paramedics have very difficult jobs. They are tasked with keeping patients alive in situations that can be dangerous. They have to do this on the scene of an accident, as well as in a vehicle on the road while they are heading to the hospital. Even though these professionals have difficult jobs to do, they must ensure they are doing their jobs properly. While it is true that EMTs and paramedics help to keep people alive, they can also cause harm if they act in a neglectful manner.
Can I take action if I’m harmed by a medic?
It might be possible to seek compensation if you are harmed by a medic. In Pittsburgh, the emergency medical services are part of the municipal government. This means that they likely have sovereign immunity. Even with that coming into the picture, it might be possible to seek compensation if the government waives that immunity. If you were harmed by a privately employed EMT or medic, that immunity wouldn’t apply and you could seek compensation.
What elements must be present?
There must be some level of malpractice or negligence that led to harm to you. You have to show the connection between the actions of the medic and the harm you suffered. You also have to show that your injuries led to the damages that you are claiming in your case. All of this can be difficult to put together, but it isn’t impossible. Make sure that you fully understand how you should connect these dots before you take action.
Source: FindLaw, “When Can I Sue an EMT or Paramedic?,” Ephrat Livni, Esq., accessed July 29, 2016
