Good Samaritan Laws in Indiana (2026): Your Legal Shield Explained

Most people don’t realize they have legal protection when helping someone in an emergency. Seriously. In Indiana, Good Samaritan laws exist to protect you when you step up to help. But knowing the details matters.

Let’s break down exactly what these laws cover, who they protect, and when you might not be covered.

What Is a Good Samaritan Law?

A Good Samaritan law protects people who help others during emergencies. It shields you from being sued if something goes wrong while you’re trying to help.

Think of it like this: you see someone collapse in a parking lot. You rush over and do CPR. You accidentally crack a rib. Without this law, that person could potentially sue you. With it? You’re protected.

Pretty straightforward, right?

Indiana’s main Good Samaritan statute is found in Indiana Code § 34-30-12-1. It’s been on the books for decades and applies to everyday citizens, emergency responders, and even certain healthcare workers.

The Basic Good Samaritan Law in Indiana

What It Covers

Indiana law says that if you come across an emergency and help someone in good faith, you cannot be held civilly liable for any injury that results. “Good faith” means you’re genuinely trying to help. You’re not doing it for money, fame, or personal gain.

To be considered a Good Samaritan, your actions must be voluntary and generally not part of a job, like a police officer or firefighter. The help also shouldn’t come from self-motivation, like expecting a reward.

Wondering if this applies to you? Keep reading.

Who Counts as a Good Samaritan?

You count if you’re a regular person who stops to help. You don’t need medical training. You don’t need a certification. You just need to act honestly and try to do good.

If you’re a bystander who witnesses a car accident and one of the drivers needs medical attention, this is where the law comes into play. If you unintentionally create another injury to the accident victim, you generally cannot be found liable unless you significantly or intentionally caused more harm than good.

That’s a big deal. It means you can act without fear of a lawsuit following you home.

When Are You NOT Protected?

Okay, pause. Read this carefully. Not every situation is covered.

Gross Negligence

If an act of help is extremely negligent and causes more harm, the Good Samaritan can be sued. This is called gross negligence. It’s different from an honest mistake. Gross negligence means you acted recklessly or with total disregard for someone’s safety.

An honest attempt that goes wrong? Covered. Reckless or careless behavior that makes things worse? Not covered.

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On-Duty Professionals

Good Samaritan laws don’t apply to someone giving emergency assistance as part of their job, as is the case with healthcare providers treating their own patients.

So if you’re a doctor treating a patient in your own clinic, this law doesn’t protect you the same way. Your professional duties and standards still apply.

Doctors Off Duty

Here’s where it gets interesting. If doctors are off-duty and come across an emergency, they are often protected under Good Samaritan laws. But they lose protection if the person they treat is a current patient. Even off-duty, doctors are held to professional standards in certain situations.

So a doctor who stops at a highway accident is covered. A doctor who treats their own patient outside the clinic? That’s a different story.

EMTs and Emergency Responders

Indiana also protects EMTs and paramedics. But there are limits here too.

Ambulance attendants and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are protected. The only time these individuals are not protected is when treatment is considered negligent. Ambulance drivers, however, are not offered protection in Indiana.

Yep, that’s all. Ambulance drivers are specifically excluded. That surprised m

The Overdose Good Samaritan Law (Aaron’s Law)

Now, here’s where things get serious. Indiana has a second type of Good Samaritan protection. This one deals with drug overdoses.

It’s called Aaron’s Law, named after 20-year-old Aaron Sims of Indianapolis. In October 2013, Aaron passed away from a heroin overdose. His mother, Justin Phillips, partnered with Indiana Senator Jim Merritt to create a bill. Governor Mike Pence signed it into law in 2015.

The law is found in Indiana Code § 16-42-27-2.

What Aaron’s Law Does

This law encourages people to call 911 during a drug overdose. Fear of arrest stops many people from calling for help. Aaron’s Law tries to remove that fear.

Legal safeguards apply when a person seeks help for someone experiencing an overdose, but Indiana’s law is far more limited and restrictive than most other state laws.

Here’s what you need to know.

The Requirements Are Strict

You’re not automatically protected just by calling 911. Indiana requires more.

For legal safeguards to apply, the person who seeks help for someone must generally first administer naloxone (Narcan) that’s been obtained legally. They must also remain at the scene and provide law enforcement with their name and any other information requested.

So the steps are: get legally obtained Narcan, use it, call 911, stay at the scene, and cooperate with police. Miss one of those steps and the protection may not apply.

What You’re Protected From

If you meet all the requirements, you can receive immunity from some drug-related charges. An individual who meets the criteria is immune from criminal prosecution for possession of controlled substances, synthetic drugs, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and related paraphernalia.

That’s not nothing. It’s real protection for a scary situation.

What Aaron’s Law Does NOT Cover

Honestly, this is the part most people miss.

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Unlike in many states, Indiana law doesn’t provide immunity for the person who is suffering the overdose. It provides immunity for the person seeking help, if they’ve complied with the other requirements.

Read that again. The person who overdosed is NOT protected. Only the person who called for help is.

It also doesn’t apply to serious drug-related crimes like drug trafficking, or to non-drug-related crimes if evidence is found at the scene of an overdose.

So if police find evidence of a bigger crime while responding to the overdose call, Aaron’s Law won’t protect you from those charges.

Getting Naloxone (Narcan) in Indiana

You might be thinking: how do I even get naloxone? Good news. It’s easier than you think.

Indiana’s state health commissioner can issue a statewide standing order that allows for the dispensing of an overdose intervention drug without an individual prescription. That means you can get Narcan at many pharmacies without a personal prescription from your own doctor.

To administer naloxone, members of the public must be trained to administer it, alert 911 immediately after use, and receive information about substance use disorder services.

You can find training through local health departments, community organizations, and harm reduction programs across Indiana.

Does Indiana Require You to Help?

A friend asked me about this last week. Turns out most people assume Indiana requires bystanders to help someone in need. They’re wrong.

In Indiana, people are not legally obligated to help and assist others in need. Indiana does not have criminal consequences for failing to help someone in an emergency.

You have the right to help. But you don’t have the legal duty to help. That’s an important distinction.

Only 10 states have laws that mention a bystander’s duty to report or assist others in need. These include California, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. Indiana is not one of them.

Federal vs. State Protection

Hold on, this part is important.

Good Samaritan laws are state laws, meaning that Good Samaritans aren’t immune to federal lawsuits. If federal law applies to a situation, Indiana’s state law can’t protect you from federal charges.

This is a rare situation. But it’s worth knowing.

Community Fast Responders

Indiana also extended Good Samaritan protections to community fast responders. Indiana Code § 36-8-23-3 specifically states that the Good Samaritan statute applies to a community fast responder.

These are trained volunteers who respond to emergencies before official first responders arrive. Think of neighbors trained in CPR who show up within minutes of a 911 call.

Practical Tips: How to Help Safely

You’re not alone if this feels like a lot of information. Let’s make it simple.

If you see someone hurt in an accident, call 911. Then help if you can. Use basic first aid. Don’t move someone who may have a spine injury unless they’re in immediate danger. Stay calm and stay until help arrives.

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If you see someone overdosing, call 911 immediately. If you have Narcan and know how to use it, administer it. Stay at the scene. Give your name to police when they arrive. Cooperate fully.

That’s basically all you need to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be sued for helping someone in an Indiana emergency? Generally, no. Indiana’s Good Samaritan law protects you from civil lawsuits if you help in good faith during an emergency, as long as you don’t act with gross negligence.

Does Indiana’s overdose law protect the person who overdosed? No. Indiana’s law only protects the person who called for help and met all the requirements, not the overdose victim.

Do I need to be trained to be protected under Indiana’s Good Samaritan law? No special training is required for the general Good Samaritan law. For administering naloxone under Aaron’s Law, basic training is expected.

What if I accidentally hurt someone while helping? You are generally protected as long as you acted in good faith and did not cause harm through gross negligence or intentional recklessness.

Is calling 911 enough to get immunity under Aaron’s Law? No. You must also administer legally obtained naloxone, remain at the scene, and cooperate with law enforcement.

Does the law protect me if I’m already at the scene when police arrive? No. Immunity applies only if a person has initiated contact with law enforcement. If police are already at the scene and you point out someone who seems to be overdosing, that doesn’t qualify.

Are paramedics and EMTs protected in Indiana? Yes, with limits. EMTs and paramedics are generally protected, but only if their treatment is not considered negligent. Ambulance drivers are not protected under Indiana law.

Final Thoughts

Now you know the basics of Indiana’s Good Samaritan laws. Helping someone in an emergency is a good thing. Indiana law encourages it by protecting you from lawsuits and, in overdose situations, from some criminal charges.

But know the limits. Gross negligence isn’t covered. The overdose law has strict requirements. And the person who overdosed doesn’t get the same protection as the caller.

When in doubt, call 911. Stay at the scene. Cooperate with authorities. And if you’re ever unsure about your legal situation, talk to an attorney.

Stay informed, stay safe, and don’t let fear of liability stop you from doing the right thing.