A Good Intention's Ugly Turn
By skysuccess
@skysuccess (8858)
Singapore
March 7, 2010 12:10am CST
I've just watched a disturbing documentary about how a good Samaritan ended up being a defendant in a hit and run accident.
The documentary related how an old lady after being hit was lying unconscious on the road of a secluded area. Fortunately, for this good Samaritan, this lady is alive today.
However, an unexpected turn of events awaited the good Samaritan as he was being accused of being the one responsible for the accident by the old ladies family members. As there were no witnesses and any traffic cameras at the accident site, this poor good Samaritan just could not prove his innocence.
To cut short the chase, at the end of the day, the court had no other alternative but to find the Samaritan responsible for half of the accident victim's medical and hospitalization fees.
I suppose this is another gray area of the law and just doesn't reward a good intended deed and this is really causing quite a stir in the Samaritan's community. From this article, I just cannot help thinking what the future of the community would be like and feel that there will be no more good doers anymore? What is becoming of this world?
8 responses
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
8 Mar 10
The result here is hard to believe...what proof did they have to connect him to the hit and run? It's unfortunate, but we still have a duty to be a good Samaritan, if something happens. I know if something happens and someone needs my help, I'm still going to help, even now knowing it could backfire on me.
2 people like this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
9 Mar 10
hofferp,
I am just glad that despite what has happened here, it is comforting to know and glad to have a true blooded good Samaritan like you!
Kudos for this brave statement and pray that it will ever be true!
Kudos for this brave statement and pray that it will ever be true!
@mr_pearl (5018)
• India
7 Mar 10
I am sure it must have been extremely disturbing for those who always strive to help others. Is it based on a true story? if yes, then it is even more disheartening and would probably discourage anyone trying to help others in emergency... The machinations of law, sometimes play very dumb. I hope the justice will be done soon...
I have one question.. If the court had no proof for his innocence, they didn't even have any proof for his involvement in that case, right? Then why was he punished???
1 person likes this
@mr_pearl (5018)
• India
8 Mar 10
Well whatever the reasons, I feel terribly sad for the one who is suffering now, for being a good guy... Wonder, if people will help anyone again... And strange thing is that the family of the victim has acted dumb and gotten their helper in trouble... They should have thanked him, on the contrary... Feel numb!!!
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
9 Mar 10
mr_pearl,
My exact sentiments here.
But, you know how it is with certain people when it comes to money and this is evident here that the relatives here belong to that group.
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
7 Mar 10
mr_pearl,
Well, as I have posted, the report was from a television documentary and it is indeed a true story.
This is not a case where the State is suing the Samaritan but the victim's family members bring a civil lawsuit to the Samaritan and disgustingly won the case.
IMO the relatives of the victim were able to exploit the gray area because the authorities namely the traffic police weren't present to conduct a preliminary recording of the accident before she was evacuated to the hospital. Thus, causing this false allegation case to fall through and in the favor of the plaintiff.
So, the authorities there were partly responsible for the Samaritan's plight.
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
8 Mar 10
Hmm did those people really think hes the one who caused the accident or they needed someone to pay those hospital bills? I saw once on a news program where they showed where some actors posed as victims being attacked and no one stopped to help them. Everyone just kept on walking. Well I guess now I see why. I can't say thats going to stop me helping someone but if they decide to sue me for it I hope they're ready because Karma is no joke.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
9 Mar 10
cupkitties,
Well, those people aren't just thinking and as a matter of fact are literally NOT thinking, when they took up a lawsuit against the Samaritan!
Karma or no Karma, this Samaritan will have to bear the cost and be poorer before he sees that other light of day.
Sad but true here.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Mar 10
Unfortunately in this kind of situation you are screwed if you do the right thing and you are screwed if you do the wrong thing. For doing the wrong thing you have the feeling of guilt that is set upon your shoulders for knowing that there was something that you could have done to help remedy the situation and for doing the right thing you end up with a financial burden that you didn't deserve to have. There should be laws in place which would protect good samaritans from being liable for anything involved in an accident but there isn't.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
9 Mar 10
dorannmwin,
As you have said it, the law enforcements namely the police could have stopped this incident or rather the lawsuit from taking place, had they been more discreet and meticulous with their responsibilities.
The laws are present and sufficient but it is the gray areas that are the kill joys. It is just sad to see this happening to this good Samaritan and I just hope that the community there will not be greatly affected at the end of the day.
Have a nice day.
@Katie2009 (144)
• China
7 Mar 10
Feel sorry for that Samaritan whose good deeds were requited by sue. It happened in my community also as young man who helped an old lady who was pushed off the bus and fell but got a lawsuit later.I guess the old lady were unaware of the real criminal and she perveived that the man who came to help her was the one who hit her and he came to reduce his guilty feelings.Traffic accidents always lead to such problems and the cause of such wrong idea could be due to some drivers' irresponsibility for their mistakes. With time moving on,I find that it is also becoming more and more difficult for people to trust each other,let alone strangers;and a stereotyped group's situation will be even worse. To correct this problem,we can only apply more cameras then,which probably would not be supported by people who want more privacy...Our world needs more time to grow more lovely
1 person likes this
@Katie2009 (144)
• China
7 Mar 10
Yeah,next time when you see an old lady you bring a recorder with you when she talks and hand it over to the judge if she sues you,making sure you have electronic devices and evidence
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
7 Mar 10
Katie2009,
I am concern about whether people will actually stretch out and help a fellow in distress at secluded or odd places.
This incident along with the one you have brought up simply tells how easy it is to point our fingers and in gross error too. However, I think your situation at your end is much easier to prove since it took place onboard a public bus filled with other passengers.
I felt that the law at your end will also be aware and be ready to conduct investigative works to ensure such an incident from repeating itself. I was just mortified at how the old lady's family members could be so insensitive and exploit the good Samaritan.....
@kaylachan (58761)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 Mar 10
I ask myself that question every single day. I don't know what the world is coming too anymore and those who try to do good end up the ones in trouble which is rather discouraging. However, I'm sure he, despite being wrongfully accused, can take great pride in k knowing that because of him he's alive, which seems to be the most important out of this story in the first place.
The law needs to update its methods.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
9 Mar 10
kaylachan,
Well, it is times like these where I just cannot help but say the exact words with you here about what is the world coming to.
Taking pride is one thing but not before he is poorer by a 5 figure medical tab. I felt that this could have been avoided if the law enforcements namely the police had been on their toes with their duties there.
Have a nice day.
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
7 Mar 10
How could they just sue him? The guy is innocent unless proven guilty. They couldn't find any evidence either pointing out that the guy was the one who did the crime so I think he had a ticket out. Anyway, I just hope this guy gets justice someday.
1 person likes this
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
9 Mar 10
choybel,
Firstly, the lawsuit is where the victim's family members are undertaking against the Samaritan.
There is nothing else to prove the Samaritan's innocence except guilt which I suspect that there's some tampering of evidences and had the court order for the Samaritan to be responsible for half the medical expenses for the victim.
I do believe that the Samaritan's innocence will come to light one day but that day will not be any sooner than before forking out that medical expense tab for the victim.
Sad but true!
