---
title: "Guidelines for Protection of Good Samaritans in Road Accidents"
date: 2025-03-18
author: "Rahul Sundaram"
url: https://www.indialaw.in/blog/civil/protection-good-samaritan-road-accident/
---

# Guidelines for Protection of Good Samaritans in Road Accidents

Posted On - 18 March, 2025 •

By - [Rahul Sundaram](https://www.indialaw.in/people/rahul-sundaram/ "Posts by Rahul Sundaram")

[![Guidelines for Protection of Good Samaritans in Road Accidents](https://www.indialaw.in/wp-content/uploads/Capture-5-2.jpg)](https://www.indialaw.in/wp-content/uploads/Capture-5-2.jpg)

## Introduction

India has witnessed a disturbing rise in fatal road accidents in recent years, with thousands of lives lost annually on its roads. Tragically, many of these accidents involve hit-and-run drivers, leaving victims in critical condition without immediate assistance. Witnesses to these accidents often hesitate to rush victims to hospitals due to fears of harassment by police, unnecessary legal entanglements, or financial liabilities. This reluctance to help has created a moral crisis alongside the public safety concern. Recognizing this growing problem, the Indian government issued comprehensive guidelines in 2015 to protect good Samaritans who come forward to assist accident victims. These guidelines aim to create a safer legal environment for citizens who choose to act compassionately in emergency situations, ensuring they can help without fear of unwarranted consequences.

## Background

The Guidelines for Protection of Good Samaritans were issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on 12th May 2015, following a Supreme Court directive in the case of SaveLife Foundation vs. Union of India (Writ Petition No. 235 of 2012). The court ordered the Central Government to establish protections for good Samaritans until appropriate legislation could be enacted.

The guidelines were developed in response to the growing number of road accidents in India and the reluctance of bystanders to assist victims due to fear of legal harassment or financial liability. The Supreme Court recognized the need to create a safe environment for citizens who wish to help accident victims without facing unnecessary consequences.

## Protections for Good Samaritans

Any bystander or good Samaritan, including eyewitnesses, may take an injured person to the nearest hospital. These individuals shall be allowed to leave immediately after providing their address if they are eyewitnesses. Importantly, good Samaritans shall not be liable for any civil or criminal liability resulting from their actions to help accident victims. They shall be suitably rewarded or compensated as may be decided by the state governments in this regard.

Those who call emergency services to report an accident shall not be compelled to reveal their name or personal details either on the phone or in person. This anonymity protection extends to medical legal case (MLC) forms, where disclosure of personal information shall be voluntary and optional.

## Hospital Responsibilities

All hospitals, both public and private, shall not detain good Samaritans or demand payment for registration and admission costs unless the good Samaritan is a family member or relative of the injured person. Doctors who fail to respond appropriately in emergency situations related to road accidents may face professional misconduct proceedings under the Indian Medical Council regulations.

Hospitals are required to publish a charter in Hindi, English, and the local language of the state or union territory at their entrance. This charter must clearly state that the hospital will not detain good Samaritans or demand deposits for treating accident victims. Hospitals shall also provide acknowledgment to good Samaritans confirming that an injured person was brought to the hospital, including the time and place of the incident.

## Legal Process Protections

Good Samaritans who are required to give statements as eyewitnesses shall be examined only once to minimize inconvenience. Standard operating procedures shall be developed by state governments to ensure these individuals are not harassed or intimidated during the legal process.

Video conferencing may be used extensively during the examination of good Samaritans to further reduce inconvenience and potential harassment. Personal information disclosure remains voluntary throughout all interactions with authorities.

## Implementation and Compliance

All hospitals shall implement these guidelines immediately. Appropriate action shall be taken against hospitals or authorities that do not comply with these requirements. The Central and State Governments shall issue letters to all hospitals and medical institutions under their jurisdiction, enclosing a copy of the official gazette notification.

To ensure public awareness, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways shall publish advertisements in national and regional newspapers, as well as through electronic media, to inform citizens of their rights and protections under these guidelines.

## Liability Clarification

These guidelines specifically note that they do not affect the liability of motor vehicle drivers involved in road accidents as specified under Section 134 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The protections afforded to good Samaritans under these guidelines are separate from and do not impact the legal responsibilities of those who may have caused the accident.

The guidelines aim to encourage citizens to assist road accident victims without fear of harassment or legal consequences, while ensuring proper medical care and legal procedures are followed. By creating a supportive environment for bystanders who wish to help, the government hopes to improve the outcomes for road accident victims across India.

For further details write to [contact@indialaw.in](mailto:contact@indialaw.in)

Disclaimer - This article is intended for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Readers should seek specific legal counsel in relation to their individual circumstances.

[Download PDF](https://www.indialaw.in/blog/civil/protection-good-samaritan-road-accident//pdf/)

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# IndiaLaw LLP — Offices & Contact Details

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## General Contact

| | |
|---|---|
| **Website** | https://www.indialaw.in |
| **Primary email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Primary phone** | +91 836-9995919 |
| **Contact form** | https://www.indialaw.in/connect/ |
| **Careers (separate channel)** | https://www.indialaw.in/careers/ |


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### 1. Mumbai — Registered Office & Head Office (Apeejay Chambers)

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | Apeejay Chambers, Ground Floor, Wallace Street, Fort, Mumbai – 400 001 |
| **Phone** | [022-6924-7400](tel:02269247400) |
| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/mumbai/ |
| **Practice focus** | Litigation · Arbitration · Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Corporate · Banking · Real Estate · IP |
| **Notes** | The HQ. 5 partners based here. Handles PAN-India litigation, arbitration, corporate, banking, IP and real estate practice. Largest team across all offices. |

### 2. Mumbai — Non-Litigation Office (Excelsior, Fort)

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | 4th Floor, New Excelsior Theatre Pvt. Ltd., Amrit Keshav Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai – 400 001 |
| **Phone** | [022-697-40500](tel:022-697-40500) |
| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/mumbai/ |
| **Practice focus** | Non-litigation only — consultations, negotiations, transactional work |
| **Notes** | Opened 2024. Litigation and arbitration remain at the Apeejay Chambers head office. |

### 3. Delhi

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | Flat No. 1107 & 1108, Prakashdeep Building, Tolstoy Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110 001 |
| **Phone** | (general line: +91 836-9995919) |
| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/delhi/ |
| **Practice focus** | Litigation · Arbitration · Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Corporate · Banking · Real Estate |
| **Notes** | 3 partners based here. Located near the Supreme Court of India, Delhi High Court and other appellate bodies. |

### 4. Kolkata

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | Centre Point Building, Room No. 214, 2nd Floor, Premises No. 21, Hemanta Basu Sarani, Opp. Great Eastern Hotel, P.S. Hare Street, Kolkata – 700 001, West Bengal |
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| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/kolkata/ |
| **Practice focus** | Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Commercial & Civil Litigation · Arbitration · Banking Litigation · Real Estate · Labour & Employment · Consumer |
| **Notes** | Advises banks, NBFCs, MSMEs and corporates on transactions and dispute resolution. Works in close coordination with the Mumbai HO. |

### 5. Chennai

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | GF-A, 19 Casa Major Road, Egmore, Chennai – 600 008 |
| **Phone** | (general line: +91 836-9995919) |
| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/chennai/ |
| **Practice focus** | Litigation · Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Real Estate |
| **Notes** | Full-fledged office with experienced legal team. Supported by Mumbai HO. |

### 6. Bengaluru (Bangalore)

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | INDIALAW LLP, No. 7 Chinnaswamy Mudaliar Road, Shivaji Nagar, Bangalore – 560 051 |
| **Phone** | [080-4167-2444](tel:08041672444) |
| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/bengaluru/ |
| **Practice focus** | Litigation · Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Real Estate · Family Laws · Labour |
| **Notes** | Located near Bangalore High Court. Handles corporate, commercial, banking and matrimonial disputes. |

### 7. Hyderabad

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | 403, 4th Floor, Sanatana Ecstasy Building, beside Tanishq Show Room, Himayathnagar, Hyderabad – 500 029, Telangana |
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| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/hyderabad/ |
| **Practice focus** | Litigation · Banking · Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Real Estate |
| **Notes** | Particularly well known for complex banking matters and real estate transactions. |

### 8. Cochin (Kochi)

| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | Second Floor, Pulikkal Building, K.K. Padmanabhan Road, Ernakulam North – 682 018, Kerala |
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| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/cochin/ |
| **Practice focus** | Litigation · Insolvency & Bankruptcy · Real Estate |
| **Notes** | Commercial disputes, property litigation, financial-claim arbitrations and real estate transactions. |

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| | |
|---|---|
| **Address** | No. 16 & 17, Silver Offices, 17th Floor, Wave One, Sector 18, Noida – 201 301 |
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| **Email** | contact@indialaw.in |
| **Page** | https://www.indialaw.in/noida/ |
| **Practice focus** | Aviation · Insurance · Mergers & Acquisitions · Corporate |
| **Office head** | **Mr. Dinesh Gupta** (joined August 2025 to lead and expand the corporate practice) |
| **Notes** | Newest office. Sector-focused on highly regulated industries serving NCR-based clients. |

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## Quick-Dial Phone List

| Office | Phone |
|---|---|
| Mumbai HO (Apeejay) | 022-6924-7400 |
| Mumbai Excelsior | 022-697-40500 |
| Kolkata | +91 33 4813 1001 |
| Bengaluru | 080-4167-2444 |
| Hyderabad | 040-6666-5166 |
| Cochin | 0484-3583961 |
| **General / Marketing line** | **+91 836-9995919** |

Delhi, Chennai and Noida route through the general number.

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