Iowa Code » Chapter 613 — PARTIES — CAUSES OF ACTION — LIABILITY
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 613.17 (2026)

Emergency assistance in an accident

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. A person, who in good faith renders emergency care or assistance without compensation, shall not be liable for any civil damages for acts or omissions occurring at the place of an emergency or accident or while the person is in transit to or from the emergency or accident or while the person is at or being moved to or from an emergency shelter unless such acts or omissions constitute recklessness or willful and wanton misconduct. An emergency includes but is not limited to a disaster as defined in section 29C.2 or the period of time immediately following a disaster for which the governor has issued a proclamation of a disaster emergency pursuant to section 29C.6.

a. For purposes of this subsection, if a volunteer fire fighter, a volunteer operator or attendant of an ambulance or rescue squad service, a volunteer paramedic, a volunteer emergency medical technician, or a volunteer registered member of the national ski patrol system receives nominal compensation not based upon the value of the services performed, that person shall be considered to be receiving no compensation.

b. For purposes of this subsection, operation of a motor vehicle in compliance with section 321.231 by a volunteer fire fighter, volunteer operator, or attendant of an ambulance or rescue squad service, a volunteer paramedic, or volunteer emergency medical technician shall be considered rendering emergency care or assistance.

c. For purposes of this subsection, a person rendering emergency care or assistance includes a person involved in a workplace rescue arising out of an emergency or accident.

2. The following persons or entities, while acting reasonably and in good faith, who render emergency care or assistance relating to the preparation for and response to a sudden cardiac arrest emergency, shall not be liable for any civil damages for acts or omissions arising out of the use of an automated external defibrillator, whether occurring at the place of an emergency or accident or while such persons are in transit to or from the emergency or accident or while such persons are at or being moved to or from an emergency shelter:

a. A person or entity that acquires an automated external defibrillator.

b. A person or entity that owns, manages, or is otherwise responsible for the premises on which an automated external defibrillator is located if the person or entity maintains the automated external defibrillator in a condition for immediate and effective use at all times, subject to standards developed by the department of health and human services by rule.

c. A person who retrieves an automated external defibrillator in response to a perceived sudden cardiac arrest emergency.

d. A person who uses, attempts to use, or fails to use an automated external defibrillator in response to a perceived sudden cardiac arrest emergency.

e. A person or entity that provides instruction in the use of an automated external defibrillator. [C71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §613.17; 82 Acts, ch 1198, §1] 91 Acts, ch 182, §1; 96 Acts, ch 1219, §74; 2008 Acts, ch 1052, §1; 2009 Acts, ch 40, §1; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1269 Referred to in §139A.2, 141A.1 Assistance in response to crime, see §915.3 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases, 2010–2016 · leading case: Shannon & Danny NELSON, Individually, & on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor, Appellees, v. Lynn M. LINDAMAN, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, & Mercy Med. Ctr.—Des Moines, Appellants, 867 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2015).
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Shannon & Danny NELSON, Individually, & on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor, Appellees, v. Lynn M. LINDAMAN, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, & Mercy Med. Ctr.—Des Moines, Appellants, 867 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2015). · cites it 2× “§ 613.17 (giving immunity to any person who “in good faith renders emergency care or assistance without compensation .”
Carter v. Reese (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5569 (Ohio 2016). · cites it 4× “Code 34-30-12-1(b) (“a person who * * * renders emergency care at the scene of the emergency or accident is immune from civil liability * * *”); Iowa Code Ann. 613.17(1) (“A person, who * * * renders emergency care or assistance * * * shall not be liable for any civil damages *…”
Pamela Sue Hook v. Tito Trevino, Individually, & Tito Trevino D/B/A Trevino Law Offices, 839 N.W.2d 434 (Iowa 2013). · cites it 2× “(1969) (codified at Iowa Code § 613.17 (1971)) (creating immunity for Good Samaritans in order to “encourage persons to render emergency care or assistance without fear of being sued”).”
Certification of a Question of Law, 2010 SD 16 (S.D. 2010). “[4] Idaho Code 5-330; Iowa Code Ann. 613.17; Md.Code Ann., Cts.”
Gronseth v. Chester Rural Fire Prot. Dist., 779 N.W.2d 158 (S.D. 2010). “Idaho Code 5-330; Iowa Code Ann. 613.17; Md.Code Ann., Cts.”
Shannon & Danny Nelson, Individually, & on Behalf of E.N. F/K/A E.N., a Minor v. Lynn M. Lindaman, Lynn M. Lindaman, M.D., P.L.C. D/B/A Lindaman Orthopaedic, & Mercy Med. Ctr. – Des Moines (Iowa 2015). “§ 613.17 (giving immunity to any person who “in good faith renders emergency care or assistance without compensation .”
— Iowa Code § 613.17(1) — 1 case
Carter v. Reese (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 5569 (Ohio 2016). “Code 34-30-12-1(b) (“a person who * * * renders emergency care at the scene of the emergency or accident is immune from civil liability * * *”); Iowa Code Ann. 613.17(1) (“A person, who * * * renders emergency care or assistance * * * shall not be liable for any civil damages *…”
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