2018 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 14 - Criminal Law
RS 14:502 - Failure to seek assistance

§502. Failure to seek assistance

            A.(1) Any person at the scene of an emergency who knows that another person has suffered serious bodily injury shall, to the extent that the person can do so without danger or peril to self or others, give reasonable assistance to the injured person. Reasonable assistance includes immediately seeking or reporting the need for medical assistance from an appropriate authority.

            (2) Any person who engages in reckless behavior that results in the serious bodily injury of any person shall, to the extent that the person can do so without danger or peril to self or others, give reasonable assistance to the person. Reasonable assistance includes immediately seeking or reporting the need for medical assistance from an appropriate authority. 

            B. For purposes of this Section:

            (1) "Appropriate authority" includes:

            (a) Any state or local law enforcement agency.

            (b) A 911 Public Safety Answering Point as defined in Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

            (c) Emergency medical personnel.

            (2) "Reckless behavior" means an activity or behavior in which a reasonable person knew or reasonably should have known that the activity or behavior may result in injury to another, including but not limited to excessive consumption of alcohol, binge drinking, drag racing, consumption of any controlled dangerous substance, acts of hazing, or other similar activity, including activity which is defined as a criminal offense under this Title.

            (3) "Serious bodily injury" means bodily injury that involves unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, or protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty, death, or a substantial risk of death.

            C.(1) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, any person who violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than one year, or both.

            (2) If the serious bodily injury results in the death of the person, any person who violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than five years, or both.

            Acts 2018, No. 637, §1.