Bystander Liability

Bystander liability refers to the legal responsibility that a person may have if they witness harm being done to someone else and fail to take reasonable action to help. In many jurisdictions, there is generally no obligation for bystanders to intervene; however, if a bystander has a special relationship with the victim or if they created the dangerous situation, they may be held liable for not helping. The concept emphasizes the moral and sometimes legal expectations of individuals to assist those in peril, weighing their actions against societal norms and legal statutes.