Legal Definitions - danger-invites-rescue doctrine

The danger-invites-rescue doctrine is a legal principle that states that when someone is in danger, it is natural for others to try to rescue them. This means that if someone is in a dangerous situation, and another person tries to rescue them but gets injured in the process, the person who caused the danger may be held responsible for the injuries of the rescuer.

• If a person is drowning in a pool, and someone jumps in to save them but gets injured, the owner of the pool may be held responsible for the injuries of the rescuer.
• If a building is on fire, and a firefighter gets injured while trying to rescue someone inside, the owner of the building may be held responsible for the injuries of the firefighter.

These examples illustrate the danger-invites-rescue doctrine because they show that when someone is in danger, it is natural for others to try to rescue them, even if it puts them in harm's way. The doctrine holds the person who caused the danger responsible for any injuries that occur as a result of the rescue attempt.