{"data":{"id":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-55-7-26","jurisdiction":"us-wv","citation":"W. Va. Code § 55-7-26","heading":"First responders who use forced entry in response to 911 call; limited immunity from civil and criminal liability.","body":"(a) \"First responder\" includes: law-enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel and others that respond to calls for emergency medical assistance.\n(b) Neither a first responder nor his or her supervisor, agency, employer or supervising entity is liable for any civil damages or criminal liability resulting from a forcible entry of a home, business or other structure if the first responder:\n(1) Is responding to a documented 911 call for emergency medical assistance;\n(2) Has made reasonable efforts to summon an occupant of the home, business, or structure by knocking or otherwise notifying the occupant(s) of his or her presence;\n(3) Has not received a response from an occupant within a reasonable period of time; and\n(4) Has a good faith belief that it is necessary to make a forcible entry for the purposes of rendering emergency medical assistance or preventing imminent bodily harm.\n(c) Nothing in this section shall affect the standard of care a first responder must employ when rendering aid after gaining entry.","path":["CHAPTER 55. ACTIONS, SUITS AND ARBITRATION; JUDICIAL SALE.","ARTICLE 7. ACTIONS FOR INJURIES."],"source_url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/55-7-26/","current_through":"as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:30:57Z","sha256":"4545b2dae166b8b7aedee4d3c2acf1d6451a376bbaff3f76fa6f9e7844966b61","source_id":"us-wv","stale":true,"prev":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-55-7-25","next":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-55-7-27"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}