Under Rule 409 about offers to pay medical expenses, which statement is correct?

Under Rule 409 about offers to pay medical expenses, which statement is correct?

• A. Such offers are admissible to prove liability.
• B. Such offers may be used to show the defendant's state of mind.
• C. Such offers are not admissible to prove liability.
• D. Such offers are admissible in all contexts.

Answer: (C)

Rule 409 says that evidence of furnishing or offering to pay medical, hospital, or similar expenses arising from an injury is not admissible to prove liability. The idea behind this rule is to encourage people to seek medical care and to avoid letting the mere act of paying someone’s medical bills be used as proof that the payer is at fault. So the correct view is that these offers cannot be used to establish who caused the injury. The other statements clash with this rule. It’s not allowed to use offers to prove liability, and the rule isn’t framed to support showing the defendant’s state of mind or to be applicable in every context. Offers may have other admissible purposes under different rules, but they cannot be admitted to prove fault.

Rule 409 says that evidence of furnishing or offering to pay medical, hospital, or similar expenses arising from an injury is not admissible to prove liability. The idea behind this rule is to encourage people to seek medical care and to avoid letting the mere act of paying someone’s medical bills be used as proof that the payer is at fault. So the correct view is that these offers cannot be used to establish who caused the injury.

The other statements clash with this rule. It’s not allowed to use offers to prove liability, and the rule isn’t framed to support showing the defendant’s state of mind or to be applicable in every context. Offers may have other admissible purposes under different rules, but they cannot be admitted to prove fault.