imminent danger — Law Dictionary

Definitions from Case Law

From 239 U.S. 595 - Seaboard Air Line Railway v. Horton · 1916Most cited · 72 citing opinions

To relieve the employer from responsibility for injuries that may befall the employee while remaining at his work in reliance upon a promise of reparation, there must be something more than knowledge by the employee that danger confronts him, or that it is constant. The danger must be imminent,—immediately threatening,—so as to render it clearly imprudent for him to confront it, even in the line of duty, pending the promise.

United States Code

30 U.S.C. § 802 — for purposes of this chapter

“imminent danger” means the existence of any condition or practice in a coal or other mine which could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm before such condition or practice can be abated;

Black's Law Dictionary

Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910

In relation to homicide in self-defense, this term means immediate danger, such as must be instantly met, such as cannot be guarded against by calling for the assistance of others or the protection of the law. U. S. v. Outer-bridge, 27 Fed. Cas. 390; State v. West, 45 La. Ann. 14, 12 South. 7; State v. Smith, 43 Or. 109, 71 Pac. 973. Or, as otherwise defined, such an appearance of threatened and impending injury as would put a reasonable and prudent man to his instant defense. State v. Fontenot, 50 La. Ann. 537, 23 South. 634, 69 Am. St. Rep. 455; Shorter v. People, 2 N. Y. 201, 51 Am. Dec. 286.