Examples of Implied Contracts
Example 1: Sam enters a hair salon, sits down in a chair, and asks for a haircut, which the barber then provides. By asking for the haircut, Sam has impliedly agreed to pay for the haircut. By beginning to cut the hair, the barber has impliedly agreed to provide that service in exchange for monetary compensation.
Example 2: Ryan, a doctor, witnesses his neighbor collapse on his front porch as he chances to be strolling past his home. After rushing to his neighbor’s aid, Ryan discovers that he has had a stroke and treats him medically until help from the emergency services arrives. Later, Ryan gives the neighbor the bill for his medical services. In this case, the court will acknowledge the existence of an implied-in-law contract between Ryan and his neighbor because the fundamental justice principle suggests that Ryan should be fairly compensated for the professional services he rendered, even though the neighbor neither requested the services nor had any intention of paying Ryan at the time.