A safety needle device comprising: a hub including a passageway extending therethrough and a needle cannula having a puncture tip extending from a forward end thereof; a shield member in telescoping association with the hub, at least one of the hub and the shield member adapted for relative telescopic movement with respect to the other between a first position in which the puncture tip of the needle cannula is exposed from a forward end of the shield member and a second position in which the puncture tip of the needle cannula is encompassed within the shield member; a drive member disposed between the hub and the shield member and capable of biasing the hub and the shield member telescopically away from each other; characterized in that: a contact member comprising a lever in pivotal engagement with the shield member including a forward portion adjacent the puncture tip of the needle cannula and a rearward portion including structure to releasably maintain the hub and the shield member in the first position, the contact member adapted to maintain the hub and the shield member in the first position against the bias of the drive member with the needle cannula exposed from a forward end of the shield member, and the contact member movable during contact with a surface, thereby permitting release of the hub and the shield member from the first position and permitting the drive member to bias at least one of the hub and the shield member toward the second position. a hub including a passageway extending therethrough and a needle cannula having a puncture tip extending from a forward end thereof; a shield member in telescoping association with the hub, at least one of the hub and the shield member adapted for relative telescopic movement with respect to the other between a first position in which the puncture tip of the needle cannula is exposed from a forward end of the shield member and a second position in which the puncture tip of the needle cannula is encompassed within the shield member; a drive member disposed between the hub and the shield member and capable of biasing the hub and the shield member telescopically away from each other; characterized in that: a contact member comprising a lever in pivotal engagement with the shield member including a forward portion adjacent the puncture tip of the needle cannula and a rearward portion including structure to releasably maintain the hub and the shield member in the first position, the contact member adapted to maintain the hub and the shield member in the first position against the bias of the drive member with the needle cannula exposed from a forward end of the shield member, and the contact member movable during contact with a surface, thereby permitting release of the hub and the shield member from the first position and permitting the drive member to bias at least one of the hub and the shield member toward the second position. a contact member comprising a lever in pivotal engagement with the shield member including a forward portion adjacent the puncture tip of the needle cannula and a rearward portion including structure to releasably maintain the hub and the shield member in the first position, the contact member adapted to maintain the hub and the shield member in the first position against the bias of the drive member with the needle cannula exposed from a forward end of the shield member, and the contact member movable during contact with a surface, thereby permitting release of the hub and the shield member from the first position and permitting the drive member to bias at least one of the hub and the shield member toward the second position.