what kind of lawyer do i need for emotional distress

by Amina McClure Jr. 7 min read

A personal injury lawyer can help you receive the maximum compensation for your emotional distress case. After an accident, you should always consult with a personal injury law firm, such as Warren & Simpson, P.C. , so you can receive the compensation you deserve for your injuries, both physical and emotional.

At Citywide Law Group, a personal injury lawyer can help you maximize the amount of money you receive.
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Outrageous Conduct
  • Abuse of the position of authority.
  • Knowledge of a victim's vulnerability to emotional distress, and.
  • Acting with knowledge that the behavior would likely cause emotional distress.

Full Answer

Can I Sue my attorney for emotional distress?

Addressing this complex and sometimes subjective area of law requires the expertise of an experienced attorney able to assess the strength of the case and devise an effective legal strategy. An intentional infliction of emotional distress claim may be difficult to prove because of the circumstances and availability of evidence. To prove this claim, the behavior of the actor …

How can my Lawyer prove my emotional distress?

Jul 20, 2020 · As you can see, suing for emotional distress is possible, but it requires navigating a complex legal system. That’s why it’s important you consult with a personal injury attorney so they can assess the strength of your case and provide you with the most suitable options. Contact our team of legal experts to see how we can help you in your case.

When can you sue someone for emotional distress?

Aug 07, 2020 · Depending on state law and the type of case, it may be possible to claim compensation for emotional distress even if you don’t have bodily injuries. Some types of cases that do not depend on physical impact may include defamation, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and loss of consortium.

How long can you sue for emotional distress?

Sep 29, 2021 · You should be able to show that you have experienced emotional distress to be able to sue the person or organisation responsible. Your solicitor will help you build your case, but it could be useful to think about what evidence you could rely on early in the process. This could include: Communications.

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Can you sue for emotional stress?

The courts recognize emotional distress as a type of damage that can be recovered through a civil lawsuit. This means you can sue someone for emotional trauma or distress if you can provide evidence to support your claims.

What is considered emotional distress?

Mental suffering as an emotional response to an experience that arises from the effect or memory of a particular event, occurrence, pattern of events or condition. Emotional distress can usually be discerned from its symptoms (ex. Anxiety, depression, loss of ability to perform tasks, or physical illness).

How do you prove intentional infliction of emotional distress?

The tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress has four elements: (1) the defendant must act intentionally or recklessly; (2) the defendant's conduct must be extreme and outrageous; and (3) the conduct must be the cause (4) of severe emotional distress.

Is causing emotional distress a crime?

Intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED; sometimes called the tort of outrage) is a common law tort that allows individuals to recover for severe emotional distress caused by another individual who intentionally or recklessly inflicted emotional distress by behaving in an "extreme and outrageous" way.

What are the 5 signs of emotional suffering?

Know the 5 signs of Emotional SufferingPersonality change in a way that seems different for that person.Agitation or displaying anger, anxiety or moodiness.Withdrawal or isolation from others.Poor self-care and perhaps engaging in risky behavior.Hopelessness, or feelings of being overwhelmed and worthless.Dec 11, 2020

Can you sue someone for harassment?

Yes, depending on where it occurred and what the facts are, you can sue for harassment: If you are harassed in the workplace and are a member of a protected class, you may be able to sue for workplace discrimination under federal and state law.Nov 22, 2021

What is considered severe emotional distress?

Severe emotional distress is that which is substantial or enduring. It has also been defined as a kind of distress no reasonable person is expected to endure. It may consist of any highly unpleasant reaction such as fright, grief, shame, humiliation, embarrassment, anger, or worry.

What is examples of severe emotional distress?

Emotional Distress ExamplesDiminished quality of life.Lost enjoyment of life.Cognitive changes after a head injury.Distress over a disability.Embarrassment or humiliation.Psychological trauma.Post-traumatic stress disorder.Losing sleep.More items...•Oct 18, 2019

What are some examples of emotional distress?

Emotional distress examples include fear, anxiety, crying, lack of sleep, depression and humiliation. You might use your own testimony, testimony from family and friends and journaling of your symptoms over time to show the emotional impact of the accident.

How do you prove psychological harm?

5 Ways to Prove Emotional Distress1) Symptom onset and duration.2) The intensity of your emotional distress.3) Associated physical symptoms.4) The root cause of your emotional distress.5) Validation from medical professionals.Oct 21, 2019

What constitutes as severe mental distress?

Overview. The tort of intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) occurs when one acts abominably or outrageously with intent to cause another to suffer severe emotional distress, such as issuing the threat of future harm.

What are the four elements of an intentional infliction of emotional distress claim?

According to Personal Injury Law (2009), to successfully prove a claim for IIED, one must establish four elements: the defendant acted intentionally or recklessly; the defendant's conduct was extreme and outrageous; the defendant's act is the cause of the distress; and the plaintiff suffers severe emotional distress as ...Oct 5, 2009

Is It Possible to Sue for Emotional Distress?

To sue for emotional distress, evaluate the type of legal claim that you have. Once you identify that type of legal claim, state it in your complai...

How Do You Prove Emotional Distress?

To prove non-economic damages in Florida, such as emotional distress, you need to show the severity of your physical injuries and the extent of you...

How Much Can You Get For Emotional Distress?

How much you can legally recover for emotional distress depends on several factors. The severity of your physical injuries, the mental injuries tha...

Is It Possible to Suffer Emotional Distress Damages Without Physical Damages?

Yes, it is possible to suffer emotional distress damages without any physical damages. Depending on state law and the type of case, it may be possi...

What are the different types of emotional distress?

As noted above, there are two main types of emotional distress claims. The different types of claims available for emotional distress include: 1 Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress: This claim for emotional distress occurs when a defendant’s actions are accidental or unintentional. However, there must still be a causal connection between the defendant’s action and the emotional distress the plaintiff suffers. For instance, cases where a person witnessed the death or injury to their family member from a drunk driver may qualify for negligent infliction of emotional distress; and 2 Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: This claim for emotional distress occurs when a defendant’s actions are intentional or reckless. For example, an employer having you fired and escorting you out in handcuffs may be humiliating, that treatment would likely not rise to a level of intentional infliction of emotional distress.#N#However, a case where you have been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder due to having been repeatedly subject to bullying and workplace harassment, and your employer knew but took not action, may be likely to succeed.

What is the statute of limitations for emotional distress?

Importantly, emotional distress claims have a time limit in which they must be brought, known as a “statute of limitations.”. Thus, it is important that you consult with an attorney immediately in order to make sure that your claims are brought within the time limit specified by your local jurisdiction. A typical statute of limitations period ...

Why is it important to use an expert witness?

This means that the use of expert witness is often necessary to help prove to a court that you both suffered an actual injury and the amount of damages that resulted from that injury. Because of the use of expert witnesses, suing for emotional distress is often very expensive.

What is zone of danger?

In legal terms, the zone of danger is the area within which one is in actual physical peril from the negligent conduct of another person. This means that often in order to recover for emotional distress, you must either be directly injured yourself or you were also in danger of physical injury. For example, if you were in a car wreck ...

Can you recover damages for emotional distress?

It is often very difficult to recover damages for injuries that resulted in emotional distress. Unlike a broken bone or other physical injury, it is often hard to definitively prove your injuries. Thus, it is important to understand the different types of emotional distress claims that you may make before attempting to file a lawsuit based on ...

Can you sue for emotional distress?

It is important to note that in most cases, you may only be able to sue for emotional damages if the incident in question resulted in physical harm. However, as of June 2019, some courts have recognized a right to award monetary damages for emotional distress claims without a showing of actual physical harm in cases of sexual harassment ...

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

Outrageous conduct toward someone falls under the intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) and the victim of such conduct should seek the advice of an attorney experienced in this area of law.#N#Bringing legal action against the person causing emotional distress may stop the conduct and recover any losses caused by the outrageous conduct..

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Claims

Addressing this complex and sometimes subjective area of law requires the expertise of an experienced attorney able to assess the strength of the case and devise an effective legal strategy.#N#An intentional infliction of emotional distress claim may be difficult to prove because of the circumstances and availability of evidence.

How an Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress Attorney Can Help

The circumstances of the varying degrees of behavior and the degree of distress suffered will be different in each case. A thorough analysis of the facts and development of admissible evidence are important in proving the claim and establishing the amount of damages pursued.

What is emotional distress?

Emotional distress is a type of mental suffering or anguish induced by an incident of either negligence or through intent. The courts recognize emotional distress as a type of damage that can be recovered through ...

What is intentional infliction of emotional distress?

Intentional infliction of emotional distress: This type of claim occurs when the defendant intentionally or recklessly inflicts emotional trauma upon another individual. For instance, while name-calling another person would not be considered grounds for a case, constant tormenting and verbal attacks could be.

What is the severity of an incident?

The severity of the initial incident: The more extreme and disturbing the initial incident is, the more likely the courts will rule for emotional distress. Testimonies: The courts will factor in testimonies of how the incident impacted your life. Family, friends, doctors, or co-workers can all testify on your behalf.

Can emotional distress be recovered?

Most modern jurisdictions will permit the recovery of emotional distress damages if the individual was merely in the zone of danger. For example, a parent was walking with their child when a drunk driver collided and killed the child.

How to sue for emotional distress?

To sue for emotional distress, evaluate the type of legal claim that you have. Once you identify that type of legal claim, state it in your complaint for compensation. File the complaint with the court. Take the necessary steps to determine what the case is worth. Gather the evidence to prove the case and continue with steps in the legal process. ...

How to determine what a case is worth?

Take the necessary steps to determine what the case is worth. Gather the evidence to prove the case and continue with steps in the legal process. You may have the opportunity to settle with the other party, or you will need to take the case to trial to sue for emotional distress.

Can you claim emotional damages?

First, if you have physical injuries, in most cases, you qualify to claim emotional damages. You make your demand in addition to what you ask for in compensation for your physical injuries. If you’re in a car accident or hurt in a slip and fall, these are two examples where you can add emotional suffering on top of economic losses. The amount of emotional damages increases as the injuries become more severe. However, determining what you can claim can be a complicated task.

Is invasion of privacy a physical injury?

For example, a case that involves invasion of privacy, by its nature, doesn’t result in a physical injury. Nor does a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. When these types of torts occur, the victim may claim losses based on what’s allowed under the law; there is no requirement of a physical injury.

Can you get compensation for emotional distress?

Depending on state law and the type of case, it may be possible to claim compensation for emotional distress even if you don’t have bodily injuries. Some types of cases that do not depend on physical impact may include defamation, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and loss of consortium.

How do you know if you have mental anguish?

Symptoms of Mental Anguish 1 Sorrow 2 Terror 3 Isolation 4 Loss of self-confidence 5 Dropping out of your usual activities because of loss of self-confidence

What is non-economic damages?

With mental anguish or emotional distress, victims suffer from non-economic damages – injuries that are not out-of-pocket and are relatively hard to quantify. Placing a value on your non-economic damages, therefore, requires the plaintiff to first revert to the value of his or her special damages, which is the sum of one’s lost wages, ...

What is the number to call for emotional distress?

If you or someone you love has suffered from the intentional infliction of emotional distress, call The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP at 1-800-624-8888 or submit an online questionnaire. The initial consultation is FREE.

What is extreme and outrageous?

a) Extreme and Outrageous. The wrongdoer’s behavior must be deemed extreme and outrageous. If the wrongdoer’s actions would cause a person of average temperament to suffer emotional distress, then those actions can be deemed “outrageous.”. Consideration is given for those individuals whose temperament is more sensitive or high-strung.

What are the different types of emotional distress?

There are different types of emotional distress a victim can suffer, including: Depression. Anxiety. Phobia. Grief. When a victim sues for emotional damages, he is pursuing financial compensation for the emotional injury he experienced as a direct result of the distress. For example, a victim who suffered severe injuries in a car accident might ...

What are the causes of emotional distress?

An inability to complete everyday tasks. Ruined social or professional reputation. Many different types of incidents can lead to emotional distress. These include, but are not limited to: Robberies. Car accidents. Dog bites.

Is a civil lawsuit the same as a criminal case?

Civil lawsuits are not the same as criminal proceedings, and even if the victim’s emotional distress resulted from a criminal action, the claim for compensation is a civil one. With a civil claim, the burden of proof for determining whether an action actually did happen is lower than it is in a criminal case.

What is a NIED claim?

This is a type of legal claim through which a victim may pursue financial compensation for emotional damage even if she did not suffer a physical injury. The rules for NIEDs vary from state to state.

What happens if a defendant is negligent?

In some states, if the defendant's negligent actions caused the plaintiff to suffer an impact, the plaintiff might have an NIED claim. In other states, the plaintiff being close enough to the defendant's actions to potentially suffer harm is enough to render a claim valid.

What is an intentional infliction of emotional distress?

An intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED) claim is a bit different than an NIED. With this type of claim, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant intended to cause him emotional trauma through outlandish, violent or otherwise irrational behavior, and that he did, in fact, cause such trauma.

Can you sue someone for emotional distress?

Suing for emotional damages is not an option for every person who has been damaged by someone else's actions. You must have grounds to sue for emotional distress to recover financial compensation for the related losses you suffer. Grounds for emotional distress are quantifiable losses the victim can prove to the court.

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