what kind of lawyer should i see for emotinal distress

by Mr. Jaycee Yundt 4 min read

Usually a personal injury lawyer would handle an emotional distress case but a general civil litigator can handle both cases, including the damage to the property. An attorney practicing general civil litigation should be able to look into the merit of an emotional distress claim and a property damage claim as they would have knowledge and expertise in both.

An experienced personal injury attorney will help evaluate your case, build evidence to prove your injuries, hire expert witnesses, represent you in court, and even may take you case on a contingency fee basis to help you with the hire case fees associated with cases involving claims for emotional distress.Apr 2, 2019

Full Answer

How do I sue for emotional distress?

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.

How do you prove emotional distress in a personal injury case?

Sep 29, 2021 · Making an emotional distress claim. It may be possible for you to sue for emotional distress, depending on your situation. The main factor that will mean you can make a claim is whether someone’s negligence caused the harm you first suffered. This could be because you were hurt in an accident that was someone else’s fault.

Is it possible to suffer emotional distress without physical damages?

Sep 27, 2021 · Emotional distress can occur in a variety of ways after a traumatic incident. In many cases, those who sustain actual injuries also suffer from various types of emotional distress. This can be caused by the incident itself, the injuries, as well as the recovery process. Emotional distress can also be caused by an injury victim’s inability to ...

What causes emotional distress after an injury?

Jan 04, 2021 · Can You Sue For Emotional Distress In Georgia? Posted in Personal Injury on January 4, 2021. If you or somebody you care about sustains an injury caused by the careless, negligent, or wrongful actions of somebody else, there may be various types of compensation available for your injuries and other losses.

What counts as 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).

Can you sue for stress and anxiety?

If someone causes you mental stress and trauma — such as anxiety or paranoia — you can sue him or her for damages under the legal theory of emotional distress. But in reality, securing damages for stress and trauma is pretty challenging. Damages are awarded only when certain circumstances are present.Dec 24, 2013

What emotional things can you sue for?

Requirements When Suing for Emotional DamagesIntentional infliction or negligence.Evidence.Physical trauma.Medical malpractice.Witnessing a wrongful death.Personal injury.Wrongful arrests.Emotional distress after a traffic accident.More items...•Oct 19, 2020

How do you prove severe emotional distress?

To prove a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress in California a plaintiff must prove that:The defendant's conduct was outrageous,The conduct was either reckless or intended to cause emotional distress; and.As a result of the defendant's conduct the plaintiff suffered severe emotional distress.

Can I sue for harassment emotional distress?

Civil Harassment: Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress. State law lets you sue for extreme harassment that results in severe emotional distress. To prove what is called intentional infliction of emotional distress, you must show: Your harasser acted intentionally or recklessly.Nov 22, 2021

What are 5 emotional signs of stress?

What are the warning signs and symptoms of emotional stress?Heaviness in your chest, increased heart rate or chest pain.Shoulder, neck or back pain; general body aches and pains.Headaches.Grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw.Shortness of breath.Dizziness.Feeling tired, anxious, depressed.More items...•Dec 29, 2020

Can you claim damages for emotional distress?

It may be possible for you to sue for emotional distress, depending on your situation. The main factor that will mean you can make a claim is whether someone's negligence caused the harm you first suffered. This could be because you were hurt in an accident that was someone else's fault.Sep 29, 2021

How do you calculate emotional pain and suffering?

Generally, pain and suffering awards will be calculated by adding up the economic damages and multiplying them by a number between 1.5 and 5, depending on the severity of the injury.Mar 14, 2020

Can you sue for psychological abuse?

Yes, you can sue for emotional abuse. Attorneys across the United States recognize emotional abuse as a cause of action, allowing families of those victims of emotional abuse in nursing homes to sue in response to their loved ones' mistreatment.

Is emotional distress hard to prove?

Emotional distress may be one of the most difficult injuries to prove. Unlike a broken arm or leg, there are no X-rays someone can point to, or even a scar you can display to prove your injuries. Instead, emotional distress is largely psychological.Feb 4, 2013

What is mental anguish in legal terms?

In reference to law, mental anguish means a relatively high degree of mental pain and suffering one party inflicts upon another.

What is an example of a punitive damage?

Individuals can also be ordered to pay punitive damages that injure someone else due to negligent behavior. Examples of this would be drunk driving or distracted driving. In both cases, the defendant would have made a conscious decision to engage in behavior that could easily harm another person.

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...

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. ...

What are the laws in Florida for emotional distress?

Florida laws allow for emotional distress lawsuits in many circumstances. There are standards for when someone qualifies in order to claim damages in this category. Understanding what qualifies helps you claim the appropriate amount.

How to get emotional damages?

Investigate to determine if you can include emotional distress as part of the claim. Prepare a summons and complaint for the lawsuit – State the appropriate type of tort in your legal documents. Write a summons and complaint. Put the tort in question as one of the legal grounds for the claim. State that you have emotional damages in ...

What are some cases that do not depend on physical impact?

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. Be sure to review the facts and the applicable laws in your particular case to determine your rights and options. In any case, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer ...

Why is it important to show the extent of your physical injuries?

They testify to your diagnosis and its impact on your life. Also, showing the extent of your physical injuries helps prove emotional distress because it makes sense that mental injuries occur in proportion to physical injuries.

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.

Understanding Emotional Distress

Emotional distress can occur in a variety of ways after a traumatic incident. In many cases, those who sustain actual injuries also suffer from various types of emotional distress. This can be caused by the incident itself, the injuries, as well as the recovery process.

Proving Emotional Distress in a Personal Injury Claim

There may be various types of evidence that can be used to prove emotional distress after an accident occurs. Unlike other types of damages, including medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, there are no direct bills or receipts that can show pain and suffering or emotional distress.

Working With an Attorney

It is crucial to work with a skilled personal injury lawyer in Long Beach, California who can help properly calculate all total losses after an injury incident. This will include not only calculating economic losses but also calculating various types of non-economic losses such as pain and suffering and emotional distress.

Emotional distress claims in Georgia

Most people realize that it is possible for a person to suffer from emotional distress due to an incident that did not cause a direct impact on their body.

What types of compensation are available?

In the event a plaintiff is able to recover emotional distress damages through the impact rule in Georgia, there are various types of compensation they could receive. Some of the most common types of emotional distress damages awarded and personal injury claim in Atlanta include coverage for a victim’s:

What is emotional distress?

Often, emotional distress follows a physical injury caused by the negligence of a business.

What is distress in court?

This is typically seen in forms of harassment, attacks, and even forms of physical harm. All of these things can have a negative effect on the person’s mental health; therefore, it can make a case in court.

What evidence is needed to prove emotional distress?

A victim who is suing for emotional distress must provide a sufficient evidence to prove that her emotional distress and resulting losses were directly caused by the defendant’s actions. This evidence includes: Expert testimony from the victim’s mental health care provider. Expert testimony from the victim’s doctors.

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 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 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.

What is the statute of limitations on emotional distress in New York?

New York Statute of Limitations on Emotional Distress. When someone suffers emotional injuries because of another person’s intentional, reckless or negligent actions, she can experience psychological damage that can negatively impact her life and health.

What is the onus of a victim's testimony?

In any emotional distress damages claim, the onus is on the claimant to prove that she suffered quantifiable emotional harm because of the defendant's actions. Successfully demonstrating this can be difficult.

What is the primary cause of emotional trauma?

In some cases, it is the incident itself that causes the victim’s emotional distress. In others, like car accidents and dog bites, the physical injury the victim suffers is the primary cause of emotional trauma.

Calculating Emotional Distress Damages

Placing a value on your pain and suffering, also called non-economic damages, starts with adding up your hard costs, meaning the total of all expenses related to the injury.

Can I Sue for Emotional Distress?

Injuries to our muscles, bones, or internal organs can cause severe pain and other physical symptoms which may continue for weeks, months, or even years. Medical treatment may be painful, or have uncomfortable side effects.

Gathering Evidence of Emotional Distress

You know your emotional harm is real, but it’s still necessary to gather evidence in support of your claim. Adjusters need to account for every dollar of compensation they pay. The evidence you provide gives the adjuster a good reason to pay more for your personal injury case.

What are the causes of emotional abuse?

Emotional abuse at work is always about power. The conscious, repeated effort to wound an employee with words is designed to undermine those employees' accomplishments and rob them of their self-confidence. Workplace harassment can include: 1 Misplaced blame for errors 2 Sabotage of work done 3 Unreasonable work demands 4 Stealing credit for work done 5 Discounting accomplishments 6 Intimidation 7 Insults and put-downs 8 Humiliation 9 Threats to a person's job, seniority, or assignments

How does emotional abuse affect mental health?

They often require ongoing mental health treatment, therapy, and sometimes even require medication. When emotional abuse rises to the level of psychological trauma, the effects can even be permanent. Stress and trauma can also cause physical illnesses including ulcers, digestive issues, ...

What is hostile work environment?

Often, a hostile work environment includes emotional abuse and derogatory statements based on or about a person's protected trait. When an employer doesn't respond to complaints about sexual harassment or racial jokes, it can open the door for an employee to sue for emotional abuse.

What are the types of harassment in the workplace?

Workplace harassment can include: Misplaced blame for errors. Sabotage of work done. Unreasonable work demands. Stealing credit for work done. Discounting accomplishments. Intimidation. Insults and put-downs. Humiliation.

What can an injunction require?

An injunction could require a company to create or enforce anti-harassment policies, change hiring, job assignment, and firing practices, or put managers, supervisors, and employees through training. A judge could even require a business to fire the one responsible for the harassment.

What are the protected traits in a hostile work environment?

But state and federal laws do protect against a hostile work environment based on a number of protected traits: Race, color, or national origin. Sex or gender (including sexual orientation or gender identity) Religion. Disability. Pregnancy or family status.

Does harassment affect productivity?

Psychological harassment can seriously harm an employee's well-being and productivity. Over time, emotional distress caused by a hostile work environment can result in anxiety, depression, stress, and even trauma responses like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).