Can Emotional Distress Be Claimed Under Personal Injury?

Emotional distress refers to the psychological pain or suffering caused by an event, such as an accident or negligent behavior. While personal injury claims often focus on physical injuries, emotional distress can also form the basis of a claim, especially when it results from the negligence or wrongful conduct of another party.

Can Emotional Distress Be Claimed Under Personal Injury?

1. Definition of Emotional Distress:

• Emotional distress refers to psychological harm that causes significant suffering, such as anxiety, depression, fear, or grief. In personal injury cases, emotional distress is often linked to physical injuries, but it can also be a separate claim.
• Emotional distress can occur when someone experiences harm due to another party’s actions, such as car accidents, medical malpractice, or assault, leading to mental anguish or distress.

2. When Can Emotional Distress Be Claimed?

• Physical Injury and Emotional Distress: If a person is injured physically due to someone else’s negligence or wrongful conduct, they can often claim emotional distress as part of their personal injury case. For example, if a person is involved in a car accident and suffers both physical injuries and emotional trauma, they may seek compensation for both.
• Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress (NIED): In some cases, a person may claim emotional distress even if no physical injury occurs. This is known as negligent infliction of emotional distress. The claimant must typically prove that the defendant’s actions directly caused the emotional distress, and that the distress was severe and impactful.
• Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (IIED): This applies when a defendant’s intentional or outrageous conduct causes severe emotional distress. In these cases, the victim may be entitled to compensation even if no physical harm occurred, provided the emotional distress is significant and verifiable.

3. Legal Requirements for Emotional Distress Claims:

• Severity of the Emotional Distress: The distress must be severe enough to affect the person’s daily life, such as causing sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, or other long-term psychological issues.
• Proof of Distress: The claimant must provide evidence to support their claim. This could include medical records, psychological evaluations, or testimony from mental health professionals about the emotional impact of the incident.
• Causation: The claimant must prove that the defendant’s actions directly caused the emotional distress. For instance, if a person is injured in a car accident and experiences anxiety or PTSD as a result, they must demonstrate that the trauma was directly caused by the accident.

Legal Actions and Protections

File a Personal Injury Lawsuit:

If emotional distress is a result of a physical injury caused by someone else’s negligence or intentional actions, it can be included in a personal injury lawsuit. In the case of emotional distress claims not tied to physical injury, a separate claim for negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress can be pursued.

Consult a Lawyer:

Due to the complexity of emotional distress claims, especially when there are no physical injuries involved, it is crucial to consult with an attorney who specializes in personal injury law. An experienced lawyer can help gather the necessary evidence, including expert psychological testimony, to strengthen the case.

Seek Compensation for Damages:

If successful, the claimant may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical expenses related to psychological treatment (therapy, counseling, medications).
• Pain and suffering resulting from emotional distress.
• Loss of quality of life due to the emotional harm.
• Punitive damages in cases of intentional infliction of emotional distress, where the defendant’s actions were particularly egregious.

Example

If a person is involved in a severe car accident and suffers significant physical injuries, but also experiences severe anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the accident, they can:

• Seek medical treatment for both their physical injuries and psychological distress.
• Retain records of therapy or counseling sessions to document the emotional harm.
• Consult a personal injury lawyer to include claims for both physical and emotional distress in their lawsuit.
• File a claim for compensation, which may include damages for medical costs, pain and suffering, and the emotional trauma caused by the accident.