Requirements for Emotional Distress Lawsuits after Boat Accidents

Boat accidents can cause a number of different injuries, and one of the most often overlooked impacts of a serious maritime injury is the psychological and emotional harm that is inflicted on the worker. If you've suffered mental trauma after an accident or injury that occurred during the course of your employment on an offshore vessel, speak with an attorney who has handled emotional distress lawsuits like yours and can navigate you through the process, from your maritime accident investigation all the way to your settlement. 

In order to receive compensation for emotional distress lawsuits, claimants and their lawyers must satisfy what's known as the "physical injury or impact rule," which means that there must be some physical damage to the plaintiff to complement the psychological injury. The purpose of this rule is to give the court system a way to limit the possibility of an abundance of emotional distress lawsuits and claims from people who have witnessed traumatic boat accidents.

The issue of a purely emotional injury was first addressed in a case in 1989 but was denied by the court, so filing for purely emotional distress remains a murky issue, but if you have been injured or physically impacted in such a manner that caused psychological harm, you may be eligible for emotional distress damages as well.

Seamen harmed in boat accidents benefit from legal representation in the injury and emotional distress lawsuits that follow. If you have been injured, contact a maritime accident investigation lawyer today.

Contact a Maritime Accident Investigation Lawyer

The Jones Act provides you with certain protections your employer may not want you to know about. An attorney from The Young Firm in New Orleans, Louisiana, can help you if you have suffered injuries in boat accidents injuries, an offshore accident or other injuries that fall under maritime law. Though we are based in Louisiana, we are ready and able to help injured victims throughout the U.S. We have handled hundreds of injury and emotional distress lawsuits and claims. Order our free Maritime Injury Law guide and/or our guide to what to do when you are injured offshore to learn all about your rights as an injured worker.

When you are ready to get started with your Jones Act injury case, we urge you to contact us today for a FREE case evaluation - call 1-504-680-4100 or toll-free at 1-866-938-6113.