You can sue someone for emotional harm, and in 2026, courts are awarding more money for these claims than ever before. An emotional damage lawsuit allows you to seek financial compensation for psychological suffering caused by another person’s actions or negligence.
These cases are not just for dramatic courtroom moments. Real people win real money for anxiety, PTSD, depression, and trauma every single day in civil courts across the country.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly who qualifies, how courts calculate payouts, what evidence wins these cases, and how to get your claim started. We cover the 2025 and 2026 updates that no other resource mentions.
One number worth knowing before we start: jury verdicts for emotional distress alone have reached $1 million or more in several recent cases. That is not a rare exception anymore.
What Is an Emotional Distress Lawsuit?
An emotional distress lawsuit is a civil legal claim that seeks money for psychological harm caused by another party’s intentional or negligent conduct. It is a real, recognized legal action in all 50 states.
The harm does not have to be physical. Courts have accepted claims for severe anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, insomnia, and depression as compensable injuries.
There are two main types. One involves someone who intentionally caused your distress. The other involves someone whose careless actions led to your psychological suffering. Both can result in significant financial awards.
| Lawsuit Type | What It Covers | Legal Name |
|---|---|---|
| Intentional harm | Someone meant to cause you distress | IIED |
| Negligent harm | Someone’s carelessness caused your distress | NIED |
| Combined claim | Part of a larger personal injury or employment case | Standalone or add-on |
These cases are filed in civil court. They are separate from criminal charges. A person can face both criminal prosecution and a civil emotional distress lawsuit for the same event.
Bold fact: According to data from jury verdict research firms, emotional distress claims represented over $4.7 billion in civil court awards across the U.S. in 2023, a number that has continued to rise into 2025.
IIED vs NIED: What Is the Difference?
IIED stands for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress. NIED stands for Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress. These are the two legal frameworks courts use to evaluate every emotional damage lawsuit.
IIED applies when someone deliberately targets you with extreme, outrageous behavior. Think a stalker who terrorizes you for months, or a supervisor who runs a calculated campaign of psychological abuse.
NIED applies when someone did not mean to hurt you emotionally but their reckless or negligent actions caused you serious psychological harm. A car accident that triggers severe PTSD, for example, often falls under NIED.
| Element | IIED | NIED |
|---|---|---|
| Intent required | Yes, conduct must be intentional or reckless | No, negligence is enough |
| Physical injury required | Generally not required | Required in some states |
| Outrageous conduct standard | Must meet “extreme and outrageous” threshold | Lower standard in most states |
| Common cases | Harassment, stalking, domestic abuse | Car accidents, medical malpractice, witnessing trauma |
| Punitive damages available | Yes, frequently | Less common |
The distinction matters because it determines what you must prove and what you can potentially recover. IIED cases tend to yield higher punitive damage awards when the defendant’s behavior was truly shocking.
Courts borrowed the IIED standard from the landmark case Hustler Magazine v. Falwell (1988), where the U.S. Supreme Court clarified that the conduct must be so extreme that a reasonable person would say it goes beyond all decency.
Who Qualifies for an Emotional Distress Lawsuit?
You may qualify for an emotional damage lawsuit if another person’s actions or negligence caused you measurable psychological suffering. The key word is “measurable.” Courts need to see real, documented harm, not just hurt feelings.
Most qualifying claimants share a few common characteristics. The psychological harm must be severe. It must be directly caused by the defendant’s conduct. And in most states, that conduct must cross a meaningful legal threshold.
You may qualify if you experienced:
- Diagnosed PTSD, anxiety disorder, or depression following the incident
- Significant disruption to daily life, work, or relationships
- Ongoing medical or therapy treatment for psychological symptoms
- Physical symptoms tied to the psychological distress (insomnia, panic attacks, nausea)
- Documented harm from workplace harassment, abuse, or a traumatic accident
| Qualifying Factor | Strong Claim | Weak Claim |
|---|---|---|
| Medical diagnosis | Yes, documented by professional | No formal diagnosis |
| Duration of symptoms | Months or years | Days or weeks |
| Treatment sought | Therapy, medication, hospitalization | No treatment |
| Impact on daily life | Work loss, relationship breakdown | Minor inconvenience |
| Clear causal link | Direct connection to defendant’s act | Vague or indirect connection |
The strength of your claim goes up significantly when you have a licensed mental health professional’s diagnosis in writing. Courts treat that as objective evidence rather than a subjective complaint.
Key Takeaway: The three things that most determine whether you qualify are a documented psychological diagnosis, a clear causal connection to the defendant’s conduct, and measurable impact on your daily functioning.
Can You Sue for Emotional Distress Without a Physical Injury?
Yes, you can sue for emotional distress without a physical injury in most states, though the rules vary significantly depending on where you live. This has been one of the fastest-evolving areas of tort law in the last decade.
Historically, many states required what lawyers call “physical manifestation.” This meant you had to show a bodily symptom like migraines, ulcers, or hair loss to prove your emotional distress was real.
That standard has been loosening. As of 2025, a majority of states allow purely psychological injury claims under the right circumstances. California, New York, Illinois, and Texas have all issued rulings in recent years confirming that documented psychological harm alone can support a valid civil claim.
| State Category | Physical Injury Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| No requirement states | No | CA, NY, IL, MA, WA and others |
| Physical manifestation required | Yes | Some traditional states still hold this standard |
| Mixed standard | Depends on case type | IIED may not require it; NIED may |
| Bystander rule states | Zone of danger required | Must have been at risk of physical harm to recover |
If you witnessed a traumatic event and suffered psychological harm but were not physically hurt, you may still qualify under the bystander liability doctrine or the zone of danger rule. Courts in many states allow claims from people who watched a loved one get seriously injured.
The trend in 2026 is clear. Courts are becoming more accepting of standalone psychological injury claims, especially when backed by DSM-5 diagnoses and professional testimony.
Emotional Distress in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
Emotional distress is one of the most significant components of a personal injury lawsuit, and it often accounts for the largest portion of the total damages award. In most personal injury cases, psychological harm is claimed alongside physical injuries.
Think of it like this: if a drunk driver broke your arm and gave you PTSD, you are not just suing for the broken arm. You are suing for everything that accident took from you, including your mental health and quality of life.
In personal injury cases, emotional distress is typically classified as a non-economic damage. It is calculated separately from your medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.
| Damage Type | Economic or Non-Economic | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Medical bills | Economic | Hospital costs, therapy fees |
| Lost wages | Economic | Missed work, reduced earning capacity |
| Emotional distress | Non-economic | PTSD, anxiety, depression, fear |
| Pain and suffering | Non-economic | Physical and psychological combined |
| Loss of enjoyment | Non-economic | Can’t do hobbies, relationships suffer |
Personal injury emotional distress claims are often stronger than standalone claims because the physical injury acts as corroborating evidence. It makes the psychological harm easier to connect directly to the defendant’s conduct.
Settlements in personal injury cases with significant emotional distress components frequently exceed $100,000, with severe cases reaching seven figures.
Emotional Distress in an Employment Lawsuit
Emotional distress claims in employment cases are among the most common types filed in U.S. federal and state courts today. Workplace harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, and retaliation can all form the basis for an emotional damage lawsuit.
Employment-based emotional distress claims are often paired with other causes of action. A sexual harassment claim, for example, would include the core harassment violation plus an emotional distress component that can significantly increase the total damages.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) tracks emotional distress as part of its annual discrimination charge data. Emotional distress damages are explicitly allowed under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
| Legal Basis | Federal Law | Emotional Distress Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual harassment | Title VII | Yes |
| Racial discrimination | Title VII | Yes |
| Disability discrimination | ADA | Yes |
| Age discrimination | ADEA | Limited by caps |
| Wrongful termination (retaliation) | Title VII / FMLA | Yes |
| Hostile work environment | Title VII | Yes |
Important: Federal law caps emotional distress damages in employment cases based on company size. For companies with 15 to 100 employees, the cap is $50,000. For companies with more than 500 employees, the cap rises to $300,000. State laws often have no cap and allow much larger awards.
Key Takeaway: Employment emotional distress claims are frequently won, but federal damage caps can limit your recovery. Filing under state law in addition to federal law often removes those caps entirely.
Proof of Emotional Distress in Court
Proving emotional distress in court requires more than telling a judge you felt bad. Courts want objective, documented, corroborated evidence that your psychological suffering is real, severe, and directly caused by the defendant.
The burden of proof in a civil emotional distress case is “preponderance of the evidence.” That means you need to show it is more likely than not that you suffered the harm you claim.
There are five main categories of proof that courts consistently find persuasive.
What courts accept as proof of emotional distress:
- Written records from a licensed therapist or psychiatrist with a formal DSM-5 diagnosis
- Testimony from your treating physician about physical symptoms related to psychological harm
- Your own detailed journal or diary entries documenting symptoms, triggers, and daily impact
- Testimony from friends, family, or coworkers who witnessed changes in your behavior
- Employment records showing missed work days, demotions, or performance changes tied to the incident
| Evidence Type | Strength in Court | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed mental health diagnosis | Very strong | Objective professional opinion |
| Therapy records and invoices | Strong | Shows ongoing treatment and real cost |
| Personal journal entries | Moderate to strong | Documents real-time suffering |
| Witness testimony | Moderate | Corroborates your account |
| Medical records for physical symptoms | Strong | Connects body to mind |
| Social media and digital records | Growing | See the next section |
The more consistent your evidence across multiple sources, the harder it is for the defense to argue your distress is exaggerated. Courts in 2025 and 2026 are looking for patterns, not just one-time statements.
Digital Evidence and Emotional Distress Claims in 2026
Digital evidence is now one of the most powerful tools in an emotional distress lawsuit, and courts in 2026 are fully embracing it. Text messages, emails, social media posts, and even GPS location data are being admitted as evidence in emotional distress cases with increasing regularity.
This cuts both ways. Your own digital footprint can support your claim or undermine it.
On the positive side, texts or emails from the defendant that document harassment, threats, or abusive conduct are often the strongest evidence available. Screenshots of a supervisor’s threatening messages, for example, can be more persuasive than any witness testimony.
How digital evidence is being used in 2026 emotional distress cases:
- Text messages showing harassment, threats, or abusive language from the defendant
- Emails documenting a pattern of hostile workplace conduct
- Social media posts by the defendant that constitute harassment or public shaming
- Your own social media posts showing behavioral changes, isolation, or distress (used by both sides)
- Doorbell camera or surveillance footage capturing threatening encounters
- GPS data confirming a stalker’s proximity to your home or workplace
- Health app data showing sleep disruption, elevated heart rate, or anxiety patterns
| Digital Evidence Type | Supports Plaintiff | Risks for Plaintiff |
|---|---|---|
| Defendant’s threatening texts | Yes, very strongly | N/A |
| Plaintiff’s social media (happy photos after incident) | No | Defense will use this against you |
| Therapist’s telehealth session notes | Yes | Must be properly subpoenaed |
| Health app anxiety/sleep data | Growing acceptance | Still new; some courts skeptical |
| Surveillance or doorbell footage | Yes, often decisive | Must be preserved quickly |
Critical advice for 2026: Save everything digitally. Do not delete texts, voicemails, or social media messages. Screenshot and back up anything that documents the defendant’s conduct. And be careful about what you post publicly after an incident.
Key Takeaway: Digital evidence has changed how emotional distress cases are won or lost. Courts in 2026 treat a pattern of harassing text messages the same way they once treated physical bruises. Preserve it all from day one.
Emotional Distress Damages Payout
Emotional distress damages refer to the monetary compensation a court awards you for psychological suffering. These damages are non-economic, meaning they are not tied to a specific bill or receipt.
Courts use several methods to calculate what your suffering is worth. The two most common are the multiplier method and the per diem method.
Under the multiplier method, your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) are multiplied by a number between 1.5 and 5, depending on the severity of your distress. More severe psychological harm means a higher multiplier.
Under the per diem method, you assign a daily dollar value to your suffering and multiply it by the number of days you have suffered. If your distress is worth $150 per day and you have suffered for 500 days, your claim would total $75,000.
| Calculation Method | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Multiplier Method | Economic damages x 1.5 to 5 | Cases with large economic losses |
| Per Diem Method | Daily rate x number of days | Long-duration psychological harm |
| Jury Discretion | Open-ended based on evidence | Severe trauma, PTSD, catastrophic cases |
| Structured Settlement | Paid over time instead of lump sum | High-dollar cases with defendants who prefer installments |
Beyond compensatory damages, courts can also award punitive damages in IIED cases where the defendant’s conduct was especially malicious. Punitive damages are designed to punish, not compensate. They can multiply the total award significantly.
In recent years, punitive damage awards in emotional distress cases have ranged from $250,000 to several million dollars in the most egregious cases.
How Much Can You Sue for Emotional Distress?
There is no fixed cap on emotional distress damages in most states for non-employment claims. What you can actually recover depends on the severity of your harm, the strength of your evidence, and the defendant’s conduct.
The range is genuinely wide. Some cases settle for a few thousand dollars. Others result in multi-million-dollar jury verdicts.
General payout ranges based on case type:
| Case Type | Typical Payout Range | High-End Verdicts |
|---|---|---|
| Minor workplace harassment, resolved quickly | $5,000 to $30,000 | Up to $75,000 |
| Severe workplace harassment with PTSD diagnosis | $50,000 to $200,000 | Up to $500,000+ |
| Personal injury with serious psychological harm | $25,000 to $150,000 | Up to $1,000,000+ |
| Domestic abuse or stalking (IIED) | $75,000 to $500,000 | Multi-million possible |
| Medical malpractice causing psychological trauma | $50,000 to $300,000 | Up to $2,000,000+ |
| Bystander trauma (witnessed death of loved one) | $30,000 to $250,000 | Varies widely by state |
Factors that push the number higher include a formal psychiatric diagnosis, extended suffering over years rather than weeks, significant impact on employment or career, a defendant who acted with clear malice, and strong documentary evidence.
Factors that reduce the payout include lack of medical documentation, a short duration of symptoms, inconsistent behavior after the incident, and a defendant with limited financial resources.
Emotional Distress Lawsuit Settlement Amounts 2025 and 2026
Recent settlements and verdicts from 2025 and 2026 show that emotional distress claims are being taken more seriously than in prior years. Jurors and judges alike are demonstrating greater awareness of psychological harm as a real, measurable injury.
Several notable outcomes from 2024 through early 2026 illustrate the current direction of these cases.
In 2024, a California jury awarded $1.6 million to a plaintiff who developed PTSD after witnessing a fatal accident caused by a commercial trucking company’s negligent driver. The emotional distress component alone accounted for $900,000 of that award.
A 2025 federal employment discrimination case in New York resulted in a $2.1 million verdict, with $800,000 attributed to emotional distress caused by a sustained pattern of racial harassment in the workplace.
In early 2026, a Texas court approved a $3.4 million settlement in a workplace stalking case where the employer failed to act after repeated complaints. The plaintiff’s documented PTSD diagnosis and two years of therapy records were central to the outcome.
| Year | Case Type | Total Award | Emotional Distress Portion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Trucking accident (CA) | $1.6 million | $900,000 |
| 2025 | Workplace racial harassment (NY) | $2.1 million | $800,000 |
| 2026 | Workplace stalking settlement (TX) | $3.4 million | Not separated in settlement |
| 2025 | Medical malpractice PTSD (FL) | $975,000 | $600,000 |
These numbers are not guarantees. They reflect what real claimants with strong evidence and professional legal representation have recovered. Your outcome depends entirely on the specific facts of your case.
Key Takeaway: Settlement amounts for emotional distress claims have risen sharply in 2025 and 2026, with documented psychiatric injury and employer inaction consistently producing the largest awards.
Emotional Distress Multiplier Method Explained
The multiplier method is the most commonly used approach for calculating emotional distress and pain and suffering damages in civil litigation. It is not a law, but it is the standard that insurance adjusters, plaintiff attorneys, and defense attorneys all use as a starting point.
Here is how it works. You add up all your verifiable economic damages: medical bills, therapy costs, lost wages, and similar expenses. Then you multiply that total by a number, typically between 1.5 and 5, based on how severe your emotional distress is.
Think of it like a grade. A grade of 1.5 might apply to moderate, temporary anxiety after a minor car accident. A grade of 5 might apply to severe, chronic PTSD that destroys your career and relationships over years.
Factors that determine your multiplier:
| Factor | Lower Multiplier (1.5 to 2) | Higher Multiplier (3 to 5) |
|---|---|---|
| Duration of symptoms | Weeks to a few months | Years, possibly permanent |
| Severity of diagnosis | Mild anxiety | Severe PTSD, major depression |
| Treatment required | Short-term therapy | Ongoing medication and hospitalization |
| Impact on daily life | Minor changes | Career loss, relationship breakdown |
| Defendant’s conduct | Negligent | Intentional, malicious |
Example calculation:
- Medical and therapy bills: $20,000
- Lost wages: $15,000
- Total economic damages: $35,000
- Multiplier for severe PTSD with career impact: 4
- Emotional distress damages: $140,000
- Total claim: $175,000
This is why building strong economic documentation matters even in emotional distress cases. Your medical bills and therapy receipts are not just expenses to recover. They are the base number that gets multiplied into your non-economic award.
How to File an Emotional Distress Lawsuit
Filing an emotional distress lawsuit follows a clear sequence of steps. Getting the sequence right from the beginning protects your claim and your timeline.
The process starts before you ever contact an attorney. Your actions in the days and weeks after the harmful incident directly affect your case.
Step-by-step filing process:
Step 1: Document everything immediately.
Write down exactly what happened, when it happened, what was said, and who witnessed it. Date your notes. Save all digital communications.
Step 2: Seek medical or psychological treatment.
See a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. Get a formal diagnosis in writing. This is your most important piece of evidence.
Step 3: Contact a personal injury or civil litigation attorney.
Most attorneys who handle emotional distress cases work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Initial consultations are typically free.
Step 4: Your attorney investigates and sends a demand letter.
Before filing a formal lawsuit, your attorney may send the defendant a demand letter outlining your claim and asking for a settlement.
Step 5: File the complaint in civil court.
If no settlement is reached, your attorney files a formal complaint in state or federal court, depending on the nature of your claim.
Step 6: Discovery phase.
Both sides exchange evidence. This is where digital records, therapy notes, witness statements, and expert testimony are gathered.
Step 7: Settlement negotiations or trial.
Most cases settle during or after discovery. If not, the case goes to trial before a judge or jury.
| Step | Timeline (Approximate) | Key Action |
|---|---|---|
| Document incident | Day 1 | Write everything down |
| Seek treatment | Days 1 to 14 | Get professional diagnosis |
| Hire attorney | Days 7 to 30 | Contingency consultation |
| Demand letter sent | Months 1 to 3 | Pre-suit negotiation |
| File complaint | Month 3 to 6 | Official lawsuit begins |
| Discovery | Months 6 to 18 | Evidence exchange |
| Settlement or trial | Months 12 to 36 | Resolution |
Emotional Distress Lawsuit Statute of Limitations by State
The statute of limitations is the legal deadline to file your emotional distress lawsuit. Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to sue, regardless of how strong your case is.
Every state sets its own deadline. Most fall between 1 and 3 years from the date the harmful conduct occurred or from the date you discovered your harm.
Key deadlines by state (2026):
| State | Statute of Limitations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | 2 years | From date of injury or discovery |
| New York | 3 years (NIED); 1 year (IIED if battery involved) | Varies by claim type |
| Texas | 2 years | From date of harmful act |
| Florida | 4 years | One of the longest deadlines |
| Illinois | 2 years | From date of harm |
| Pennsylvania | 2 years | From date of incident |
| Ohio | 4 years (IIED); 2 years (NIED) | Varies by claim type |
| Georgia | 2 years | Standard personal injury deadline |
| Washington | 3 years | From discovery of harm |
| Colorado | 2 years | Standard tort deadline |
The “discovery rule” is important here. In some states, the clock starts not when the harmful act occurred, but when you first knew, or reasonably should have known, that you had suffered emotional harm. This matters in cases of long-term abuse or slowly developing psychological conditions.
Do not wait. Even if you are not sure whether you have a case, the statute of limitations will not pause while you decide. Many attorneys offer free consultations and can tell you quickly whether your deadline is approaching.
How to Win an Emotional Distress Case
Winning an emotional distress case comes down to three things: evidence quality, medical documentation, and consistency. Juries and judges are naturally skeptical of psychological harm claims. Your job is to make the harm impossible to deny.
The cases that win share a common pattern. The plaintiff has a formal diagnosis from a credentialed professional. The defendant’s conduct is clearly documented. And the impact on the plaintiff’s life is shown through multiple independent sources, not just the plaintiff’s own testimony.
What separates winning cases from losing ones:
| Winning Case Traits | Losing Case Traits |
|---|---|
| Licensed diagnosis (PTSD, anxiety disorder) | No professional diagnosis |
| Multiple witnesses corroborating harm | Only plaintiff’s word |
| Years of documented treatment | No treatment records |
| Clear causal link to defendant’s act | Vague or disputed causation |
| Physical symptoms tied to psychological harm | Purely subjective complaint |
| Strong documentary evidence (texts, emails) | No documentation |
| Consistent behavior matching the claimed harm | Social media contradicting the claim |
Expert witnesses are frequently decisive. A forensic psychologist or psychiatrist who can explain your DSM-5 diagnosis to a jury in plain language is worth more than almost any other evidence.
Consistency is also critical. If you claim severe depression but your social media shows you at parties and vacations, the defense will use that aggressively. Your documented behavior must match your claimed suffering.
The most successful plaintiffs in 2025 and 2026 have been people who sought treatment immediately, kept detailed records, and worked with attorneys who specialize specifically in emotional distress and psychological injury claims.
Key Takeaway: The single most reliable predictor of winning an emotional distress case is a documented psychiatric diagnosis backed by consistent treatment records and corroborated by independent witnesses or digital evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money can you get from an emotional damage lawsuit?
Compensation ranges from a few thousand dollars to several million dollars depending on the severity of your psychological harm and the defendant’s conduct.
Cases with a formal PTSD or anxiety disorder diagnosis and strong medical documentation routinely recover between $50,000 and $500,000.
The most severe cases, including those involving intentional abuse, stalking, or employer negligence, have resulted in awards exceeding $2 million in 2025 and 2026.
Can you sue for emotional distress without a physical injury?
Yes, you can sue for emotional distress without a physical injury in most U.S. states as of 2026.
The majority of states now accept purely psychological injury claims when backed by a licensed professional’s diagnosis and documented evidence of harm.
A minority of states still require some physical manifestation of the emotional harm, such as insomnia, panic attacks, or gastrointestinal symptoms tied to the psychological distress.
What is the difference between IIED and NIED in an emotional distress case?
IIED requires proof that the defendant intentionally or recklessly caused your severe emotional distress through extreme and outrageous conduct.
NIED applies when someone’s negligence, not intentional behavior, caused your psychological suffering.
IIED cases typically result in higher awards, including punitive damages, because courts treat intentional cruelty more harshly than simple negligence.
How long do you have to file an emotional distress lawsuit?
Most states allow between 1 and 4 years from the date of the harmful incident to file an emotional distress lawsuit.
California, Texas, Illinois, and New York all use a 2-year standard for most emotional distress tort claims.
Florida and Ohio are among the most generous states, allowing up to 4 years depending on the specific type of claim.
What evidence do you need to win an emotional distress lawsuit?
The most important evidence is a formal psychiatric or psychological diagnosis from a licensed professional using DSM-5 criteria.
Supporting evidence includes therapy records, witness testimony, digital communications from the defendant, and documentation of how the distress affected your work and relationships.
Courts in 2026 are increasingly accepting digital evidence such as harassing texts, emails, and health app data as corroborating proof of ongoing psychological suffering.
The Bottom Line on Emotional Damage Lawsuits in 2026
Emotional damage lawsuits are not minor claims. Courts across the country are awarding real money for real psychological harm, and the legal standards in 2026 are more favorable to plaintiffs than they have ever been.
If someone’s intentional or negligent conduct caused you documented psychological suffering, you likely have a path to compensation. The key steps are getting a professional diagnosis, preserving all evidence, and acting before your state’s deadline runs out.
Your next move is straightforward. Gather everything you have, write down what happened in as much detail as possible, and speak with a personal injury or civil litigation attorney who handles emotional distress claims. Most will evaluate your case for free.
