Can You Sue for Emotional Distress?
Though many people think injuries in a personal injury lawsuit have to be physical, the reality is that injuries can be mental or emotional as well. If you have undergone emotional trauma severe enough to cause damage in your life, you may be able to sue the responsible party for compensation.
To understand how suing for emotional distress works, it is helpful to take a look at the types of situations that tend to lead to emotional distress lawsuits.
4 Situations In Which You Can Sue for Emotional Distress
If you have found yourself in one of the following situations, you may have grounds for an emotional distress lawsuit.
Workplace Bullying
Just having a coworker be rude once or twice generally is not enough to successfully sue for emotional distress. However, you may have a case if you have been in an environment where one or more coworkers have repeatedly harassed you and created a hostile work environment.
One example of this is if you have a manager who repeatedly screamed at you in front of others or a coworker who spread damaging photos of you around the office. Bullying that takes on a racial or sexual aspect can result in even more compensation since it can cross the line into discrimination.
Witnessing Severe Injury or Death
If you have PTSD after witnessing someone else’s death or gruesome injury caused by negligence or intentional maliciousness, there are circumstances where you might be able to win damages in a lawsuit. Keep in mind that in these cases, you can normally only sue a person who inappropriately caused the witnessed violence, such as a drunk driver who ran into a person.
Another example might be suing a company after their faulty equipment caused a construction worker to die in front of you. You usually cannot sue the estate of the person who died or a person who caused a death in circumstances where it was an understandable mistake.
Your chances of winning this type of case are also higher if the person who died was a close friend, family member, or another person whose death was likely to affect you.
Wrongful Police Actions
Anytime a person is forced to undergo extreme fear for an unnecessary reason, they may want to consider filing an emotional distress lawsuit. An example of this is having police barge into your home in the middle of the night, being arrested, and then being released because the police mistook you for someone else.
In this sort of case, you may be able to argue that the wrongful actions of another have caused severe enough distress to require compensation.
Mental or Emotional Domestic Violence
If you have had a partner or parent subject you to repeated domestic violence, you may be able to sue them even if none of the violence was physical. This kind of abuse can involve a parent screaming at their child for hours each day or a partner forcing you to call them and check in every 30 minutes while they are away.
Any time domestic violence has been severe enough to affect your career, require therapy, or keep you from living your life normally, you may have a reason to sue.
It is generally easier to sue for emotional distress if you have also suffered from physical harm, but some courts have ruled that it is possible to sue even if no physical injuries have occurred. Because of the complicated nature of these cases, it is important to have professional help.
If you think you may have a reason to sue for emotional distress, consult with a local lawyer to discuss your unique situation. With experienced legal representation, you may be able to recover damages that can help you cover the cost of treatment to improve your emotional health.
Making Family Mealtimes More Efficient
Deciding what you and your family will eat together each evening can often feel like an enormous task, as the battle between flavours, cuisines and ingredients is likely to divide the table. The act of preparing and cooking an entire meal is commonly a huge task that takes over an hour to complete, and it would seem that this hard work disappears within five minutes of said food hitting your children’s plates. Making family mealtimes more efficient is likely something that many parents have attempted to battle with in the past, yet it needn’t be as difficult as you might initially believe. There are several simple tips and tricks that you can make the most of to save time, money and stress, whilst still inspiring the delectable dishes yet. So, if you would like to find out more, then read on for some of the best steps that you can implement today!
Plan In Advance
One of the best things that you can do to save both time and stress when preparing meals for your family is to plan in advance. Whether this means creating your own unique recipe book or menu that details a selection of different dishes to choose between, or the creation of a set schedule that can decide which meal will be eaten on which day – having a plan will offer you all of the guidance and support that you need. Preparing yourself in advance for each meal will be far easier if you know which dishes have been set or chosen for the week ahead, as you can buy each ingredient that you need beforehand rather than heading to the shop every single day. Planning in advance will also give your little ones the opportunity to express their dislike for certain meals, so you can create a more suitable solution without the usual rush and stress.
Buy Frozen Food
One smart way to encourage more efficient family meals is to buy frozen food. Cuisines such as frozen Asian food can be of such high quality, and the time and effort it requires to pop in the oven or microwave will be a completely different ballgame when compared to fresh preparation. You can find so many different cold options of your usual favourites, from pizzas to fruit and vegetables, and often the price is far more affordable too. Don’t be afraid to explore the frozen aisles in your local grocery store to identify which items are on offer, as you may be pleasantly surprised by the range available. You can even sign up to specialised food delivery services that bring frozen meals directly to your door, so there are many different options for you to uncover.
Making family meals more efficient has never been so simple when you are able to utilise the handy hacks detailed above. Whether you decide to make a meal plan or recipe menu to create a more detailed schedule to follow, or invest in some high quality frozen food that can be popped in the oven for a matter of minutes – it’s so easy to make a change!
All You Need to Know About a Reverse Mortgage
If you are 62 or older and want money to supplement your income, or pay for extra expenses, you may want to consider a reverse mortgage. It allows you to turn part of the equity in your home into cash without having to sell your home. Despite what you already know, you may still have some questions about how a reverse mortgage works and how it can benefit you. Here are some popular questions and answers that most people have about these loan products.
What is a Reverse Mortgage Loan?
A reverse mortgage is when a homeowner can get access to a portion of their home’s equity. The money you get is usually never taxable and will not affect your Social Security or Medicare benefits. Better yet, the loan does not come due as long as you remain in the home, pay the property taxes, and keep up the maintenance and repairs.
One of the most popular types of reverse mortgage loans is the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), which is insured by the U.S. federal government. These are widely available loans and are only offered by FHA-approved lenders.
How Much Can You Borrow with a Reverse Mortgage?
Calculating the amount of equity, you can borrow in a reverse mortgage can seem complicated. This is because it is based on the age of the home, the value of the property, and other factors affected by the current housing market calculations. Since you are unable to borrow the total amount of equity in your home, you must use a reverse loan calculator to figure the percentage of what you are entitled to.
How Can You Get Money from a Reverse Mortgage Loan?
There are a few common ways to obtain your money from a reverse mortgage. You can get your money in one lump sum once the loan closes. You can have an open credit line of credit available to you anytime you need it. You can have monthly payments sent to you for the term of the loan or you can combine any of the options to suit your needs. For example, you can get a lump sum of money for a specific amount that you choose and the rest as an open line of credit.
Who Owns the Home in a Reverse Mortgage?
Many people might think that once they enter a reverse mortgage, they lose ownership of the home. This is not how it works. With a reverse mortgage, you are clearly and legally the owner. You are on the title and you can still make renovations, rent out a room, or even allow a family member to move in with you. Better yet, unlike with a traditional loan, you cannot be evicted for non-payment.
The only time the balance will come due is if you leave your home, pass away or fail to pay the taxes and other expenses regarding the health of the property.
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