zone of danger doctrine

The zone of danger doctrine is a legal principle in personal injury cases involving emotional distress. It applies when someone is in immediate risk of physical harm due to another's wrongful action. If a person witnesses or perceives that danger and there was a close relationship with the injury victim, they may recover damages for emotional suffering, even if they weren’t physically hurt themselves. Essentially, it recognizes that witnessing a loved one in immediate peril can cause genuine emotional harm, meriting legal compensation under certain conditions.