Legal Definitions - zone of danger rule

The zone of danger rule is a legal principle that limits the liability of people accused of causing emotional distress through negligence. This means that if someone sues for emotional distress, they can only recover damages if they were in immediate danger of physical harm and were frightened by that danger.

For example, if a driver is texting and almost hits a pedestrian, the pedestrian may be able to sue for emotional distress if they were scared by the near-miss. However, if the pedestrian was across the street and only saw the incident happen, they may not be able to sue because they were not in immediate danger.

The zone of danger rule is meant to prevent people from suing for emotional distress when they were not actually in danger. It is important to note that the rule may vary depending on the state and may have additional requirements for recovery.

Other related legal concepts include intentionalinfliction of emotional distress, negligence, and tort.