In many jurisdictions, this rule is known as the "impact rule" and it requires some physical injury before negligence liability may attach. (c) The defendant causes the death, injury or imperilment of a person other than the plaintiff, and the plaintiff can establish sufficient proximity.Plaintiffs could include emotional distress as an additional harm if they also suffered physical injury or the threat of physical injury. The law regarding a plaintiff's ability to recover damages for emotional distress as the result of another's negligence is constantly evolving. Our leading personal injury lawyers explain the process of making a personal injury claim for a recognised psychiatric illness. If psychiatric injury is the result of gradual appreciation of events rather than a sudden shock there'll be no liability.