Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Pennsylvania
my car was recently vandalized in a bad area of town where i have to work and i've been terrified about having to back there every day. if there are criminal charges brought on the person who did it, would i be able to sue for distress as well as reimbursement from the accused?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Civil suits and criminal charges are separate. If the person who vandalized your car is apprehended, charged criminally and convicted, then you can request restitution at sentencing. Restitution is just that - you get back the costs to fix your car. If your insurer paid you already, then the insurer gets restitution.
You can also pursue civil claims, but I do not know what for in your case. Pennsylvania does recognize claims for intentional/negligent infliction of emotional distress, but it depends on who was physically harmed and whether they are a family member and whether the injury occurred in your presence. This case did not involve bodily injury. While I understand your feelings, I don't think you can recover.