– Updated on November 18, 2024
Yes. You can sue addictive online game companies if your child’s gaming has become a problem. However, there are specific things you need to do to qualify.
Who Can I Sue if My Child Is Addicted to Online Gaming?
You may be able to sue the developers and publishers of the game if your child is addicted to an online game, such as Roblox, Minecraft, or Fortnite.
To qualify for a video game addiction lawsuit, you must be able to prove that they played for several hours a day for a prolonged period of time and suffered from one or more of the following:
- Video game addiction or gaming disorder
- ADD/ADHD
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Depression and anxiety
- Sleep deprivation psychosis
- Gamer Rage, aggression, and irritability
- Orthopedic injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, trigger finger, de Quervain’s tenosynovitis (also known as gamer’s thumb), and neck herniation or sprain
- A need for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan at school
- A need to be homeschooled to be able to play more often
- A loss of education (dropped out of high school)
- Seizures
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Obesity
- Brain changes, as evidenced by a CT scan or MRI
- Computer vision syndrome
- Inability to work full-time due to a need to game
- Changes in eating habits or patterns
- A substantial decline in hygiene due to gameplay
You could also qualify if your child is prioritizing gaming over other hobbies, losing friends/not making friends/socially isolating oneself, has a criminal record related to addiction (e.g., stealing to buy more games), still living at home due to inability to support oneself due to gaming, cursing excessively or in inappropriate settings.
Our team can connect you with a lawyer who can determine whether you may qualify for a video game addiction lawsuit.
What Are People Basing Their Gaming Addiction Lawsuits On?
Claimants allege that video game companies purposefully designed their games to be addictive. They claim that the creators of games like Roblox and Fortnite used feedback loops and reward systems to maintain current and attract future customers.
They are also claiming that microtransactions (e.g., making small, real-life in-game purchases) play a significant role in these addictions.
The addictive features differ by game. For example, the complaints allege:
- Minecraft presents an opportunity to connect with other players, which can be addictive. It also alleges that Minecraft can be especially addictive for children with ADHD as they may become hyperfocused on creating new worlds.
- Call of Duty offers gun and attachment unlocks. These rewards can be seen as a form of “operant conditioning.” It also alleges COD offers “fast-paced play, satisfying graphics, sounds, and other dopamine lifts.” Dopamine is a neurotransmitter known as the pathway to pleasure. It can also be a pathway to addiction if people are continually searching for that dopamine hit. It can also cause addiction if someone is unable to feel that same level of dopamine without playing for longer and longer periods of time.
A gaming addiction lawyer will learn your story and determine whether you have a valid addiction lawsuit.
How Can a Lawyer Help Me Sue for Addictive Online Games?
Building a strong case against a video game company is difficult. You need in-depth knowledge of video game addiction laws, case law, and precedent. You need to know what evidence will help prove your case and how to use that evidence. You must also be comfortable standing up against a multimillion-dollar corporation with a robust, aggressive legal team.
But when you work with our law firm partners, you don’t need to handle a single thing. All your focus can remain where it belongs, supporting your child and helping them recover from their gaming addiction. Your video game addiction lawyer will handle the following:
- Determining what evidence is necessary to prove your case
- Gathering the necessary evidence
- Reviewing case law and precedent to determine the best course of action
- Determining whether you should join a mass tort action (if there is one) or file an individual lawsuit
- Determining what damages you can recover (e.g., medical bills, other economic damages, non-economic damages, punitive damages)
- Communicate on your behalf with all involved parties (e.g., the developer(s), their insurance company(s)
- Stand up against the video game company that caused your child’s addiction
- Negotiate for a fair settlement
- Prepare your case for trial
- Represent your case at trial
You can learn more about what a video game addiction lawyer will do for you by calling our team.
What Are the Possible Effects of Gaming Addiction?
Video game addiction can negatively impact a child’s life and jeopardize their future. Some common effects of gaming addiction include:
- Impacts on cognitive processing, such as multi-second time perception, inhibition, and decision-making
- Isolation, no longer spending time with family and friends (which can cause its own host of mental health challenges)
- Excessive rage, becoming quick to anger, and aggression
- Forgoing other hobbies to play video games
- Stress
- Depression and anxiety
- Verbal memory deficiency
- Lowered cognitive ability
- Sleeping disorders
Get Help Suing for Addictive Online Games
You don’t need to—and shouldn’t—handle this alone. The Goldwater Law Firm has over 20 years of experience fighting for justice and holding companies accountable for their wrongdoings. We are one of the most well-known firms in the nation and for a good reason. We have a long history of results and only work with the largest and most successful firms across the country.
We know that results are paramount to you, so we take care when connecting our clients with our law firm partners. Call us today to get started. You pay nothing upfront, so you can remain focused on your situation.
The Goldwater Law Firm is on mission to help as many people as possible with the fierce, compassionate legal aid only The Gold Standard of Injury Law can offer. If you suffered serious side effects or were diagnosed with an illness because of a defective drug or product, or if you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, Attorney Bob Goldwater and the Goldwater Law Firm is ready to serve as your compassionate partner in the fight to seek the compensation and justice you deserve.
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