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Gulfport Video Game Addiction Attorneys
Injury Lawyers Seeking Compensation for VGA Victims in Mississippi
Video gaming addiction (VGA), also known as gaming disorder or internet gaming disorder, is a widely recognized condition that affects millions of people around the world. The impacts of VGA can be devastating, leading to physical, mental, and emotional harm in adolescents and adults alike. If you or a loved one is struggling with video game addiction, you may be eligible to recover compensation in a VGA lawsuit.
At Gulf South Law Firm, our highly skilled attorneys are committed to holding gaming companies responsible for negligence. We understand the unique complexities of video gaming addiction lawsuits, empowering us to pursue justice for victims in Gulfport and beyond. With years of experience and a proven track record of results, our VGA injury lawyers are well-versed in the nuances of Mississippi personal injury law to fight for fair compensation on your behalf.
Don’t pay the price for corporate greed. Our attorneys can fight for the compensation you deserve. Call (228) 231-3989 to schedule a free consultation.
What Is Video Gaming Addiction (VGA)?
According to a recent survey, a whopping 85% of U.S. teenagers play video games in 2024, with 40% of teens playing on a daily basis. While video gaming platforms can provide healthy ways for people of all ages to connect socially, build relationships, and develop cognitive skills, excessive gaming can also lead to serious addiction and harmful consequences.
Today, video gaming addiction is a medically-recognized mental health diagnosis. According to the International Classification of Disease (ICD), VGA is characterized by “impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.”
What Are the Symptoms of VGA?
VGA can cause a variety of symptoms.Individuals who suffer from VGA may exhibit:
- “Gamer’s rage”
- Obsessive/compulsive behaviors
- Poor hygiene due to excessive gaming
- Changes in eating and behavioral patterns
- Loss of interest in social and school activities
- Orthopedic injuries to the hands, wrist and neck
- Prioritizing gaming over all other activities, hobbies, family, and friends
- Depression and anxiety requiring medication therapy and counseling
- Difficulties in school, including an inability to meet age-appropriate academic standards
Gamers may also struggle with impulse control issues and are more likely to receive secondary diagnoses of ADHD or autism.
What Are the Effects of VGA?
Individuals suffering from VGA are unable to control their urge to play video games, leading to severe consequences in their personal, professional and social lives. VGA can lead to a constellation of adverse health effects for affected individuals, jeopardizing their holistic health and well-being. Common effects of VGA include:
- Physical health deterioration: Individuals affected by VGA can experience a decline in overall physical health, including issues like poor posture, repetitive strain injuries, and lack of physical fitness.
- Mental health issues: VGA can lead to serious mental health problems like increased anxiety, depression, and stress, negatively impacting the person’s psychological health and emotional well-being.
- Social isolation: Those suffering from VGA may withdraw from family and social activities, resulting in damaged relationships and a sense of loneliness.
- Academic and professional decline: Excessive gaming can interfere with academic performance and professional responsibilities, leading to poor grades, job loss, and career setbacks.
- Sleep disturbances: VGA often causes significant disruptions to normal sleep patterns, resulting in sleep deprivation and associated health problems.
- Financial distress: Affected gamers often pay with real money to “level up” or obtain loot, leading to excessive spending on games, subscriptions, and in-game purchases.
- Decreased productivity: An overwhelming focus on gaming can lead individuals with VGA to neglect essential daily tasks and responsibilities, reducing productivity in their personal and professional lives.
Who Is at Risk for VGA?
While VGA can affect people of any age, it’s especially harmful in children and teenagers. Because their brains are still developing, excessive gaming can cause atrophy and reduction in brain size in individuals under the age of 21, making young gamers more vulnerable to the psychological and emotional effects of excessive screen time. Other risk factors for VGA may include genetics, underlying mental health conditions, and environmental influences.
Adolescents who play video games for 4+ hours per day are at an increased risk for VGA, making it crucial to seek treatment and legal counsel as soon as possible.
Who Is Liable for Video Gaming Addiction?
Given the mounting research linking video games to addiction and changes to the adolescent brain, there’s no denying that video game companies are aware of the harm their products cause. Despite this, many companies continue to design and market games in a way that promotes excessive gaming behavior while ignoring known risks.
VGA can result in life-altering effects and increase the risk of serious health problems later on, especially in younger individuals. Gaming companies have a moral and ethical obligation to implement responsible gaming practices and warn users about the potential negative consequences of excessive play. When they fail to do so, they can be liable for damages caused by VGA.
At Gulf South Law Firm, our firm is committed to holding gaming companies accountable for promoting addictive video games while maximizing profit and actively harming consumers. Our Gulfport lawyers can evaluate your case with a practiced legal eye to fortify your claim with relevant evidence, maximize available damages, and demand justice.
Proving Negligence in a VGA Lawsuit
Because the plaintiff bears the burden of proof in a Mississippi personal injury lawsuit, securing experienced representation is essential to recover damages in a VGA lawsuit. Our attorneys can help you establish negligence in your case by demonstrating these critical elements:
- Duty of Care: First, you must show that the defendant had a duty to act with reasonable care—in other words, that the video game company should have taken measures to prevent foreseeable harm caused by their products.
- Breach of Duty: Then, you must demonstrate that the gaming company breached this duty of care by acting negligently, such as failing to warn consumers about known risks of addiction or implementing designs that actively promote excessive gaming.
- Causation: Third, you must prove that the company’s breach directly harmed you. This involves linking the harmful behavior or condition (VGA) to the company’s harmful action or inaction.
- Damages: Finally, you must provide evidence that you suffered actual damages due to VGA. This may include physical, mental, and financial harm. The damages must be quantifiable and directly linked to the gaming addiction.
What Damages Are Recoverable in a VGA Lawsuit?
In Mississippi, plaintiffs can seek various damages in a VGA lawsuit, including:
- Economic damages to compensate for financial losses, such as medical expenses for treating physical and mental health issues, costs for therapy and rehabilitation, lost wages from missed work due to the addiction, and compensation for diminished earning capacity.
- Non-economic damages to compensate for non-financial losses, such as emotional distress, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and reduced quality of life).
In some cases, the court may also award punitive damages to punish particularly egregious conduct by gaming companies and deter future negligence. Our VGA attorneys can help you identify all potential damages in your claim to maximize the amount of compensation available to you and increase your chance of obtaining a fair settlement.
Pursuing Justice for the Wrongfully Injured in Gulfport
Video gaming addiction has inflicted preventable harm on the lives of millions. If you suffered physical or psychological harm due to VGA, seeking sound counsel from a knowledgeable lawyer is paramount to achieving justice and fair compensation for medical expenses, mental health treatment, and other damages. Fortunately, our lawyers have an in-depth understanding of personal injury law to represent your best interests and negotiate a fair settlement.
When you partner with Gulf South Law Firm, you won't pay a penny unless we win your case. We can fight to recover the damages you’re entitled to while preventing insurers and other involved parties from taking advantage of you with lowball offers and other evasive tactics, giving you peace of mind that your rights are protected. When it comes to caring for your health, turn to a firm you can trust to keep your best interests at heart from start to finish.
If you suffer from VGA, our firm can aggressively pursue justice on your behalf. Contact us online to discuss your case. Pay nothing until we obtain a fair settlement.
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