The Differences Between Personal And Bodily Injury

The legal world can be complex for those with no experience in it. As such, when individuals sustain serious injuries, knowledgeable professionals play a large role in getting them the compensation they need. However, there are a few factors that affect what kind of lawyer you should hire. One of them is the type of injury you sustained to begin with. These are the differences between personal and bodily injury and how it can affect your case.

Personal Injuries

First of all, personal injuries are any injury that occurred as the result of an accident. It could be physical, mental, or even the emotional damage you suffer after the fact. As such, this area of law is very broad and encompasses a series of different criteria. Some of the most common personal injury cases seek compensation for lost wages in addition to the bodily harm a person suffered. Because of this, personal injury filings can be a bit more abstract and require many businesses to purchase personal injury insurance, specifically, to protect their employees. Research into what to know before filing a personal injury claim is also prudent to make the most use of the process.

Some other things that personal injury cases can receive settlements for include:

Pain and suffering
Rehabilitation expenses
Loss of income
Funeral and burial costs

Bodily Injuries

Bodily injuries, on the other hand, specifically refer to physical injuries that happened during the incident in question. While there’s some overlap with personal injuries, this category of law only deals with the physical harm itself and the necessary resources for the afflicted party to heal. That is the primary difference between personal and bodily injury. However, they also differ slightly in the process of filing for compensation. Unlike personal injury claims that seek a settlement from a negligent business or company, bodily injury cases will sue the liable party directly. This is why drivers must have vehicle insurance before getting behind the wheel.

Settlements for bodily injuries will more often cover out-of-pocket expenses for: