Personal Injury Versus Bodily Injury: What’s the Difference?

If the law was easy to understand, then there wouldn’t be any need to hire a lawyer when you’re facing a legal challenge. Unfortunately, the law is complicated and even simple definitions can be confusing.

If you’ve been hurt, then it’s important to start researching personal injury law. To get started, it’s important to know the difference between bodily injury and personal injury as they apply to personal injury lawsuits. Below, we’ll give you an overview of what each of these terms means and the differences between them.

Defining Bodily Injuries

Bodily injuries are defined as physical injuries that are the result of someone else’s behavior. This term refers specifically to the injury you suffer after an accident. For example, if you were involved in a car accident and suffered a dislocated spinal cord, then your dislocated spinal cord would be considered your bodily injury.

The legal term ‘bodily injury’ is usually used after a car accident by insurance companies. Bodily injury describes a type of insurance policy that will compensate you. They’ll use this term to describe the medical diagnosis of you and any passengers after a crash. If you suffered a bodily injury during an automobile accident that wasn’t your fault, then you’re usually eligible to receive compensation for your losses.

Your losses are not limited to the bills associated with your medical diagnosis. You may also be able to seek coverage for any lost wages, future medical expenses, and any type of lost earning capacity.

Defining Personal Injury

The term personal injury is often used to describe any type of injury that happens in any type of accident that was someone else’s fault. It isn’t limited to car accidents, but it extends to describe injuries after a slip & fall accident, contact with a defective product or a wrongful death.

This term is often used in the context of a civil lawsuit. Personal injuries aren’t limited to physical injuries, either. The term extends to include things like pain and suffering, emotional distress or defamation of character. It could also mean a loss of consortium or loss of future income when your loved one’s life is unexpectedly cut short.

Contact a Nutley Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Personal Injury Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Birkhold & Maider, LLC, represent clients injured in Nutley, Hamilton, and throughout New Jersey. Call 973-784-8630 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 189 Franklin Avenue, Suite 1, Nutley, NJ 07110 as well as offices in Hamilton.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.