Bodily Injury Vs. Personal Injury: What’s the Difference?

What Is Bodily Injury?

In everyday language, bodily injury means any physical harm to a person’s body. It could be anything from a bruise or cut to a broken bone or a serious wound. What defines bodily injury is tangible, physical harm to someone.

The term “bodily injury” also commonly appears in legal and insurance contexts. For example, car insurance policies include bodily injury liability coverage. This form of coverage serves to pay for injuries you cause to other people in an accident. In criminal law, a charge like assault may refer to causing bodily harm to someone. In all these situations, bodily injury refers strictly to physical damage to a person.

What Is Personal Injury?

Personal injury is a broader term that refers to any injury to a person. Thus, it covers both physical injuries and non-physical harm. This is the term used for the area of law where an injured person can seek compensation if someone else’s negligence or intentional act caused them harm.

Non-physical harm in personal injury cases often includes emotional distress. For example, a car accident can cause obvious forms of bodily injury. It could also cause “personal injury” in the form of emotional distress if a victim develops a fear of driving in the aftermath of their accident. Depending on the severity of their distress, they may be able to account for this “injury” when seeking compensation via a personal injury claim or lawsuit.

Personal injury law covers a wide range of situations, from accidents that cause physical injuries to incidents that cause purely emotional or psychological harm. Because it can be difficult to fully understand the nuances of bodily injury vs. personal injury, strongly consider reviewing your case with a legal professional if you have questions.

Key Differences Between Bodily Injury and Personal Injury

The main difference between bodily injury and personal injury is the scope of what’s being described. Bodily injury describes physical harm to a person’s body. Personal injury includes physical injuries and other types of harm a person can suffer.

This makes bodily injury a subset of personal injury. All bodily injuries (for example, a broken arm or a concussion) are personal injuries, but not all personal injuries are bodily injuries.

In practice, any lawsuit for injury is simply called a personal injury case. Even if your injuries after an accident are merely physical, you wouldn’t file a “bodily injury” claim or lawsuit. Again, a legal professional with experience handling these types of cases can help you better understand these terms and how they may apply to your circumstances.

Real-World Examples of Bodily Injury vs. Personal Injury

Looking at a few scenarios can make the difference between bodily injury and personal injury clearer. Consider the following examples:

• Car Accident: A negligent driver hits you in Washington, D.C. As a result of the motorist’s negligence, you sustain clear bodily injuries in the form of whiplash and broken bones. Any claim or lawsuit you file would fall under personal injury law. Your personal injury claim would cover the medical bills for your arm and neck (the bodily injuries) as well as compensation for your pain, suffering, and any emotional trauma from the crash.
• Slip and Fall: You slip on a wet grocery store floor and sprain your ankle. The sprained ankle is an example of a bodily injury. Yours would qualify as a personal injury case if you filed a claim or lawsuit against the store. The claim would cover your medical treatment for the ankle and any lost wages related to the injury. It may also cover other effects, like the pain you suffered or the anxiety you developed about walking on slick floors after the fall.
• Medical Malpractice: Perhaps you sustain injuries because a negligent surgeon or other medical professional performs the wrong procedure on the wrong part of the body. Your physical injuries would represent the bodily injuries you sustained as a result of a doctor’s carelessness. However, perhaps these injuries also prevent you from participating in activities that once brought you a sense of satisfaction and pleasure. Your personal injuries may also consist of the emotional distress you now experience due to the change in your quality of life.

These examples show that bodily injury refers to physical harm, whereas personal injury covers the full range of harm someone suffers. Often, an accident can involve both. Understanding them is key to pursuing the full amount of compensation that may be available.

Insurance Implications of Bodily vs Personal Injury

Knowing the difference between bodily injury and personal injury can also help you better understand an insurance policy’s terms and coverage. If you look at an auto insurance policy, you’ll likely see a section for “Bodily Injury Liability” coverage. This coverage pays for medical expenses and related costs if you are at fault in an accident and cause physical harm to someone else. For instance, if you cause a car crash and another driver is injured, your bodily injury liability insurance can pay for their hospital bills and treatment up to the limits of your policy. Bodily injury liability specifically covers physical injuries to other people.

The term “personal injury” in insurance can refer to other types of coverage. For example, some homeowners’ or umbrella insurance policies include “personal injury” coverage that protects against non-physical harms like libel or slander. In auto insurance, many states offer Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which will pay for your own injury-related expenses (like medical bills and lost wages) if you’re hurt in a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. These uses of the term “personal injury” are different from the general legal meaning of personal injury.

Yes, “personal injury” sometimes has different meanings in law and certain insurance contexts. The key point to remember is that in insurance, bodily injury coverage deals with physical harm or injury. In contrast, a policy’s personal injury coverage usually refers to specific non-bodily protections or no-fault injury coverage like PIP. Also, note that Washington, DC requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of bodily injury liability insurance to protect others on the road.

Injuries are, unfortunately, common. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports about 40 million injury-related emergency room visits in the U.S. each year. That’s a staggering number – and a good reminder of why having the right insurance coverage is so important.

How Regan Zambri Long Can Help Injury Victims

Suffering any kind of injury can be overwhelming. You might be dealing with physical pain, medical bills, time off work, and a lot of stress. This is where the experienced personal injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long PLLC step in to help.

Our track record speaks volumes about our dedication to our clients. For example, in one noteworthy wrongful death case, we secured a settlement of $77 million. Previous clients describe our services in glowing terms, saying, “There are not enough positive words to describe attorney Sal Zambri and the law firm where he is a partner. He took on our family case, where many other lawyers would have left it behind. His dedication and professionalism are unmatched. He is hard-working and leaves no stone unturned. He is also a very compassionate person.”

We handle the full spectrum of personal injury cases, from accidents that cause serious bodily injuries to complex cases involving significant emotional trauma. No matter the type of injury you’ve suffered, we know how to build a strong case that covers all of your damages. Our team will gather evidence of your physical injuries and also document your pain and suffering, as well as how the injury has affected your life. By covering both the visible and invisible consequences of an accident, we pursue the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Questions regarding the difference between bodily injury and personal injury may cover just some of the questions you have when seeking compensation after an accident. At our firm, we’d be happy to discuss your case in greater detail. Get started today by contacting us for a free consultation.