If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you may have heard the terms “bodily injury” and “personal injury.” Perhaps you’re wondering, what is the difference between bodily injury vs. personal injury?
Technically, personal injury is a type of legal claim someone has when they have experienced an injury. It is a subcategory of legal cases. One type of harm a victim may have suffered in a personal injury case is a bodily injury. They may have also sustained an emotional injury, financial loss, or other damages.
For example, if someone breaks their arm in a car accident because of another party’s reckless driving, the victim may file a personal injury claim. In their personal injury claim, they will ask the defendant to pay for damages related to their bodily injury (their broken arm).
TYPES OF PERSONAL INJURY CASES
There are many different types of personal injury cases. The specific type of case will depend on the circumstances of the accident and the tort theory in your case.
The most common types of personal injury cases in Georgia are:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Wrongful death
- Catastrophic injury
- Child sexual abuse
- Construction accidents
- Dog bites
- Slip and fall accidents
- Negligent security
- Premises liability
- Product liability
- Workers’ compensation
- Workplace accidents
Of course, many accidents are unexpected and can happen in various ways. A personal injury case doesn’t need to fall neatly into one of these categories to be labeled as a personal injury.
TYPES OF BODILY INJURY
In a personal injury case, many different types of bodily injuries can happen. Sometimes the injuries are minor, and sometimes they are catastrophic and life-changing.
Examples of bodily injuries in personal injury cases may include:
- Brain injuries
- Head injuries
- Chest injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Bruises, burns, and lacerations
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Eye injuries
- Knee injuries
A plaintiff may experience one or multiple injuries. A personal injury lawyer should be familiar with various types of bodily injuries. They will also take the time to consult a doctor to ensure that they understand the nature of the injury and the path to recovery.
OTHER DAMAGES SUFFERED BY PERSONAL INJURY VICTIMS
Sometimes there are other types of injuries in personal injury cases. This may include pain and suffering, financial losses, and even injury to your reputation. A personal injury attorney can recover damages for more than just the cost of your medical bills.
You may be entitled to compensation for:
- Lost wages
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disfigurement
- Property damage
- Damage to reputation
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
Figueredo Law can help you determine the extent of your injuries beyond just bodily injury. That way, you can recover all that you are entitled to.
Original article from https://www.stephenslaw.com/blog/difference-between-bodily-injury-and-personal-injury/
