March 20, 2023 | Publications

Differences Between Bodily Injury and Personal Injury

If you have ever been involved in a personal injury case or an accident, you might have heard the terms “bodily injury” and “personal injury” thrown around. While they might seem interchangeable, there are distinct differences between these two legal terms that can impact your case. In this article, we will break down the differences between bodily injury and personal injury and how the Karasik Law Group’s injury lawyer in Brooklyn can help you navigate these legal nuances.

What Does Bodily Injury Mean?

Bodily injury is a type of personal injury that refers specifically to physical harm done to a person’s body, such as broken bones, bruises, or cuts. In legal terms, bodily injury claims are typically defined as an injury that impairs a person’s physical condition or causes them pain and suffering. If you have been involved in an accident that resulted in bodily injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

What Is a Personal Injury?

On the other hand, personal injury is a broader term that encompasses a more comprehensive range of harms that can be inflicted on a person, including bodily injury. Personal injury can also refer to emotional or psychological harm, such as mental anguish, anxiety, or PTSD. Examples of personal injury cases include slip and fall accidents, car accidents, medical malpractice, and defective product claims.

Distinctions Between Bodily Injury and Personal Injury

While bodily injury is a type of personal injury, not all personal injury cases involve bodily injury. For example, if a doctor fails to diagnose a patient’s illness, resulting in delayed treatment and worsened symptoms, the patient may have a personal injury case for medical malpractice. This case would not involve bodily injury, but rather emotional or financial harm resulting from the doctor’s negligence.

Understanding the differences between bodily injury and personal injury is important because it can impact how your case is handled and what types of damages you may be entitled to. For example, if your case involves only bodily injury, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If your case involves personal injury coverage that includes emotional or psychological harm, you may be entitled to additional damages for mental anguish or other non-economic losses.

Proving Negligence in a Personal Injury Case

Proving negligence is vital in personal injury cases to recover damages. Four elements must be established to prove negligence – Duty of Care, Negligence, Causation, and Damages.

  • Duty of Care: The defendant was legally obligated to provide care to the victim.
  • Negligence: The defendant acted carelessly or failed to act, putting the victim at risk of harm.
  • Causation: The defendant’s actions or inaction caused the victim’s injuries.
  • Damages: The victim suffered damages such as medical expenses and lost wages due to the defendant’s negligence.

Evidence to support a personal injury case can include witness testimony, expert witnesses, physical evidence, and documentation. An experienced attorney can gather evidence to build a strong case and negotiate with the defendant’s insurance company or represent the victim in court. The victim can receive compensation for their injuries and losses by proving the defendant’s negligence.

Working With a Personal Injury Lawyer in Brooklyn

Understanding the differences between bodily injury and personal injury is crucial when it comes to pursuing a legal case. While bodily injury refers specifically to physical harm done to a person’s body, personal injury can encompass a wider range of harms, including emotional or psychological harm.

When it comes to personal injury cases, it is important to work with an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who can help you navigate these legal complexities. The Karasik Law Group provides a personal injury lawyer in Brooklyn assisting countless clients to recover the compensation they deserve after an accident or injury.

Whether you have been involved in a car accident, slip and fall accident, or other types of personal injury cases, we can help. Our team of skilled attorneys understands the nuances of personal injury law and can help you build a strong case that maximizes your recovery. We work tirelessly to ensure that our clients receive the compensation they need to move forward after an injury.

If you have been involved in an accident or suffered a personal injury, the Leading Law Firm Karasik Law Group can help you navigate these legal complexities and recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can help you move forward after a personal injury or bodily injury. We offer Free Consultations and contingency-based fees, so you do not pay unless we win your case.