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What's the Difference Between Bodily & Personal Injury?

lemaster • May 13, 2019

What's the Difference Between Bodily & Personal Injury?

Watts and Pepicelli, P.C.
After an accident, you might hear the terms personal injury and bodily injury used interchangeably, especially in the context of seeking compensation for your damages. While both of these phrases refer to victims’ rights, they actually describe two different types of damages entirely. Below is an explanation of the distinction that every victim should understand.

How Bodily Injury & Personal Injury Differ

What Are Bodily Injuries?
After an accident or criminal act, the specific physical harms suffered by the victims are known as bodily injuries. This term is most often used in the context of auto accidents, but it’s also common in the criminal justice system.

Victims who have been hurt by negligence or intentional malice can claim compensation for bodily injuries, including the costs of copays and doctor’s fees, prescription medications, and any future medical expenses. Bodily injury claims can also encompass wages lost during recovery and reductions in future earning potential related to your medical condition.
Watts and Pepicelli, P.C.
Personal Injuries
In a sense, bodily injuries are a subset of personal injuries, and included in most accident claims. In addition to medical expenses and lost wages, personal injuries cover noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and how your injuries have impacted your quality of life. If the victim of the accident did not survive, their survivors may also be able to include their own loss of companionship and anguish in a personal injury claim.

Calculating the full extent of your damages in a personal injury claim can be extremely complex, often requiring the skills of an experienced attorney. For over 25 years, the attorneys at Watts & Pepicelli, P.C. have provided compassionate and effective representation to victims throughout Crawford County, PA. Visit their website for more on their personal injury services or call (814) 336-4000 to schedule a consultation.
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