Jason Stephens | May 30, 2023 | Personal Injury

Difference Between Bodily Injury and Personal Injury

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 Fort Worth, TX are:

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: 

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.

PIP Insurance vs. Bodily Injury Liability Insurance

Car accidents are among the most common types of personal injury cases. Because of this, auto insurance frequently comes into play in personal injury cases.

In Texas, drivers are required to have personal injury protection insurance, also known as PIP insurance, or to sign a waiver rejecting it. If you get into an accident, PIP insurance covers your medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses related to an injury up to your policy limit. PIP insurance will cover this regardless of who is at fault for causing the accident. 

Bodily injury liability insurance, on the other hand, covers the other driver’s medical expenses when you are responsible for causing the crash. Texas requires you to have at least $30,000 in bodily injury coverage per person and up to $60,000 per accident. 

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:

A Fort Worth personal injury lawyer can help you determine the extent of your injuries beyond just bodily injury. That way, you can recover all that you are entitled to.

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Fort Worth, TX

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth personal injury lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.

Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000