People often get confused between bodily injury and personal injury and use the terms interchangeably. But they are not the same and it is important to understand their difference to ensure you file for correct claims if you have been involved in an accident.
What is a Bodily Injury?
Bodily injury is often used in criminal court in reference to any injuries sustained by a victim of a crime such as an assault or in relation to insurance cases related to motor vehicle accidents.
Some states in the US require motorists to carry a Bodily Injury Liability Insurance or BIL insurance that protects them if they are found to be at-fault in a crash. Such insurance covers the expenses incurred and injuries suffered by the person who did not cause the accident.
Understanding Bodily Injury Insurance (BIL)
The BIL coverage amount varies depending on the state and can start from anywhere around $10,000 to $25,000 per accident and go much higher. If you are involved in a serious car crash, you may have to incur huge medical and other expenses that can quickly put your personal assets at risk.
Hence, it is important that motorists have sufficient coverage for BIL insurance to pay for medical treatments, salary loss, and funeral expenses if they are at fault. For additional information on BIL insurance, the Virginia Personal Injury Lawyers have provided crucial information on how it protects you when filing a claim: https://www.ruttermills.com/injury-lawyer/the-difference-between-bodily-injury-and-personal-injury/
What is a Personal Injury?
Personal injury is a term used in civil court to reference the costs that can be claimed for an accident or wrongful death. If a person has been injured, then they can file a personal injury lawsuit against the defendant in the court and hold them responsible for the injuries incurred.
In most personal injury cases, the at-fault party has been negligent in responsibly fulfilling their duties and such negligence has resulted in an accident and subsequent injuries. Some of the common cases of personal injury lawsuit include:
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace injuries
- Premise liability
What is Personal Injury Protection (PIP)?
Some states in the US are categorized as ‘fault’ states while some are ‘no-fault’ states. The extent of the insurance that you need to be carrying at the time of the accident depends on if it has occurred in a fault state or no-fault state.
Some states do not require you to carry the BIL insurance except if your vehicle has been registered as a taxi. But in such cases, the state may require the driver to carry a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) that will pay for their own, or a passenger’s medical expenses irrespective of the fault in the accident.
How Can A Good Law Firm Help You?
Being involved in any legal matter can feel intimidating. Hence, it is best to seek help from an experienced law firm that can help you recover compensation or receive a settlement for your damages and injuries.
If you have been involved in an accident that was a result of someone else’s negligence, you should not have to endure any expenses or have to pay out-of-pocket for something that was not your fault. An experienced and knowledgeable lawyer can help you examine the evidence, initiate legal action while protecting your rights.
