An injury is an injury, right? Not quite.

In the legal world, bodily injury and personal injury are, surprisingly, not the same thing. Personal injury cases are usually seen in civil court while bodily injury cases tend to appear in criminal court. However, you could say that they are “opposite sides of the same coin” so to speak.

Heads: Personal Injury
After an accident happens, any physical, emotional, and mental damage incurred would be considered a personal injury. These cases cover a much wider range of damage than bodily injuries. A personal injury claim is filed when the actions or negligence of another party caused otherwise avoidable harm to the victim. A settlement from a personal injury case can cover past, present, and future medical bills, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, reduced ability to earn a living due to total or partial disability, lost wages, and wrongful death. Some common examples of personal injury cases include:

It’s important to file a personal injury claim as soon as possible, but sometimes underlying injuries and illness from a specific incident aren’t discovered until later. In Missouri, the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is five years.

Tails: Bodily Injury
Bodily injury refers to physical injuries incurred after a car accident, such as fractures, nerve damage, disfigurement, and lacerations. Bodily liability insurance is used to compensate the injured party and is owned by the driver who caused the accident. The amount and type of bodily liability insurance that you are legally required to have depends on if you live in a “no fault” or “fault” state. “No fault” states require the injured party to use their own insurance to cover expenses but allows them to file a lawsuit against the other driver if the costs exceed a certain amount.

In Missouri, a “fault” state, a person must have a minimum of $25,000 per bodily injury per person per accident, and $50,000 per bodily injury for all persons per accident, and $25,000 for property damage in bodily injury liability coverage. If someone causes you bodily injury due to their actions or negligence, you can file a lawsuit that will compensate you for medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.

When it comes to motor vehicle accidents, determining who is at fault can be complicated, and proving your innocence is tricky. It’s important that you hire an attorney to provide you with the legal help you need to win your case.

The Same Coin
There are plenty of notable similarities between personal and bodily injury cases as well as differences, which is why they are so commonly confused with each other.

  • You will need a lawyer to help you through the process, handle communications with insurance, gather the necessary evidence, and to negotiate on your behalf. Otherwise, your chances of winning the compensation you deserve are slim to none.
  • Getting treatment right away will help your case.
  • These injuries can cause permanent total or partial disability, accumulate medical bills, cause you to miss work, and leave you vulnerable to insurance companies.
  • Personal and bodily injury accidents are caused by the actions or negligence of the liable party.
  • With the right attorney, you can be reimbursed for your accident-related expenses.
  • In Missouri, the statute of limitations for both cases are five years, starting from the day of the accident.

If you have suffered an injury and another party is to blame, contact us for free legal advice by scheduling a consultation with one of our experienced Kansas City lawyers.