If you’ve been hurt in an accident, emotions can run high. Particularly if you’re trying to figure out whether or not to press charges against a party for the damages caused by your injury, it can be confusing to figure out how everything works. When you work with a personal injury lawyer, such as the experienced team of Ben Davis and Zackeree Kelin, they can help walk you through the process of filing a lawsuit. Still, it’s a good idea to understand a bit about the ins and outs of how personal injury cases work, so that you remain focused on the particulars of your case and not the broader aspects of personal injury law. Part of that includes understanding the difference between personal injury and bodily injury. Here’s a quick guide to get you started.
If you’re still unclear about some of the finer details of personal injury law, it’s never a bad idea to discuss your case with a legal professional. They’ll be able to walk you through what medical expenses you can cover with your lawsuit and where there are coverage limits. By having someone walk you through the process of understanding the legal issues at play in your personal injury case, you’ll be able to get a great settlement.
Understanding personal injury
Personal injury claims are primarily concerned with situations in which one party’s negligence causes damage to another party. In some cases, these damages are lost wages or medical bills. In other situations, a personal injury suit is involved with the defamation of someone’s character. When pursuing a personal injury case, there are a few legal features which will come into play. For example, in some states, there are statutory limitations that limit when you are able to press charges in a personal injury suit. Other legal aspects that may come into play during a personal injury case include establishing liability and the burden of proof. If you’re even partially liable for the situation, because you were distracted or weren’t following proper protocol, you may have less of a settlement, since you’ll be found partially responsible for the injury. On average, personal injury lawsuits pay plaintiffs $50,000, with settlements usually topping out at around $80,000.
Understanding bodily injury
Unlike personal injury, bodily injury is much more specific. While personal injury cases may constitute issues such as defamation, bodily injury cases are particularly focused on harm sustained by individuals. Bodily injury cases are generally reserved for cases in which one person caused the harm to another person. This differs from personal injury suits, which are focused on accidental injuries and may involve an individual, business, or corporation. Bodily injury may refer to criminal cases as well as insurance claims. Like personal injury cases, the settlements from bodily injury cases can cover a wide range of fees. From medical expenses and treatments to physical therapy, lost wages, and other medical bills, a bodily injury suit pays out an average of several thousand dollars. Depending on the nature of the injury, you can sometimes claim future expenses, too, if your injury will prevent you from performing your work or necessitate ongoing therapies.
As you can see, a lot of technicalities go into understanding the differences between a personal injury lawsuit and a bodily injury lawsuit. Finding and obtaining the counsel of a reliable lawyer can thus go a long way in ensuring that you’re pursuing the proper legal avenue to earn the maximum settlement possible. Since many attorneys offer free consultations, you’ll be able to get a feel for whether or not a lawyer is a good fit for you and your case before retaining them. Once you understand the particulars of your case as well as how a lawyer can help you, you’ll be able to pursue your case properly and have a higher chance of success.