The term bodily injury refers to the specific physical injuries you sustained because of an accident. Personal injury is the term referring to the physical injuries or property damage that occurred as the result of an accident and might be compensable by filing a personal injury lawsuit.
- According to Insurance Information Institute (III) guidelines, the at-fault party’s bodily injury coverage might be used to cover the cost of treating your physical injuries.
- According to additional guidelines from the institute, personal injury coverage might cover the cost of your medical treatments, property damage, and other financial losses due to your wreck.
If a personal injury lawyer or law firm represents you, they can help you understand the difference between bodily injury and personal injury. Your lawyer can also help you understand and comply with personal injury laws in your area and assist you in seeking the financial compensation you are entitled to as a result of the at-fault party’s negligence.
Determine How Much Your Injury Lawsuit Is Worth
Filing an injury lawsuit may allow you to compel financial compensation from the person or entity that caused your injuries. A personal injury lawyer can take an objective look at the potential value of your lawsuit, which may include the monetary recovery of:
- Known and anticipated medical expenses
- Known and anticipated income losses
- Property damage or total destruction
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
Assigning a value to your lawsuit too soon may lead you to inadvertently overlook accident-related costs that you may be entitled to recoup. On your own, it might be easy to overlook compensable damages or ensure you have records and bills from every physician or facility where you received treatment. Your lawyer can assist you by ensuring all accident and injury-related expenses are known before valuing your lawsuit.
Do Not Put Your Financial Recovery at Risk
A compensation lawsuit that meets all required legal elements and complies with your state’s personal injury laws might still be at risk of not being paid if it is not filed on time. Your state’s statute of limitations tells you and your lawyer how much time you have to file your lawsuit. Failing to comply may mean:
- You cannot file your lawsuit at all;
- You can no longer assign liability to the at-fault party;
- Your lawsuit may be dismissed if it is filed.
You may be able to avoid these costly consequences of an expired statute of limitations by hiring legal representation right away. A lawyer with our firm can also attempt to resolve your lawsuit with a financial settlement from the party responsible for your wreck.
Get Help from a Personal Injury Lawyer
When you entrust your compensation lawsuit to a personal injury lawyers, you can concentrate on your physical recovery while your lawyer concentrates on your monetary recovery. On your behalf, your personal injury lawyer may:
- Analyze your evidence
- Review your financial damages
- Build an effective case file
- Contact and depose witnesses
- Assess the value of your lawsuit
- Handle insurance company paperwork
Your lawyer may also negotiate a favorable settlement on your behalf that ensures your lawsuit is not undervalued or underpaid in a way that would lead you into financial hardship.
You Must Prove the At-Fault Driver’s Liability
Your right to compensation may rely on the ability to prove the cause of your injuries and property damage. Your lawyer may build a case file that proves the at-fault party’s responsibility to compensate you for your injuries and their related expenses. American Bar Association (ABA) guidelines explain the basis of a personal injury lawsuit. Your lawyer can help you establish the legal pillars of personal injury, which are:
- The at-fault party owed you a reasonable duty of care.
- The at-fault party breached the duty to provide care.
- This breach of duty caused your injuries.
- Your injuries caused you harm, financial or otherwise.
After establishing negligence and assigning a monetary valuation to your injuries, your lawyer may also negotiate with the at-fault party or their insurance company or legal representative. The goal of settlement negotiations is to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve to cover the expenses and losses of your accident.
Contact a Personal Injury Member of Our Team Today
If you or someone you love suffered injuries because of another person’s actions or their failure to act, you might have the foundation of a personal injury lawsuit. You do not have to make this determination on your own. We can help you.
Our legal team can help you understand the difference between bodily injury and personal injury and how you can pursue financial recovery for your injuries. Contact the client intake team at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC, now by calling (828) 286-3866 to get started with a free consultation.