The Difference Between Personal Injury and Bodily Injury

• Personal injury encompasses the legal claim, proceedings, and conclusion of an injury case due to another party’s negligence.
• Bodily injury is the physical injury a victim suffers due to an accident, such as to the neck, brain, back, or broken bones, lacerations, and other wounds.
• Bodily injury claims occur due to motor vehicle accidents but are also caused by work-related injuries, premises liability accidents, and product defect injuries, to name a few.
• Legal advice from a Michigan personal injury attorney at Matz Injury Law can help you navigate the complexities of filing an injury claim.

A bodily injury due to a Michigan car accident, slip-and-fall accident, defective product, dog bite, or another type of injury can lead to pain and suffering, along with mounting medical expenses. The fear and uncertainty of what the future holds due to the nature of your injury and its effects also may weigh on your daily worries.

The phrases “personal injury” and “bodily injury” essentially mean the same thing, although personal injury could encompass more than simply an injury to your body. However, when it comes to insurance, there are differences. It’s important to understand what is involved and initiate your claim as soon as possible so you do not miss any deadlines.

Learn about the intricacies of both bodily and personal injury, along with how a skilled Michigan personal injury attorney can help you navigate the complexities of Michigan’s insurance landscape and assist you in filing a personal injury claim.

The Main Difference Between Personal Injury & Bodily Injury in Michigan

• Bodily injury refers to the physical harm a person suffers from an accident.
• Personal injury is the legal claim, proceedings, and conclusion that result from another party’s negligence in causing a bodily injury to the victim.

Personal Injury vs. Bodily Injury Primary Difference

The primary difference between the two is personal injury is broader. This is because it encompasses physical injuries and pain and suffering. Bodily injury strictly refers to physical injuries.

In insurance terms, personal injury protection (PIP) only covers medical bills, lost wages, and other economic losses from an accident. PIP provides coverage to you if you get injured, irrespective of fault in Michigan. If you can’t do your chores, then you can get someone paid $20 a day to come help you. If you can’t drive to your doctor’s appointments, someone must provide you transportation. Thus, it’s all based on a specific bill or benefit that’s being provided.

Bodily injury insurance is liability coverage, meaning what you would have to pay to somebody else if you cause damage to an individual. Bodily injury insurance requires proof that the policy owner’s negligence caused your injuries.

Defining Personal Injury in Michigan

Personal injury is a legal principle that includes specific components:

• Liability
• A statute of limitations
• Burden of proof (lies with the victim) to show negligence

Remember that Michigan is a no-fault insurance state, meaning a policyholder has to follow specific procedures when pursuing compensation.

Examples of Bodily Injury

Bodily injury is a factor of personal injury, but its definition is narrower since it refers to specific injuries victims receive on their bodies, such as:

• Back, spinal cord, and neck injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Broken bones
• Fractures
• Cuts and lacerations
• Bruises
• Burns
• Disfigurement
• Internal injuries or bleeding
• Nerve damage

In the legal and insurance contexts, bodily injury includes physical injuries to individuals hurt in an accident.

Do I Need to Purchase Bodily Injury Liability Insurance?

State of Michigan law requires motor vehicle owners to carry no-fault insurance. The insurance policy must cover personal injuries, property damage, and liability for bodily injury.

What Does Personal Injury Compensation Cover in Michigan?

People who are injured in accidents can pursue a personal injury case through PIP insurance to obtain compensation to cover the costs of their accident-related expenses, including but not limited to:

• Medical bills
• Surgery
• Medication
• Rehabilitation, such as physical therapy or occupational therapy
• Estimate of future medical bills
• Lost income
• Loss of future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish/emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life/decreased quality of life
• Loss of consortium
• Property damages

Speak with a knowledgeable Michigan personal injury attorney to discuss what you can pursue for compensation that can be included in your settlement.

Types of Personal Injury Cases We Cover

Matz Injury Law has decades of experience with various personal injury cases. Common types of injuries we pursue for our clients include, but are not limited to:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents 
• Drunk driving accidents 
• Burn injuries
• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Dog bites
• Swimming pool accidents
• Brain injury

Schedule a free consultation to speak with a lawyer at Matz Injury Law about your personal injury claim.

Getting Compensation for Your Injury

To obtain compensation to cover your injury, you will need to file a personal injury insurance claim for any bodily injury you sustained in a recent accident.

Do not delay. Time is limited, and you do not want to inadvertently miss any deadlines before the statute of limitations expires.

A skilled personal injury attorney at Matz Injury Law can assist you with this process. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and learn your options.

Related Resources

• Does Health Insurance Cover Car Accident Injuries in Michigan?: Your health insurance policy can help cover the costs of car accident injuries in certain situations, but you’ll want to coordinate with your no-fault insurance.
• Qualified Health Coverage & Michigan No-Fault Insurance: Motorists in Michigan are required to purchase personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage, but a 2020 update to the law states they can opt out if they have qualified health coverage (QHC).
• Michigan No-Fault Laws and Most Common Questions Answered: Michigan is one of many no-fault insurance states, so people must initially file with their own insurance company before pursuing compensation with other auto insurance policies.

Matz Injury Law Takes a Different Approach

At Matz Injury Law, we fully commit ourselves to prioritizing the needs of our clients. We take a different approach than our competitors do. Under the law, attorneys can take as much as 33.3% of any compensation they recover as their fee.

Matz is unique. Our contingency fee is only 22%, putting thousands, if not tens of thousands or more, back in your pocket. We firmly stand by our 22Not33 promise. Learn how you can keep more money with Matz.

Testimonials

“I have so much respect for Steve as a lawyer and as a human being. He is a great soul who truly believes that he has an obligation to help people, and that’s what he does. Words cannot express how grateful and proud I feel to know him. As a proud American and a veteran, I can say I trust Steve Matz, and I wouldn’t think of hiring anyone else but Steve for legal help. He’s a man of his word and is the definition of a true friend. Thank you, Steve, for always being there to help me and my family.” — Daniel F.

“I have used Matz Injury Law over the years, and they are the most honest and trustworthy attorneys I have ever used. They go above and beyond for their clients. I would recommend them to anyone.” — David L.

Don’t Worry About Legal Terms. We’ll Handle Everything For You.

Matz Injury Law has been standing with Michigan’s injured since 1977. Throughout the years, we have traveled extensively throughout Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas to meet with our clients. To date, our law firm has recovered more than $300 million for our clients.

If you suffer from personal injury or if you lost a loved one due to wrongful death, our compassionate and understanding attorneys are here for you. To schedule a free case evaluation, call us at 1-866-22Not33 or, if you prefer, fill out our convenient online contact form.