What is the Difference Between a Personal Injury and Bodily Injury in New York? Law

If you or a loved one recently suffered an injury in an accident caused by someone else, you might find yourself a bit confused as you navigate the internet for more information. Understanding the difference between a personal and bodily injury in New York is key to finding the right care, assistance, and compensation for your trauma.

What is a personal injury in New York?

You have suffered a personal injury liable for compensation in any of the following cases:

• You were physically, emotionally, and/or mentally injured due to the negligence of a person or entity. In plain English, negligence includes anything caused by the carelessness of another. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Car accidents
  • Slip and falls on unsalted sidewalks (premises liability)
  • Medical malpractice
  • Defective product injuries (product liability)
• You suffered physical, emotional, and/or mental injury due to the recklessness of a person or entity. A step above carelessness, recklessness refers to cases when someone acts not only without care but without concern for any consequences of their actions. Drinking and driving is a prime example.
• You have been physically, emotionally, and/or mentally injured due to the intentional actions of a person or entity. As you can probably guess, this refers to assault, battery, and anything else done to your person with the deliberate intent to injure.

What is a bodily injury in New York?

Bodily injury is not a category of its own but instead recognized as a subsection of personal injury. Whereas personal injury can pertain to emotional and mental distress, bodily injury is specific to the physical. Because it is a subset of personal injury, it may entitle you to greater compensation in a lawsuit. A bodily injury could be any of the following:

• Broken/fractured/sprained bones
• Loss of life (regarding a loved one)
• Loss of fetus
• Any physical trauma that requires surgical intervention

The legal definitions of personal and bodily injuries cover a wide range of injuries and situations. Whether the causes are due to negligence, recklessness, or the intentional acts of another person or entity, you need the services of a skilled attorney to guide you through the legal process.

It is also important to keep statutes of limitations in mind and act fast to seek the justice you deserve. In the state of New York, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is just three years.

Contact a skilled personal and bodily injury attorney in New York

If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury or bodily injury and you live in the state of New York, don’t wait or you might risk obtaining the justice you deserve. Contact the personal injury lawyer Bronx at the Law Office of Evan W. Kohn for assistance at (718) 409-5500 or contact us online today.