Bodily Injury
Physical harm to a person's body, including injuries, illness, or death, that results from an accident or incident. In insurance terms, it refers to covered physical harm for which the policyholder may be legally responsible.
Example
“The car accident resulted in bodily injury to three passengers, including a broken leg and concussion, which were covered under the at-fault driver's liability insurance.”
Memory Tip
Think 'Body gets Injured' - bodily injury is any harm that happens to someone's physical body.
Why It Matters
Bodily injury claims can result in massive financial liability, including medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering awards that can easily exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars. Adequate bodily injury coverage protects your assets from these potentially devastating costs.
Common Misconception
People often think bodily injury only covers obvious physical injuries like broken bones, but it also includes less visible injuries like concussions, back injuries, and even psychological trauma that results from physical harm. The definition is broader than many realize.
In Practice
Tom causes a car accident that injures another driver, resulting in $45,000 in medical bills, $15,000 in lost wages, and $25,000 awarded for pain and suffering, totaling $85,000. His bodily injury liability coverage of $100,000 per person covers the full amount, while someone with only the minimum $25,000 coverage would face $60,000 in out-of-pocket costs.
Etymology
The phrase combines 'bodily,' from Old English 'bodig' meaning the physical structure of a person, with 'injury,' from Latin 'injuria' meaning wrongful act or damage.
Common Misspellings
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See Also
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