Bodily Injury vs. Pain and Suffering

Have you ever wished you could ask a lawyer to explain legal terms in simple language? In this legal glossary series that’s exactly what the managing partner of our car accident law firm, The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers provides.

In this article, you’ll learn how bodily injury and pain and suffering damages are related.

How Are Bodily Injury and Pain and Suffering Related?

Bodily injury refers to the physical harm accident victims suffer in an accident. Pain and suffering is caused by bodily injury and is both the physical pain and emotional distress—mental anguish—a victim experiences post-accident.

Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and Financial Compensation for Pain and Suffering

These terms are commonly used in car accident and other types of motor vehicle injury cases. In this context, bodily injury liability coverage (BI) in an auto insurance policy is standard coverage that compensates victims for bodily injury if you’re at fault. Coverage for bodily injury helps pay for legal fees if you’re sued in a personal injury lawsuit for damages after an accident.

Does Bodily Injury Liability Cover Pain and Suffering?

Yes, bodily injury liability coverage includes pain and suffering compensation. Pain and suffering is one of the common types of damages that personal injury claim victims are entitled to in a successful personal injury claim along with medical bills, medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Andrew Kryder, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer, Explains Bodily Injury vs. Pain and Suffering

Meet Andrew Kryder, Esq., founding partner and an experienced personal injury accident attorney. He’s well-known for breaking down complex legal jargon into language that anyone can understand.

Today, he’ll walk us through the terms “bodily injury” and “pain and suffering,” shedding light on how these terms are related and what they mean for those involved in an accident.

Andy begins, “Some people question whether there’s a difference between bodily injury and pain and suffering. For me, the two concepts . . . go hand in hand”.

“Bodily injury” pertains to physical harm injured individuals suffer as a result of an accident, including visible bodily injuries, like fractures or cuts, and non-visible ones such as internal bleeding. On the other hand, “pain and suffering” refers to both the physical discomfort and emotional distress a victim experiences post-accident due to the bodily injury they have received.

Andy shows how the two terms are related, “Pain and suffering originates from the bodily injury that occurred during an accident, [so] there’s not really a distinction between the two.”

How Does the Insurance Company View Bodily Injury and Pain and Suffering?

Insurance companies typically separate these elements of claims, compensating for physical injuries directly with bodily injury coverage, while emotional pain and suffering often requires more negotiation.

“The insurance companies,” Andy explains, “are going to be compensating you for the injury that you sustained in an accident and the pain and suffering that stems from that injury.” He points out, “It’s very, very hard to divorce the two . . . concepts. They really do go hand in hand.”

What Other Compensation Might Be Available for Accident Victims?

Andy continues, “Pain and suffering isn’t the only thing that you’re entitled to after an accident. You’re also entitled to other damages such as: lost wages, disability, loss of a normal life, and other things that you can prove in court that happened because of the accident.”

Compensation isn’t just about the insurance company’s helping people financially, it is also intended to give them closure after a traumatic experience.

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help the Victim of an Accident?

Personal injury refers to physical or emotional injury that occurs due to the negligence of another party. An experienced personal injury attorney from The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers can assess your personal injury case, explain your rights in understandable terms, and work diligently to secure the maximum compensation you deserve.

“So,” Andy concludes, “if you’re involved in an accident, you really do want to discuss it with an attorney to make sure that you’re making a claim for everything you’re entitled to.”

Schedule your free consultation today to discuss your case, evaluate insurance coverage such as bodily injury, pain and suffering, and property damage liability coverage, understand your legal options, and start your journey to recover compensation.