Bodily injury is defined as a cut, abrasion, bruise, burn, or disfigurement; physical pain; illness; impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty; or any other injury to the body, no matter how temporary suffered by the third party in an incident that another party is responsible for. Basically, bodily injury refers to injuries to the body caused by another person. A bruise is a bodily injury just as a broken leg is a bodily injury.

After an accidental injury, many people soon learn that they need the help of a lawyer to maximize compensation paid by insurance companies and/or liable parties, such as another motorist in a car accident. Getting the compensation that you need and deserve is not likely to come about simply by filing a claim with your or the other motorist's insurance company.

Were you sustain injuries in a car accident, trucking accident, motorcycle accident, bicycle accident or pedestrian accident? Did you lose a family member in a fatal car accident, and wonder where to turn to obtain the compensation that you believe your family is entitled to? You may seek financial compensation to help deal with needs and losses including the following:

• Medical expenses
• Replacement of lost wages
• Compensation for pain and suffering
• Funeral and burial costs

First, and most obvious, you may have a bodily injury claim to be reimbursed (paid) for the actual amounts of money that you have lost, or had to pay out, due to your injuries. If you are not able to go to work because of your bodily injury and you lose income, you may be entitled to recover the lost income. If you have had to spend money for ambulance, emergency room, doctors, hospital, medications, therapies, etc., you may be entitled to have the person who hurt you pay you for the costs of these medical services. In sum, you may be entitled to recover the real losses that you suffered and the actual costs that you incurred for services that resulted from your being injured by another person.

Second, you may have a bodily injury claim for a specific injury when the injury itself is significant. Normally, a specific injury is an injury to a particular body part, for example, a broken arm or a broken leg. These injuries are serious enough to allow you to be compensated for having suffered the injury.

Third, you may have a bodily injury claim for pain, suffering, and discomfort. Pain, suffering, and discomfort are legitimate injuries even though it is difficult to put a dollar amount on them.

Fourth, you may have a bodily injury claim for the future losses and or expenses. Really severe injuries can cause problems for years to come. These future claims include loss of future income, costs of future medical care and treatment, permanent disability and impairment, and disfigurement. Even though these are bodily injury claims for future losses, you may be entitled to be paid now. In fact, it is important that you realize that when you resolve your claims, you resolve all of them at the same time. You cannot resolve some claims now and other claims later in the future. All bodily injury claims must be resolved at the same time.

Have you been injured or lost a family member in a fatal car accident? If so, you need to call today for a free consultation.