When getting general liability insurance, you might see that it offers bodily injury coverage and personal injury coverage. These types of protection might seem similar if you only look at the names. However, these policies have very distinct differences. You should not attempt to use one type of coverage in  place of the other.

When you call your agent at 888-296-0345, ask them how your policy governs these two elements of coverage. Carefully read through your policy to understand its exclusions, conditions and coverage limits. Here’s some more information on bodily and personal injury coverage to get you started.

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

Think of bodily injury coverage as just that, injury to the body. Should you cause a physical injury (broken bones, cuts, internal bleeding, etc) to someone else, bodily injury coverage might come in handy. It can help you pay for the injured person’s medical costs, as well as other fees like rehab bills or legal costs.

Yet, coverage will likely not provide coverage if you intentionally harm someone. Other exclusions might exist as well. For example, you usually cannot insure yourself or family members under liability insurance.

Personal Injury Liability Coverage

One area that bodily injury coverage will likely exclude is personal damages. This includes things like libel, false arrest and more. Actions like these often have coverage under personal injury liability insurance. While this coverage protects injuries, it does not apply to physical injuries. Instead, it applies to damage you might cause to someone else’s reputation or character. If might apply if someone accuses you of

• Libel or slander
• False arrest or imprisonment
• Malicious prosecution
• Invasion of privacy
• Wrongful eviction

For example, someone might accuse you of spreading malicious lies about them. They might allege it caused them to have problems getting a job. Should the accuser sue you, you might be able to use this policy to help compensate them. Again, personal injury insurance might not apply to situations when you cause intentional harm.

When setting up liability insurance, ask your agent at 888-296-0345 how it will cover these two types of coverage. Depending on what you are insuring (your home, your business, etc.) your policy may or may not automatically include both pieces of coverage. Work with your agent to set high enough limits to cover as much of the potential costs as you can. It can go a long way towards making you more financially sound.

Also Read: Preparing Your Car for Hail