injury
An injury is a harm suffered due to some act or omission done by another person or entity . For example, in a medical malpractice lawsuit , the plaintiff’s injury may be permanent disfigurement by a negligent surgeon. An injury could be financial loss, physical harm, damage to one’s reputation, property loss, breach of contract , or another harm.
Injuries can generally provide the basis for a civil tort claim or a criminal prosecution . An injury is also an essential element of an unintentional tort, or an accident by one person that causes injury or harm to another person. Some other forms of injury recognized by the law include:
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A
permanent injury
is a type of personal injury of a nature that has a lasting, adverse effect on employment potential.
- For example, a car accident caused by a negligent driver leads to the loss of a limb by the driver’s passenger.
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An
irreparable injury
is a type of harm that cannot be cured or reversed by monetary compensation.
- For example, an industrial business pollutes a local lake which destroys the ecosystem in the water.
[Last reviewed in November of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team ]
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