Injury
Etymology
Middle English injurie, from Anglo-French, Latin injuria, from injurus injurious, from in- + jur-, jus right
- Date: 14th century
Definitions
- 1 a : an act that damages or hurts : wrong
- 2 : hurt, damage, or loss sustained\
Description
Injury (also bodily injury or bodily harm) is damage or harm caused to the structure or function of the body caused by an outside agent or force, which may be physical or chemical, and either by accident or intentional. Personal Injury also refers to damage caused to the reputation of another rather than physical harm to the body. A severe and life-threatening injury is referred to as a physical trauma.
Various legal remedies may be available for personal injury (eg. under the law negligence) or for injury to the reputation of another (eg. see damages and restitution) for slander or libel. In the United States, the legal definition of malicious injury is any injury committed with malice, hatred or one committed spitefully or wantonly. Such an action must be willfully committed with the knowledge that it is liable to cause injury. Injury involving element of fraud, violence, wantonness, willfulness, or criminality.