West Virginia Property and Casualty Licensing Practice Exam

Which of the following scenarios would be classified as a personal injury?

1. A delivery driver slips and falls

2. A tenant sues a landlord for invasion of privacy

3. A homeowner files a claim after a burglary

4. A car accident resulting in bodily injury

The correct answer is: A tenant sues a landlord for invasion of privacy

Personal injury laws encompass a range of wrongs that can be classified under the broad category of torts. In this context, the scenario involving a tenant suing a landlord for invasion of privacy is classified as personal injury because it concerns harm to an individual's rights or reputation rather than just physical injury or property damage. Invasion of privacy refers to violations of a person's right to be free from unwarranted intrusion into their personal life. This can include various acts such as unauthorized entry into a person’s property, unauthorized use of personal information, or placing a person under surveillance without consent. Such actions can lead to emotional distress and damage to a person's reputation, both of which fall under personal injury claims. In contrast, other scenarios like the delivery driver slipping and falling, the homeowner filing a claim after a burglary, and the car accident resulting in bodily injury primarily concern physical injuries or property damage rather than the infringement of personal rights. Therefore, while they may involve claims or insurance issues, they do not fit the definition of personal injury in the same way that the invasion of privacy scenario does.