Total and permanent loss of use of a body part is treated as what?

• A. Not covered.
• B. A lesser impairment.
• C. Not specified.
• D. The same as loss of that body part.

Answer: (D)

When a person experiences total and permanent loss of use of a body part, the policy treats it as if that body part were lost. The indemnity or benefit is the same as for an actual loss of the part, because the function of that part is completely gone and will not return. This reflects how “loss of use” is valued in many property and casualty policies: functional loss equals physical loss for purposes of compensation. For example, total loss of use of an arm is paid as if the arm were lost.