Personal injury lawsuits are generally dischargeable in bankruptcy. However, there are exceptions. An award for injuries is non-dischargeable if the injuries arose from an “intentional tort" (i.e. a civil offense committed with the intent of causing physical, mental, or financial harm to another person). Further, a debt is non-dischargeable if it arises from a personal injury caused by the debtor’s operation of a motor vehicle (or boat or plane) while intoxicated (from alcohol, a drug, etc). So for example, if the debt arose from a drunk driving accident it is cannot be discharged in bankruptcy.