Bodily injury liability
What is bodily injury liability?
Bodily injury liability is a type of car insurance that helps pay for medical expenses, legal fees and other costs if you cause an accident that injures someone else. This coverage applies to people outside your car like other drivers, passengers, or pedestrians.
It does not cover injuries to you or your passengers. That’s usually handled by personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payments coverage (MedPay). Bodily injury liability insurance provides coverage for physical injuries to others involved in an accident when the policyholder is at fault.
Most states require drivers to carry a minimum amount of bodily injury liability coverage as part of their auto insurance policy.
Importance of bodily injury liability
Bodily injury liability sets two limits: how much it covers per person, and how much it covers per accident. You can also choose higher limits for better protection.
By having bodily injury liability coverage, drivers can make sure that they are protected in the event of an accident, and that they can provide financial support to those who are injured. This coverage not only helps pay for immediate medical costs but also offers peace of mind by covering potential future expenses related to the injury.
How does bodily injury liability work?
If you’re at fault in an accident and someone is hurt, your bodily injury liability coverage steps in. It pays for things like:
- Emergency medical care
- Hospital care
- Ongoing treatment or rehabilitation
- Legal defense if you’re sued
- Lost wages for the injured person
Your policy will list two limits:
- A per-person limit (the most it pays for one person’s injuries)
- A per-accident limit (the most it pays for all injuries in one accident, covering the total combined expenses for multiple people injured in a single accident)
Example: If your limits are $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident, your insurance company would cover up to $50,000 for each injured person, but no more than $100,000 total for the accident, including legal expenses.
Who is covered under bodily injury liability?
This coverage is designed to protect other people, not you.
It typically covers:
- Drivers or passengers in the other car
- Pedestrians or cyclists injured in the accident
- People in another vehicle you hit
- The other driver
It does not cover:
- You (the at-fault driver)
- Passengers in your own vehicle (you may need PIP or MedPay for that)
What does bodily injury liability cover?
Bodily injury liability typically pays for:
- Medical expenses – Hospital visits, surgeries, and physical therapy.
- Lost wages – Income the injured person loses while recovering.
- Legal fees – If you’re sued because of the accident.
- Pain and suffering – Compensation for emotional or physical distress.
- Funeral costs – In the case of a fatality.
- Bodily injuries – Additional injuries sustained in the accident.
This coverage helps protect you from having to pay these costs out of pocket, including lost income due to the injured person’s inability to work.
What expenses does bodily injury liability help pay for?
Here’s a quick breakdown of what this coverage can include:
- Emergency care and ambulance fees
- Hospital stays and follow-up care
- Physical therapy or long-term rehabilitation
- Court fees, settlements or legal judgments
- Compensation for emotional distress or permanent disability
Does bodily injury liability cover passengers in my car?
No, bodily injury liability protects people you injure in other vehicles or outside your own car.
If you want coverage for injuries to you or your passengers, you may need to add:
- Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Both options help pay for medical bills regardless of who’s at fault.
How much bodily injury liability do I need?
The right amount depends on your budget, risk tolerance and assets.
Most states set a minimum required amount, but that might not be enough to fully protect you after a serious accident. If the injuries you cause cost more than your liability limits, you could be personally responsible for the rest, meaning you may have to pay the remaining costs out of pocket.
Common minimums might look like:
- $25,000 per person
- $50,000 per accident
But many drivers choose higher limits, such as $100,000/$300,000, for better protection.
How does a bodily injury liability claim work?
Here’s what typically happens after an accident:
- Accident occurs – You’re at fault and someone else is injured.
- Claim is filed – The injured party files a claim with your insurance company.
- Investigation – Your insurance company reviews the details, including police reports and medical bills.
- Payout – If approved, your insurance company pays the injured person—up to the limits you chose when you bought your policy.
- Legal help – If you’re sued, your insurance company may provide a lawyer to defend you.
What happens if I don’t have bodily injury liability?
Driving without this coverage, especially in a state where it’s required, can lead to:
- Fines or license suspension
- Legal penalties
- Personal liability for all injury-related costs
- Difficulty getting an auto policy in the future
Even in no-fault states (where each driver’s insurance pays for their own injuries), bodily injury liability is still required to cover serious injury lawsuits.
How much does bodily injury liability insurance cost?
Your premium will depend on factors like:
- Your driving record
- Your age and location
- Your vehicle type
- Your selected coverages and limits
Generally, increasing your bodily injury limits won’t dramatically raise your overall premium—but it can offer much better protection.
Ask a VIU by HUB Advisor to help you compare quotes and options.
Which states require bodily injury liability coverage?
Almost every U.S. state requires bodily injury coverage, though minimum limits vary.
For example:
- California – $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident
- Texas – $30,000 / $60,000
- Florida – No BIL required for basic coverage, but recommended
Bodily injury vs. personal injury: what’s the difference?
These two terms sound similar but they aren’t the same.
- Bodily injury liability – Refers to car insurance coverage for physical harm caused to others. Bodily injury coverage includes medical expenses, legal fees, loss of income, pain and suffering and funeral costs.
- Personal injury – It is a legal term often used in lawsuits (e.g. slip and fall or defamation) or homeowners insurance.
Think of bodily injury as a specific coverage type in auto insurance, while personal injury is a broader legal concept.
Bodily injury vs. property damage liability
Auto liability insurance includes two parts:
| Type | What it covers |
| Bodily Injury Liability | Injuries you cause to other people in an accident |
| Property Damage Liability | Damage you cause to someone else's vehicle or property |
Auto liability insurance includes two parts: bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. They work together to protect you financially if you’re at fault. Most states require both types as part of a minimum auto insurance policy.
FAQs:
What does $100k/$300k/$100k mean?
In the context of bodily injury liability coverage, the numbers $100k/$300k/$100k refer to the coverage limits within an auto insurance policy. The first number ($100k) is the most your insurance company pays for injuries to one person.
The second number, $300k, is the per accident limit, indicating the total maximum amount the insurance company will cover for all injuries in a single accident, regardless of the number of injured people. The third number, $100k, typically refers to property damage liability coverage, which is the maximum amount the insurance will pay for damage to another person’s property in an accident. These limits help to make sure that drivers are financially protected in the event of an accident.
References:
https://www.progressive.com/answers/how-much-car-insurance-do-i-need/
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/insurance/minimum-car-insurance-requirements