What is Bodily Injury Liability?
Bodily Injury Liability Insurance, often referred to as BI Liability, is a crucial component of auto insurance policies. This type of insurance provides financial protection for drivers who cause accidents resulting in physical injuries to other people.
By covering expenses related to medical care, lost income, legal fees, and even funeral costs, BI Liability helps the at-fault driver manage the often overwhelming financial burden that accompanies serious car accidents.
Most states in the U.S. require drivers to carry Bodily Injury Liability Insurance by law, making it an essential part of responsible vehicle ownership.
Bodily Injury Liability Insurance is not only a legal requirement in many states but also a key financial safeguard.
Without this insurance, the at-fault driver would be personally liable for all medical expenses, legal fees, and other damages incurred by the injured parties. By understanding how this coverage works, policyholders can ensure they have adequate protection for themselves and others on the road.
What Does Bodily Injury Liability Cover?
Bodily Injury Liability coverage includes a range of expenses listed below that may result from a car accident where the policyholder is at fault.
Medical Expenses
Bodily Injury Liability Insurance covers medical expenses for injuries sustained by others in an accident caused by the policyholder. This may include costs for emergency services, hospital stays, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, and ongoing medical treatments.
Since medical costs can skyrocket quickly, having sufficient BI coverage ensures that the injured party receives the necessary care without placing the financial burden solely on the at-fault driver.
Loss of Income
If the injured party cannot work due to the accident, Bodily Injury Liability Insurance can compensate for lost income.
For instance, if an injured person misses weeks or even months of work while recovering, BI Liability will help cover their lost wages. This is particularly important for individuals who are the primary earners in their families.
By covering lost income, BI Liability provides essential financial support during recovery.
Pain and Suffering
In addition to the physical expenses like medical bills and lost wages, Bodily Injury Liability Insurance will also pay the injured party for pain and suffering. This is usually determined by the severity of the injuries and the impact on the victim’s lifestyle.
While this is a more subjective aspect of coverage, it acknowledges that accidents have emotional and physical repercussions beyond the direct costs.
Legal Counsel and Legal Fees
If the injured party decides to take legal action against the at-fault driver, Bodily Injury Liability Insurance can cover legal fees incurred during the lawsuit. This includes the cost of hiring legal counsel, court fees, and settlement costs.
Legal proceedings can be expensive and time-consuming, and BI Liability Insurance ensures that the at-fault driver is not solely responsible for these expenses.
Funeral Expenses
In the unfortunate event that the car accident results in a fatality, Bodily Injury Liability Insurance can cover the associated funeral expenses. This provides critical financial support to the family of the deceased during a time of immense grief and difficulty.
How Much Bodily Injury Liability Insurance Do I Need?
Most states in the U.S. require drivers to have Bodily Injury Liability Insurance, but the amount of coverage varies by state.
The most common minimum coverage requirement is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, often written as “25/50.” However, it’s important to note that these minimums may not be sufficient in the event of a serious accident.
Which States Require Bodily Injury Liability Coverage?
Most states in the US require bodily injury liability coverage to drive, except for New Jersey, Florida and parts of Alaska.
In some states, there are conditions to be met to be exempt from this coverage. For example in Alaska, residents of remote areas can opt out of car insurance altogether.
New Jersey and Florida don’t require bodily injury liability insurance but drivers in these states still must purchase different coverage options like property damage liability and personal injury protection.
Property damage liability covers the cost of damage to another person’s vehicle or property in an at-fault accident and personal injury protection covers medical expenses in an accident regardless of fault.
To determine the bodily injury liability insurance requirements in your state, use the table below.
| State | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Alaska | (Auto insurance is optional for certain Alaska residents) $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $100,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Arizona | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $15,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Arkansas | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| California | $15,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $30,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $5,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Colorado | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $15,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Connecticut | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per person $50,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per accident |
| Delaware | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $10,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $15,000 Personal injury protection (PIP) per person $30,000 Personal injury protection (PIP) per accident |
| Florida | $10,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $10,000 Personal injury protection (PIP) |
| Georgia | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Hawaii | $20,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $40,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $10,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $10,000 Personal injury protection (PIP) |
| Idaho | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $15,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Illinois | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $20,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 Uninsured motorist coverage per accident |
| Indiana | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Iowa | $20,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $40,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $15,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Kansas | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per person $50,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per accident PIP: $4,500 Medical, $900/Month for 1 year disability/loss of income, $25/Day in-home services, $2,000 Funeral costs, $4,500 Rehab. Survivors: $900/Month for 1 year disability/loss of income, $25/Day in-home services. |
| Kentucky | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Louisiana | $15,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $30,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Maine | $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $100,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $50,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per person $100,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per accident $2,000 Medical payments coverage (MedPay) Single liability limit per accident of $125,000 |
| Maryland | $30,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $60,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $15,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $30,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per person $60,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per accident $15,000 Uninsured/underinsured property damage coverage per accident |
| Massachusetts | $20,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $40,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $5,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $20,000 Uninsured motorist coverage per person $40,000 Uninsured motorist coverage per accident $8,000 Personal injury protection (PIP) |
| Michigan | $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $100,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $10,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident outside Michigan $10,000 Property damage outside MI $1M Property protection in MI $250,000 PIP ($ Lower for some Medicare/Medicaid). |
| Minnesota | $30,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $60,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $10,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per person $50,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per accident $40,000 Personal injury protection (PIP) |
| Mississippi | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Missouri | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 Uninsured motorist coverage per accident |
| Montana | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $20,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Nebraska | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per person $50,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per accident |
| Nevada | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $20,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| New Hampshire | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per person $50,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per accident $25,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage $1,000 Medical payments coverage (MedPay) |
| New Jersey | $5,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $15,000 Personal injury protection (PIP) |
| New Mexico | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $10,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| New York | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $50,000 Liability coverage for death per person $100,000 Liability coverage for death per accident $10,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UM) per person $50,000 Uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage (UM) per accident $50,000 Personal injury protection (PIP) |
| North Carolina | $30,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $60,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $30,000 Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) per person $60,000 Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) per accident $25,000 Uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD) per accident |
| North Dakota | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per person $50,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per accident $30,000 Personal injury protection (PIP) |
| Ohio | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Oklahoma | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Oregon | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $20,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) per person $50,000 Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) per accident $15,000 Personal injury protection (PIP) |
| Pennsylvania | $15,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $30,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $5,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $5,000 Medical benefits |
| Rhode Island | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| South Carolina | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) per person $50,000 Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) per accident $25,000 Uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD) |
| South Dakota | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per person $50,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per accident |
| Tennessee | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Texas | $30,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $60,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Utah | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $65,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $15,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $3,000 Personal injury protection (PIP) |
| Vermont | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $10,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $50,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per person $100,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per accident $10,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage (UM/UIM-PD)per accident |
| Virginia | Optional auto insurance: Minimum limits apply; $500 Fee if no insurance. $30,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $60,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $20,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $30,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per person $60,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per accident $20,000 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) per accident |
| Washington | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $10,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
| Washington, D.C. | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $10,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) per person $50,000 Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) per accident $5,000 Uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD) per accident |
| West Virginia | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $25,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) per person $50,000 Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) per accident $25,000 Uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD) |
| Wisconsin | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $10,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident $25,000 Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) per person $50,000 Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) per accident |
| Wyoming | $25,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per person $50,000 Bodily injury liability coverage per accident $20,000 Property damage liability coverage per accident |
What Are the Bodily Injury Liability Limits?
Each Bodily Injury Liability policy has a coverage limit, which the policyholder selects when purchasing the insurance.
BI Liability is generally presented in a “number/number” format, indicating two types of limits:
- Per Person Limit: This is the maximum amount of money the insurance company will pay for bodily injuries to a single person in an accident. For example, if the limit is $50,000, the insurer will pay up to $50,000 for each person injured. If two people are injured, the insurer may pay up to $100,000 combined, provided neither claim exceeds the per-person limit.
- Per Accident Limit: This is the total amount the insurer will pay for all injuries in a single accident. For example, if the per accident limit is $100,000 and four people are injured, the insurer will pay a maximum of $25,000 per person, totaling $100,000.
Policyholders should choose limits that equal or exceed their assets to ensure sufficient protection. Inadequate coverage may leave them financially vulnerable if damages exceed their policy’s limits.
What Is the Difference Between Bodily Injury Liability Coverage and Property Damage Liability Coverage?
The main difference between Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and Property Damage Liability Insurance is the nature of the expenses they cover:
- Bodily Injury Liability Insurance: Pays for medical expenses, lost income, legal fees, pain and suffering, and funeral expenses resulting from injuries to other people.
- Property Damage Liability Insurance: Compensates for damage to another person’s property, such as vehicles, buildings, or other structures, caused by the policyholder in an accident.
In essence, BI Liability covers non-property-related expenses, while Property Damage Liability covers physical damage to property.
How Much Does Bodily Injury Liability Coverage Cost?
The cost of Bodily Injury Liability Insurance varies depending on several factors, including the policyholder’s location, driving history, vehicle type, and the amount of coverage selected. Generally, higher coverage limits result in higher premiums.
For instance, an auto policy with $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident coverage will cost more than a policy with lower limits.
Additionally, some states have higher average premium costs due to factors like traffic density, accident rates, and medical expenses.
For drivers looking to balance cost with adequate coverage, it’s wise to compare policies from different insurance companies and consider their personal risk factors.
How Can a Policyholder Purchase More Coverage to Protect Their Assets?
You can add umbrella insurance to get more coverage beyond what Bodily Injury Liability Insurance provides.
Umbrella insurance is a secondary policy that kicks in when the primary BI Liability policy limits are used up. This extra layer of protection is especially important for people with significant assets that could be at risk in the event of a big accident.
Become an Insurance Navy Policyholder today, Get a Free Quote!
Bodily injury liability insurance is required in most states but it’s more than that, it’s a protection for your assets and your peace of mind on the road. Don’t be an uninsured motorist by risking your assets and your future.
Get started today with smarter, more affordable coverage. Call one of our licensed insurance agents at 888-949-6289 or visit us online to get your free quote in minutes. Drive with confidence!
Frequently Asked Questions About Bodily Injury Liability
What Is the Most Common Bodily Injury Coverage?
The most common bodily injury coverage limits required by states are $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident (25/50). However, drivers often opt for higher limits to provide greater financial protection.
What Does 100-300 Bodily Injury Mean?
A “100-300” bodily injury policy provides a maximum of $100,000 in coverage per person and $300,000 per accident. This means that for any single accident, insurance companies will pay up to $100,000 for each injured person but not more than $300,000 in total for all claims combined.
What Is the Difference Between Bodily Injury Liability and Medical Payments Coverage?
The key difference between Bodily Injury Liability and Medical Payments coverage is that BI Liability covers the medical expenses of other parties injured in an accident caused by the policyholder, while Medical Payments coverage pays for the policyholder’s own medical expenses regardless of who is at fault. Medical payments coverage is optional and can cover the policyholder and their passengers regardless of fault.
