Home > What We Offer > Personal Insurance > Property & Casualty Insurance > Personal Auto Insurance > Personal Liability Coverage > Bodily Injury Liability

Bodily Injury Liability

Bodily injury liability is required by law in most states. It helps protect you if you are legally responsible for an auto accident that caused injury or death to passengers in another car. It helps pay the costs of injuries for any passengers in the other car. Keep in mind that bodily injury coverage limits vary by state.

What Does Bodily Injury Liability Cover?

Bodily injury liability coverage may help pay for the other cars passenger’s expenses related to the following:

Medical Expenses
This coverage helps pay for emergency services, hospital care, doctors’ visits, medication, recovery devices (e.g., crutches)
Lost Income
If they need time off from work for ongoing care, this coverage can help pay lost wages.
Legal Fees
Can help pay for your legal defense fees if the other driver files a claim against you.
Pain and Suffering
Can help compensate injured passengers from the other car if you cause an accident
Funeral Costs
If passenger in the other car dies, this coverage can help pay for their funeral expenses.

To learn more about this coverage or to find out your state’s minimum contact us today.

Bodily Injury Liability Limits

Bodily injury liability is required by law in most states. Car insurance minimum limit laws vary by state but do not have maximum amounts, which means you can increase your limit how you see fit. This can help make sure you’re fully protected if the injured person’s medical bills exceed your state minimums. Bodily injury liability coverage is your first line of defense when you’re at-fault for an accident. Coverage generally has two coverage limits:

Per-Person Limit
This applies to each person injured in an accident.
Per-Accident Limit
This applies to each accident in which multiple people have injuries

The bodily injury liability insurance coverage amount is a “split limit,” such as $100,000 / $300,000. The first figure is the maximum limit of coverage for one injured person. The second figure is the coverage limit for two or more persons in any one accident or occurrence. You will likely see your limits represented as $25,000 / $50,000 / $20,000 Bodily Injury per person / Bodily Injury per accident/Property Damage per accident.

Example 1:

You hit another driver and cause them $20,000 in injuries and $15,000 in property damage. Your insurance should pay both amounts because all injuries and damage fall below your coverage limits

Example 2:

You’re at fault in a car crash, but it’s a bit more complicated because you injured the driver and two passengers. All three have $25,000 in injuries, totaling $75,000. You might think you’re covered because you have $25,000 in bodily injury per person. However, $50,000 is the maximum your insurer will pay out per accident based on your coverage. You’re now on the hook for the remaining $25,000.

Pro Tip:

Choosing more liability coverage than you’re legally required to have is generally a good idea, and a popular one. On average, over 50% of customers choose more than their state’s minimum limits for bodily injury, and over 60% of customers choose more property damage coverage than their state requires.

Consider a Combined Single Limit (CSL) if You Have a High Net Worth

If you have a high net worth, it might be worth taking out an auto policy with a CSL for both bodily injury and property damage. CSL amounts usually range between $300,000 and $500,000. Premiums for a CSL policy are higher, but your coverage limit can be divided in whichever way necessary to satisfy a claim against you.

Example:

You have a split-limit policy that covers bodily injury up to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. However, you cause an accident in which you’re liable for $120,000 in medical expenses for one individual, leaving you on the hook for $20,000.With a combined single limit of $300,000, your insurance would cover the full $120,000sinceyour maximum limit of $300,000 applies to any type of liability claim.