Bodily Injury Liability Coverage: What It Is and How It Works

Bodily injury coverage pays out if you injure someone else in an at-fault accident. It can also protect your assets if you’re sued.
Kayda Norman
By Kayda Norman  
Updated
Edited by Lacie Glover   Reviewed by Brenda J. Cude  

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

If you injure someone in a car accident, bodily injury coverage helps to pay their medical costs. It can also cover their lost wages if they can’t work after the crash.

Although this coverage won't pay your own medical expenses, it applies to most other people involved in the accident, including:

  • Other drivers and their passengers.

  • Pedestrians.

  • Passengers in your own car, if they're not from the same household.

Bodily injury coverage is necessary for many reasons, and it’s legally required in most states. It can also cover legal expenses from a lawsuit if you injure someone in a crash, provided your policy includes enough liability insurance coverage.

Keep in mind this coverage won't pay for any repairs or property damage, whether it’s for your vehicle or the other driver's. In fact, bodily injury coverage won’t pay any of your immediate expenses. This means you’re on the hook to pay for any car repairs along with your own medical expenses and any lost income unless your auto insurance policy includes other coverage.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Looking for coverage to cover your own expenses after a crash? Read our guide on types of car insurance coverage to find out what you need.

What bodily injury liability covers

Bodily injury liability coverage can pay for another person's:

  • Medical expenses, such as emergency care, hospital fees, follow-up visits and medical equipment like crutches.

  • Lost income, if they can’t work as a result of the accident.

  • Funeral costs, if injuries from the accident are fatal.

  • Pain and suffering, if the injured driver or passengers have long-lasting emotional trauma or pain.

It can also cover your own legal fees and legal counsel if the injured party decides to sue you.

Bodily injury liability coverage limits

When you buy bodily injury coverage, you’ll see two numbers that refer to your coverage limits, such as “100/300.” These numbers correspond to a per-person and per-accident limit, respectively.

For example, let’s say you buy a policy with bodily injury limits of 100/300. You then cause an accident that results in the following expenses for injuries for the three people in the other car:

  • Michael: $30,000

  • Anne: $40,000

  • Chris: $110,000

Total expenses: $180,000*

*Based on average cost of motor-vehicle injuries according to the National Safety Council

National Safety Council. Costs of Motor-Vehicle Injuries. Accessed Aug 25, 2022.
View all sources
.

This is how you can interpret your insurance coverage and how much you’ll have to pay out of pocket:

Bodily injury limit per person. The first number, 100, is your bodily injury per-person payout limit. Your policy will not pay for any one person’s injuries if the cost is greater than this number. In this case, both Michael and Anne have medical expenses under $100,000, so your insurance will cover all of their expenses. However, because Chris’ medical costs are over $100,000, you’ll have to pay the rest of his expenses on your own, in this case, $10,000.

Bodily injury limit per accident. The second number, 300, is your per-accident limit, or the maximum amount your policy will pay for all injuries in any one accident. This number remains the same no matter how many people are injured in a crash. As you can see above, the total medical expenses in this case are $180,000. Your policy will cover $300,000 per accident, so it may seem like your insurance can cover the entire accident. But your bodily injury limit per person still applies. Even though these expenses won’t exceed the per-accident limit, you're still over the per-person limit for Chris.

How much do you owe? For this accident, you'll need to pay $10,000 out of pocket in total. Since this is a liability insurance claim, you won’t need to pay a deductible.

🤓Nerdy Tip

You may see a third number when you’re looking at your bodily injury liability limits. For instance, “100/300/100,” where the third number refers to the property damage liability limit per accident. This is the amount your insurer will pay to repair another person’s vehicle or other property per at-fault accident. Read more about property damage liability insurance.

Do you need bodily injury liability coverage?

Yes, you most likely need bodily injury liability coverage to legally drive anywhere in the U.S. except for parts of Alaska

State of Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles. Mandatory Insurance. Accessed Aug 19, 2022.
View all sources
, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Virginia.

However, you need to meet certain requirements to be exempt from coverage in certain states. For instance, in Alaska you can opt out of car insurance only if you live in a remote area. Meanwhile, Virginia residents must pay $500 to the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles in lieu of buying coverage if they wish to opt out.

Although New Jersey doesn’t require bodily injury coverage, you must buy other insurance — property damage liability and personal injury protection — to legally drive. Property damage liability covers damage you cause to another vehicle or property in an at-fault accident, while personal injury protection covers medical expenses if you’re in an accident, regardless of fault.

Find out how much coverage your state requires by using the drop-down box below.

State

Requirements

Alabama

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident

Alaska

(Car insurance is optional for certain remote residents) $50,000 bodily injury liability per person $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident

Arizona

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident

Arkansas

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident

California

$15,000 bodily injury liability per person $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident $5,000 property damage liability per accident

Colorado

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident

Connecticut

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident

Delaware

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident $15,000 personal injury protection per person $30,000 personal injury protection per accident

Florida

$10,000 property damage liability per accident $10,000 personal injury protection

Georgia

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident

Hawaii

$20,000 bodily injury liability per person $40,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident $10,000 personal injury protection

Idaho

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident

Illinois

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident

Indiana

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident

Iowa

$20,000 bodily injury liability per person $40,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident

Kansas

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident Personal injury protection including $4,500 in medical expenses, up to $900 per month for a year for disability or loss of income, $25 per day for in-home services, $2,000 for funeral burial or cremation costs, and $4,500 for rehabilitation Survivors benefits including up to $900 per month for a year for disability or loss of income and $25 per day for in-home services

Kentucky

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident

Louisiana

$15,000 bodily injury liability per person $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident

Maine

$50,000 bodily injury liability per person $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $100,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $2,000 medical payments coverage

Maryland

$30,000 bodily injury liability per person $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident $30,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $60,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $15,000 uninsured/underinsured property damage coverage per accident

Massachusetts

$20,000 bodily injury liability per person $40,000 bodily injury liability per accident $5,000 property damage liability per accident $20,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person $40,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident $8,000 personal injury protection

Michigan

$50,000 bodily injury liability per person $100,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident outside Michigan $1 million property protection within Michigan $250,000* personal injury protection

*Lower PIP limits available for certain Medicare and Medicaid recipients.

Minnesota

$30,000 bodily injury liability per person $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $40,000 personal injury protection

Mississippi

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident

Missouri

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident

Montana

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident

Nebraska

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident

Nevada

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident

New Hampshire

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage $1,000 medical payments coverage

New Jersey

$5,000 property damage liability per accident $15,000 personal injury protection

New Mexico

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident

New York

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $50,000 liability for death per person $100,000 liability for death per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per person $50,000 uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage per accident $50,000 personal injury protection

North Carolina

$30,000 bodily injury liability per person $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $30,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person $60,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage per accident

North Dakota

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $30,000 personal injury protection

Ohio

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident

Oklahoma

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident

Oregon

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident $15,000 personal injury protection

Pennsylvania

$15,000 bodily injury liability per person $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident $5,000 property damage liability per accident $5,000 medical benefits

Rhode Island

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident

South Carolina

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage

South Dakota

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident

Tennessee

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident

Texas

$30,000 bodily injury liability per person $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident

Utah

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $65,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident $3,000 personal injury protection

Vermont

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $100,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $10,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage per accident

Virginia

(Minimum limits if a driver purchases car insurance, which is optional. Drivers who don’t purchase insurance pay a $500 fee.) $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $20,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage coverage per accident

Washington

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident

Washington, D.C.

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident $5,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage per accident

West Virginia

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist property damage coverage

Wisconsin

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident $25,000 uninsured motorist coverage per person $50,000 uninsured motorist coverage per accident

Wyoming

$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident

» MORE: Minimum car insurance requirements by state

How much bodily injury coverage do you need?

At a minimum, you’ll want to get the amount required to drive legally in your state. Some experts recommend having bodily injury limits of at least $100,000/$300,000. However, you may want to buy insurance with higher limits to protect any financial assets that could be seized in a lawsuit. In general, it’s recommended to have enough coverage to cover your net worth (what you own minus what you owe).

If you don’t have enough liability coverage to pay for an at-fault accident, you’ll still be responsible for paying for the other person’s injuries. This could result in the other driver suing you, potentially putting your savings, house and other assets at risk.

Many auto insurers won’t sell bodily injury liability coverage over $500,000. If your insurer doesn’t sell a policy with limits that are high enough to cover your net worth, consider buying umbrella insurance. Umbrella coverage can help cover you if you’ve maxed out your liability insurance limits.

» MORE: Compare auto insurance rates

Get more smart money moves – straight to your inbox
Sign up and we’ll send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money.
Sign up