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.
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Updated · 4 min read
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Key takeaways
- Bodily injury liability insurance helps cover injuries you're responsible for after an at-fault accident.
- This type of insurance may also cover medical expenses, funeral costs, lost wages and damages related to pain and suffering.
- Your policy may help cover the injuries of other drivers, their passengers and injured pedestrians — but not you.
- You need to have bodily injury liability insurance in every state except Florida, New Jersey and parts of Alaska.
If you cause an accident, your bodily injury liability insurance helps pay for medical costs and other expenses you’re responsible for as the at-fault driver.
Your policy won’t pay for your medical expenses, or anyone's in your household. But it helps cover the expenses of other drivers, their passengers and pedestrians.
Most states require some bodily injury liability insurance, though the amount you need can be small. It’s usually a good idea to get more coverage to avoid having to cover damage on your own.
The cost of bodily injury liability insurance can vary a lot across different insurers. To avoid paying too much, we suggest comparing insurance rates before you buy.
See what you could save on car insurance
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🤓 Nerdy Tip
Looking for insurance to cover your own expenses after a crash? Read our guide on types of car insurance coverage to find out what you need. Bodily injury liability covers a variety of expenses
Bodily injury liability insurance 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.
Bodily injury liability insurance can also cover legal fees
If you cause an accident, you’ll be held financially responsible for any property damage and injuries you cause to others. You could also face a lawsuit.
If someone affected by an accident you cause sues you — and if your liability car insurance policy limit is high enough to cover it — your bodily injury coverage may cover the cost of a defense attorney and any court fees you incur.
Know your bodily injury insurance coverage limits
The liability limits on your insurance policy usually show three numbers, such as “100/300/100.” These are your coverage limits for bodily injury per person, bodily injury per accident and property damage per accident.
This third number is the amount your insurer will pay to repair another person’s vehicle or other property per at-fault accident. It’s helpful to understand property damage liability insurance, but it is not specifically connected to bodily injury insurance, so we can skip covering that for now.
Let’s say you buy a policy with bodily injury insurance limits of 100/300. You're at fault in an accident that injures three people in the other car. Here are their injury-related expenses:
- 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 .
Here's how much your insurance would cover and how much you’d have to pay out of pocket:
The first number, 100, is your bodily injury limit per person. Your policy won’t pay more than this for any individual person’s injuries.
In this example, both Michael and Anne have medical expenses under $100,000, so they’ll be covered. Chris’ expenses are $110,000, so you’ll have to pay the $10,000 that exceeds your policy’s limit.
The second number, 300, is your bodily injury limit per accident, or the combined amount for all injuries in a single accident.
The total medical expenses in this example are $180,000. Your policy limit covers up to $300,000 per accident, so your insurance will cover everything — except the $10,000 for Chris’ expenses above your per-person limit.
How much do you owe? For this accident, you'll need to pay $10,000 out of pocket in total to cover the remainder of Chris’ medical expenses over your $100,000 per-person limit. Since this is a liability insurance claim, you won’t need to pay a deductible.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
If you receive medical attention for injuries related to a car accident, you should give the provider your health insurance information as well as the at-fault driver’s car insurance information. This helps insurers keep track of — and cover — medical expenses associated with a car insurance claim. Which states require bodily injury liability coverage?
You most likely need bodily injury liability coverage to legally drive anywhere in the U.S. except for New Jersey , Florida and parts of Alaska .
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.
Although New Jersey and Florida don’t require bodily injury insurance coverage, you must buy other insurance — property damage liability and personal injury protection — to legally drive in both states. 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 bodily injury liability insurance your state requires by using the drop-down box below.
State minimum bodily injury liability insurance requirements
| State | Requirements |
|---|---|
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| (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 | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $15,000 bodily injury liability per person $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident $5,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 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 | |
| $10,000 property damage liability per accident $10,000 personal injury protection | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $20,000 bodily injury liability per person $40,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident Or a policy with a single limit of $60,000 | |
| $15,000 bodily injury liability per person $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 Or a combined single liability limit of $125,000 | |
| $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 | |
| $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 | |
| $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. | |
| $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 | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 | |
| $5,000 property damage liability per accident $15,000 personal injury protection | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 | |
| $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 | |
| $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 | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 | |
| $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 | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 | |
| $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 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $30,000 bodily injury liability per person $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 | |
| $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 | |
| (Minimum limits if a driver purchases car insurance, which is optional. Drivers who don’t purchase insurance pay a $500 fee.) $30,000 bodily injury liability per person $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident $30,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person $60,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident $20,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident | |
| $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 | |
| $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 | |
| $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 | |
| $25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident |
🤓 Nerdy Tip
The amount of required coverage does affect how much your insurance costs. If you’re trying to figure out these expenses, you can look into how much liability-only insurance costs compared to other car insurance options. See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
How much bodily injury liability insurance do I 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.
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- 1. National Safety Council. Costs of Motor-Vehicle Injuries. Accessed Mar 5, 2025.
- 2. Department of Banking and Insurance. Get Legal with New Jersey's Basic Auto Insurance Policy. Accessed Mar 5, 2026.
- 3. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Florida Insurance Requirements. Accessed Mar 5, 2026.
- 4. State of Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles. Mandatory Insurance. Accessed Mar 5, 2026.
