Bodily Injury Liability: What It Means
Bodily injury liability is the part of a car-insurance policy that pays for injuries you cause to other people when you are at fault. It is required in most states and is shown as the first two numbers in a limit set like 50/100/25.
In a limit written as 50/100/25, the first number ($50,000) is the most the policy pays for injuries to any one person, and the second ($100,000) is the most it pays for all injuries in a single accident. The third number is property damage liability. Together the three make up your liability coverage.
What it does and does not cover
Bodily injury liability pays the other party's medical bills, lost wages, and related legal costs when you are at fault, up to your limits. It does not pay for your own injuries - that is what Personal Injury Protection, Medical Payments, or your health insurance are for. Because a single serious injury can exceed a minimum limit quickly, many drivers carry more than their state requires; the added premium is usually modest next to the protection gained.
A real example of a bodily-injury claim
With 50/100/25 limits you cause a crash that injures two people — one with $40,000 in bills, another with $80,000. The "per person" limit ($50,000) caps what the policy pays each individual, and the "per accident" limit ($100,000) caps the total. So the first person's $40,000 is covered in full, the second collects only $50,000 of their $80,000, and you can be pursued for the remaining $30,000. Higher per-person and per-accident numbers are what keep a serious injury from reaching your own pocket.
Why your bodily-injury limit matters most
Bodily-injury liability is the coverage most likely to be tested by a genuinely expensive claim, because medical costs climb fast and one hospital stay can dwarf a minimum limit. It is also the coverage a court looks to first when you are at fault, so its two numbers — per person and per accident — are the real ceiling on your personal exposure. Raising them is typically cheap relative to the six-figure judgments they guard against, which is why carrying more than the state floor is usually money well spent.
Frequently asked questions
Does bodily injury liability cover my own injuries?
No. It pays only for injuries you cause to other people. Your own injuries are covered by Personal Injury Protection, Medical Payments coverage, or your health insurance.
