What Is Bodily Injury Liability Coverage and How Much Do You Need?
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Bodily injury liability (BI) is car insurance coverage that pays for other people’s injuries when you cause an accident including their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and your legal defense if you are sued. It does not cover your own injuries. Almost every state requires it, most commonly with minimum limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. According to Insurify, bodily injury liability costs about $67 per month on average at 50/100 limits.
It’s important to point out here that if you are at fault, auto insurance bodily injury liability does not cover any lost wages or medical costs incurred by you or your passengers as a result of the accident. You are only covered for possible legal fees.
Medical expense car insurance is the coverage you require if you want medical expenses covered for you and your passengers.
You have to have this type of coverage, but you can choose how much of it you want. There are actually two coverage limits you will have to decide on: the amount your carrier will pay per person injured and the total coverage for injuries per accident. This last limit is the total amount your provider will pay for a claim.
Let’s take a look at what this means.
If you are found at fault in an accident and have coverage limits of $50,000 per person and a total accident limit of $150,000, then you are protected for $50,000 per individual injured up to a total of $150,000.
You may see these numbers expressed as 50/150/25. The first two numbers refer to your liability insurance and the last number is the property damage liability.
| Limit | Maximum Paid Per Injured Person | Maximum Paid for All Injuries in One Accident |
|---|---|---|
| 25/50 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| 50/100 | $50,000 | $100,000 |
| 100/300 | $100,000 | $300,000 |
| 250/500 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
Bodily injury liability coverage is one of those types of insurance that seems unnecessary until you really need it—and then you will really need it. In fact, bodily injury liability insurance is required in almost every state. Failure to have it can mean you can’t legally drive.
If this sounds intense, it is. But bodily liability insurance is what stands between you and potential bankruptcy if you’re deemed at fault in an accident.
The minimum requirement for bodily liability insurance can vary from state-to-state, but you’re looking at around $25,000/$50,000 as a bare minimum—except in Florida, where you don’t need liability bodily insurance at all. A notable exception, but not the only one.
Check your state-by-state minimum insurance requirements.
Bodily injury liability is sold as part of your liability coverage, so it is usually priced together with property damage liability. Nationally, liability-only coverage averages about $98 per month, but costs vary a lot by state:
| States | Average Monthly Liability-Only Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Lower-cost states (e.g., New Hampshire, Iowa, Vermont, Tennessee, Hawaii, Ohio, Indiana, Alabama) | $52 – $66 |
| Large states (Illinois, Pennsylvania, California, Texas, Florida, New York) | $83 – $145 |
| Higher-cost states (e.g., Georgia, South Carolina, Connecticut, Nevada, Delaware, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Maryland) | $156 – $192 |
Your state sets the minimum, but minimum limits may not cover a serious accident. Many insurance professionals suggest carrying at least 100/300 in bodily injury coverage — $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident — especially if you own a home, have savings or other assets to protect. Raising your limits often costs relatively little compared with the added protection, so compare quotes at several limit levels.
State minimums vary. Most states require at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident, while some require more. Florida does not require BI for most drivers, and New Hampshire does not require car insurance for most drivers, though both can hold you financially responsible for injuries you cause. Check your state’s current requirements, as minimums change over time.
This is not the place to cut corners on your policy. You may be able to do that with roadside assistance, but not here. It is recommended that you get as much bodily injury coverage as you can comfortably afford.
The state minimums are just that, and if you nickel and dime this part of your coverage, you could find yourself shouldering hefting, potentially devastating out-of-pocket expenses if you’re at fault in an accident.
If the injuries you cause cost more than your limits, you may be personally responsible for the difference. The injured party could sue you, which may put your savings, property or future wages at risk. Higher BI limits reduce this risk. Drivers with significant assets may also consider an umbrella policy, which adds extra liability protection above your auto limits; insurers usually require you to carry certain minimum auto liability limits to qualify.
| Coverage | Who It Protects | What It Pays For |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Other people you injure | Their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering; your legal defense |
| Property damage liability | Other people's property | Repairs to vehicles, fences, buildings you damage |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | You and your passengers | Medical bills and some lost wages, regardless of fault (required in no-fault states) |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | You and your passengers | Medical bills regardless of fault |
In most states, yes, it is a legal requirement to drive.
Bodily liability insurance usually starts at around $100 per month. Request a free, personalized quote to get a better idea of how much it will cost you.
No, it only protects drivers and passengers of other vehicles involved in the accident, as well as pedestrians and bystanders, but not you or your passengers.
Medical bills, legal fees, loss of income, funeral costs, and pain and suffering of drivers and passengers of other vehicles involved in the accident, as well as pedestrians and bystanders.
Bodily injury liability pays for injuries you cause to other people in an at-fault car accident, including their medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and your legal defense costs.
Generally, no. BI covers other people you injure. Your own injuries are typically covered by personal injury protection (PIP), medical payments coverage or health insurance.
It means your policy pays up to $25,000 per injured person and up to $50,000 total for all injuries in one accident.
It means up to $100,000 per injured person and up to $300,000 per accident. Many insurance professionals suggest at least this level of coverage.
According to Insurify, bodily injury liability costs about $67 per month on average at 50/100 limits. Your cost depends on your state, driving record, insurer and chosen limits.
Yes, in almost every state. Florida and New Hampshire have different rules for most drivers. Minimum limits vary by state.
No. Liability coverages, including bodily injury liability, generally do not have a deductible.
If injuries you cause exceed your limits, you may be personally responsible for the remaining costs. Higher limits or an umbrella policy can help protect your assets.
Paige Cerulli Paige Cerulli is a freelance content writer and journalist who specializes in personal finance topics. She graduated from Westfield State University and brings more than a decade of professional writing experience to the ConsumerCoverage team. Paige’s work has appeared in outlets including USA Today, Business Insider, and more.
