December 9, 2025
Car Insurance Coverage
What Is Bodily Injury Liability
Bodily Injury (BI) liability is a part of liability car insurance coverage. This liability portion of auto insurance activates and pays when you’re found legally responsible for someone else’s injury in an accident. In simple terms, bodily injury liability insurance coverage protects your finances if another driver, pedestrians, or even a motorcycle rider gets hurt because of your actions.
It helps cover medical bills, funeral costs, lost income, and even pain and suffering. Unlike property damage liability, which deals with repairing vehicles or other property, bodily injury liability focuses solely on people’s well-being. Let’s learn more about BI coverage.
Is Bodily Liability Injury Required in Every State?
Nearly every state in the U.S. mandates bodily injury liability coverage as part of car insurance requirements. State laws require drivers to carry at least a minimum coverage amount to pay for medical expenses or other damages if they cause an accident resulting in bodily injury. However, a few states take a different approach.
For example, Florida follows a no-fault system where every driver must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) to cover their own medical expenses in the event of an auto accident. That’s why bodily injury liability insurance isn’t mandatory there, though many drivers still opt for it to gain extra protection.
Similarly, New Hampshire doesn’t require car insurance by default. However, if you choose to drive without insurance, you must demonstrate financial responsibility to cover potential damages and injury costs. In other words, you need to prove you can pay for losses if you don’t purchase an auto policy.
In recent years, Virginia and New Jersey have added bodily injury liability as a mandatory component of liability car insurance. Before these laws took effect, drivers in both states faced significant exposure to lawsuits and financial risk.
Whether you’re in Michigan or any other state, contact USA Auto today to get a quote online. We offer the most affordable auto insurance to both high-risk drivers and everyday drivers. Call our support center (866) 855-1872 or get your car insurance quote online.
What Does Bodily Injury Liability Insurance Cover?
Bodily injury liability insurance coverage helps when you’re at fault in an accident that causes harm to another person. It doesn’t pay for your own injuries.
Here’s what it typically covers:
- Medical expenses for doctors, hospital stays, surgery, and rehabilitation.
- Funeral costs in the event of a fatal accident or bodily injury.
- Lost income if the injured person cannot work.
- Pain and suffering damages are awarded in a lawsuit.
- Legal fees if a lawyer defends you in court.
- Liability covers for both a per person limit and a total coverage limit per accident.
What It Doesn’t Cover?
Policyholders sometimes get confused and think that having bodily injury liability covers their own medical bills after a car crash. But that’s totally a misconception. It protects others, not you. It won’t pay for your own medical expenses after an accident, nor for damage to your vehicle. Most importantly, it also neither replaces personal injury protection nor medical payment coverage, which help cover your injuries.
Here's what it doesn’t include:
- Repairs to your car or other property damage.
- Your own injury costs or medical expenses.
- Coverage for passengers in your car unless they file against you.
- Bills tied to negligence, like driving under the influence.
- Any deductible or fee outside your policy terms.
How Much Bodily Injury Liability Do I Need?
The right bodily injury liability coverage depends on what you could lose in a lawsuit. A common rule of thumb is to match your liability limits to your net worth. In other words, protect the assets you could risk in court.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), the average bodily injury claim was $26,501 in 2023. That’s why experts at USA Auto recommend at least 50/100 limits ($50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident, respectively). This way, you can save your asset since a single severe accident can cost far more in case multiple people are injured. However, for a more extensive and solid protection, it’s even better to choose 100/300 limits.
What Exactly Are Bodily Injury Liability Limits and How Can You Find Yours?
Every insurance policy sets a maximum amount it will pay for an accident bodily injury. These are called bodily injury liability limits. They are usually written as two numbers, such as 50/100. The first number is the per person limit, and the second is the maximum amount (in thousands) BI liability will pay for all injuries in a single accident.
You can find your limits on your vehicle insurance policy declaration page, or by asking your auto insurer directly. If you’re not sure whether your limits are enough, compare them to your assets and the average costs of personal injury claims.
Minimum Bodily Injury Liability Required by States
The following table represents the state minimum BI coverage limits requirements (as of October 2025):
State | Minimum Per Person (BI) | Minimum Per Accident (BI) |
Alabama | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Alaska | $50,000 | $100,000 |
Arizona | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Arkansas | $25,000 | $50,000 |
California (Effective Jan 1, 2025) | $30,000 | $60,000 |
Colorado | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Connecticut | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Delaware | $25,000 | $50,000 |
District of Columbia | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Florida | BI not mandatory; PIP only | BI not mandatory; PIP only |
Georgia | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Hawaii | $20,000 | $40,000 |
Idaho | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Illinois | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Indiana | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Iowa | $20,000 | $40,000 |
Kansas | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Kentucky | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Louisiana | $15,000 | $30,000 |
Maine | $50,000 | $100,000 |
Maryland | $30,000 | $60,000 |
Massachusetts | $20,000 | $40,000 |
Michigan | $20,000 | $40,000 |
Minnesota | $30,000 | $60,000 |
Mississippi | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Missouri | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Montana | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Nebraska | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Nevada | $25,000 | $50,000 |
New Hampshire | $25,000 | $50,000 |
New Jersey | $25,000 | $50,000 |
New Mexico | $25,000 | $50,000 |
New York | $25,000 | $50,000 |
North Carolina (Effective July 1, 2025) | $50,000 | $100,000 |
North Dakota | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Ohio | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Oklahoma | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Oregon | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Pennsylvania | $15,000 | $30,000 |
Rhode Island | $25,000 | $50,000 |
South Carolina | $25,000 | $50,000 |
South Dakota | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Tennessee | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Texas | $30,000 | $60,000 |
Utah (Effective Jan. 1, 2025) | $30,000 | $65,000 |
Vermont | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Virginia (Effective Jan. 1, 2025) | $50,000 | $100,000 |
Washington | $25,000 | $50,000 |
West Virginia | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Wisconsin | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Wyoming | $25,000 | $50,000 |
Sources: Insurance Information Institute and other relevant resources, like the California Department of Insurance, and other states’ departments of insurance
What Is Umbrella Insurance, Its Limits, and How Is It Useful?
Personal umbrella insurance can be extremely helpful if your bodily injury liability coverage isn’t sufficient. It’s an additional layer of liability protection that goes beyond the limits of your standard car insurance policy. It kicks in when your bodily injury or property damage liability limits are maxed out following a serious accident.
Typically, umbrella coverage limits start at $1 million and can go much higher, depending on the assets you need to protect. This type of insurance isn’t legally required by law but could be valuable for someone who has significant assets, as a single lawsuit for medical expenses, lost income, or pain and suffering can exceed regular coverage.
For example, suppose you cause an accident in which the other driver and passenger are seriously injured, resulting in medical bills of around $300,000. If your bodily injury liability coverage limit is $250,000, you’d be $50,000 short. In this case, an umbrella insurance policy would help cover the remaining $50,000.
How Much Does BI Liability Coverage Cost?
Bodily injury liability is a component of liability car insurance coverage. Drivers are not offered bodily injury coverage alone. Instead, they receive liability-only coverage, which typically includes both bodily injury and property damage liability. The national average cost for liability-only insurance is approximately $68 per month, or $828 per year.
However, the rate could vary for each individual since the auto insurance rate is determined by several factors, including claim history, accident history, driving record, coverage limits, insurance provider, location, age, vehicle type, and so on.
Does Car Insurance Rate Go Up If I File a BI Liability Claim?
Yes, if you cause an accident and your bodily injury liability coverage pays out, your car insurance rates are very likely to go up. The amount of increase depends on your fault, claim cost, state rules, and your driving history.
Here's what might happen in this case:
- According to GEICO, drivers may face anywhere from 0% to 50% increase in rate after a single at-fault accident.
- The increase usually stays on your premium for about 3 years in many states.
- If the claim was not your fault, many insurers won’t raise your rate.
- Some states regulate how much insurers can raise rates after a BI/Liability claim.
What’s the Difference Between Bodily Injury Liability and Property Damage Liability?
These are the two components of your liability auto insurance coverage. You already know what bodily injury liability is. It simply pays for the injuries of others resulting from an accident you caused. Property damage liability, on the other hand, pays for the repair or replacement cost of vehicle damage or other property, including a house, fence, mailbox, business, or other non-vehicle property damaged by you in an accident.
Like bodily injury liability, property damage liability also has limits. It’s the third number in the liability coverage limits (e.g., 25/50/25) that indicates the amount your insurance company will pay if you’re responsible for damaging someone’s property in a car accident.
So, if you see your liability limits are written like this: 25/50/25. It typically means:
- $25,000 for Bodily Injury Per Person
- $50,000 for Bodily Injury Per Accident
- $25,000 for Property Damage Per Accident
*So, the last number here indicates the property damage limit.
What Is the Difference Between BI and PIP?
Many drivers and policyholders get confused about these two different types of insurance. As you know, BI is part of liability auto insurance and covers injuries to other drivers. PIP, on the other hand, is a car insurance coverage mostly offered and mandated by law in no-fault states, which covers your own medical bills and other related costs (e.g., funeral expenses) after an accident. The main difference is that BI covers other drivers’ injuries when you’re at fault, and the PIP (personal injury Protection) covers your own medical expenses regardless of fault.
BI Vs. MedPay
The bodily injury portion of your liability coverage compensates for other people’s medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering when you’re at fault in a car crash. On the flip side, if you have MedPay coverage, as its name suggests, it covers you and passengers’ medical bills regardless of fault. BI protects your assets from lawsuits, while MedPay offers immediate help with treatment costs. If you have already purchased BI liability, having MedPay will ensure you don’t compromise your health and treatment for financial reasons if something bad happens on the road. Note that having only BI liability won’t protect you in your own medical emergencies after an accident.
What Happens If You Don’t Have Bodily Injury Liability Insurance?
Bodily injury is part of liability coverage, which is mandatory in nearly every state in the USA. Driving without car insurance or bodily injury liability insurance means you’re likely to face serious consequences. In most states, it’s against the law, and you could face fines, license suspensions, or even vehicle impoundment for failing to show proof of liability car insurance. In the worst cases, if you cause an accident, you’ll be personally responsible for all medical expenses, legal fees, and damages. If the injured driver files a lawsuit against you, it could wipe out your assets. Therefore, carrying proper insurance, including BI and PD liability, is crucial, and we recommend always carrying it, whether your state requires it or not.
The Bottom Line
Bodily injury liability coverage is not an optional protection. It protects you from exorbitant medical bills, lawsuits, and lost assets following an accident. Minimum limitations are rarely sufficient. For true security, seek higher coverage levels, such as 100/300 or umbrella insurance. A little premium today can prevent catastrophic financial losses tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Bodily Injury Liability Auto Insurance
Are states’ mandated bodily injury liability coverage limits enough?
Usually not. The state minimums only cover modest claims. Serious accidents frequently cost much more. A higher liability limit protects your assets and provides true financial protection.
What does $100 k /$ 300k /$ 100k mean?
It means $100,000 per person for bodily injury, $300,000 total per accident, and $100,000 for property damage liability. These numbers define your coverage limit.
What does bodily injury liability per person mean?
It’s the maximum amount your insurance policy will pay for one person’s injury after an accident. If costs exceed that, you pay the difference.
How much bodily injury liability do I need in Michigan?
Michigan drivers need to carry at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury liability coverage.
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