Bodily Injury Liability Insurance Coverage
Bodily injury liability insurance covers medical costs for the other driver and passengers if you're at fault in an accident. Most states have minimum bodily injury liability insurance requirements and the average cost of liability insurance is $51/mo.. Minimum bodily injury coverage requirements can be as low as $10,000 or as high as $50,000, but you should carry more than the minimum to protect yourself. Not having enough bodily injury liability coverage can leave you responsible for damages that exceed the limits of your policy
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Jeffrey Johnson
Insurance Lawyer
Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...
Insurance Lawyer
UPDATED: Apr 21, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.
UPDATED: Apr 21, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Bodily injury liability insurance is required for drivers in every state except New Hampshire.
- This type of insurance kicks in when an accident is your fault.
- The minimum amount of coverage required varies by state.
There are so many different types of car insurance coverage that it’s even tough to get a handle on the basics. The following article examines bodily injury liability. Keep reading to learn what bodily injury liability insurance is, why it’s necessary and how much you need.
As you learn about bodily injury liability, you’ll also learn the basics of what to look for in a good policy. Learning the ins and outs of car insurance will help you to better pick between bodily injury liability car insurance companies and choose what type of coverage you need.
You can compare affordable bodily injury liability car insurance quotes today. It’s as easy as entering your ZIP code into our free quote tool. Get started now.
What is bodily injury liability insurance?
Bodily injury liability car insurance is a type of insurance coverage that covers medical expenses. This kind of insurance coverage activates if you’re the party that caused an accident.
For example, let’s say you hit another vehicle with three people inside and your bodily injury liability insurance coverage is $250,000 per person and $500,000 per accident. Any medical expenses incurred over those limits are your responsibility to pay out of your own pocket.
Your coverage pays for up to $250,000 in medical expenses per person. If Person A’s expenses cost 175,000, Person B’s cost $50,000 and Person C’s cost $300,000 you would have to personally pay $50,000 to cover the remainder of Person C’s medical expenses.
However, that number cannot exceed a total of $500,000 for the entire accident. The total costs of the above accident are $525,000, so you are also on the hook for the $25,000 that’s over your limit.
After an accident, how to act and what to avoid are both important things to know.
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Do I need bodily injury liability coverage?
Unless you live in New Hampshire, you must carry bodily injury insurance. New Hampshire doesn’t require its residents to carry bodily injury coverage though it’s highly recommended that all drivers have it.
Drivers in all other states have to have liability insurance. Each state has its own minimum requirement, though purchasing more than the minimum is wise.
How much does bodily injury liability insurance cost?
Bodily injury liability insurance rates vary by state. Each state has a minimum amount of liability insurance that they require drivers to carry.
The average cost of liability insurance in the U.S is $611.12 a year, or $51/mo.
See the table below for detailed information on what kind of insurance you’re required to carry and how much.
Minimum Liability Coverage Requirements by State
| State | Type of Insurance Required | Minimum Coverage Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person $100,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 minimum | |
| Arizona | Bodily injury liability | Minimum $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | Minimum $10,000 | |
| Uninsured motorist Bodily injury | Minimum $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident | |
| Uninsured motorist Property damage | Minimum $10,000 | |
| Arkansas | Bodily injury | $25,000 per person /$50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident | |
| California | Bodily injury or death of one person in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $15,000 |
| Total bodily injury or death in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $30,000 | |
| Property damage per accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $5,000 | |
| Colorado | Death or injury of one person | $25,000 |
| Death or injury of more than one person | $50,000 | |
| Property damage liability | $15,000 | |
| Connecticut | Bodily injury or death of one person in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $25,000 |
| Total bodily injury or death in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $50,000 | |
| Property damage per accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $25,000 | |
| Delaware | Personal injury protection (PIP) | $15,000 per person $30,000 per occurrence $5,000 in funeral services coverage |
| Bodily injury or death of one person in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $25,000 | |
| Total bodily injury or death in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $50,000 | |
| Property damage per accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $10,000 | |
| Florida | Personal injury protection (PIP) | $10,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP) |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 Property Damage Liability (PDL) | |
| Georgia | Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident | |
| Uninsured motorist Bodily injury | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident | |
| Uninsured motorist Property damage | $25,000 with a $250, $500, or $1000 deductible | |
| Hawaii | Bodily injury liability | $20,000 per person $40,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 minimum | |
| PIP/"No-fault" coverage | $10,000 minimum | |
| Idaho | Bodily injury or death per person resulting from an accident you cause | $25,000 |
| Total bodily injury or death liability resulting from an accident you cause | $50,000 | |
| Property damage per accident resulting from a collision you cause | $15,000 | |
| Indiana | Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person $50,000 per accident |
| Uninsured motorist | $25,000 per person $50,000 per accident |
|
| Property damage liability | $25,000 minimum | |
| Underinsured motorist | $50,000 minimum | |
| Iowa | Injuries of one person | $20,000 |
| Injuries of more than one person | $40,000 | |
| Property damage liability | $15,000 | |
| Kansas | Injury or death per person in an accident caused by you | $25,000 |
| Total injuries or the death per accident the insured caused by you | $50,000 | |
| Property damage in an accident the insured driver caused by you | $25,000 | |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | $25,000 per person $50,000 per accident |
|
| Kentucky | Bodily injury liability for one person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability total for an accident | $50,000 | |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 | |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | $10,000 | |
| Louisiana | Injury/death per person | $15,000 |
| Injuries or death per accident | $30,000 | |
| Property damage per accident | $25,000 | |
| Maine | Death or injury per person | $50,000 |
| Total death or injury per accident | $100,000 | |
| Property damage per accident | $25,000 | |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | N/A | |
| Medpay | N/A | |
| Maryland | Bodily injury liability of one person | $30,000 |
| Bodily injury liability two or more people | $60,000 | |
| Property damage liability | $15,000 | |
| Massachusetts | Bodily injury liability | $20,000 per one person $40,000 total per accident |
| Property damage liability | $5,000 per accident | |
| No-fault personal injury | $8,000 | |
| Uninsured motorist | $20,000 per one person $40,000 per accident |
|
| Michigan | Personal injury protection (PIP) | $50,000 (for drivers enrolled in Medicaid) $250,000 all others |
| Personal property protection (PPI) | $1 million | |
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person $100,000 per incident |
|
| Property damage liability | $10,000 per incident | |
| Minnesota | Personal injury protection (PIP) | $40,000 per person per accident. ($20,000 for medical expenses and $20,000 for non-medical expenses) |
| Bodily injury liability | $30,000 per person $60,000 for two or more people (per incident) |
|
| Property damage liability | $10,000 | |
| Uninsured motorist Bodily injury | $25,000 per person $50,000 for two or more people (per incident) |
|
| Underinsured motorist Bodily injury | $25,000 per person $50,000 for two or more people (per incident) |
|
| Mississippi | Bodily injury per person | $20,000 |
| Total bodily injury per accident | $40,000 | |
| Property damage per accident | $10,000 | |
| Missouri | Injury or death per person in an accident you caused | $25,000 |
| Total injuries or death per accident you caused | $50,000 | |
| Property damage per accident you caused | $10,000 | |
| Uninsured motorist | $25,000 in bodily injury per person $50,000 in bodily injury per accident |
|
| Montana | Injury or death of one person in an accident you caused | $25,000 |
| Total injuries or death of more than one person in an accident you caused | $50,000 | |
| Property damage in an accident you caused | $20,000 | |
| Nebraska | Injury or death per person in an accident you caused | $25,000 |
| Total injuries or death per accident you caused | $50,000 | |
| Property damage per accident you caused | $25,000 | |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | $25,000 to cover your own injury per person $50,000 to cover total injuries or death per accident |
|
| Nevada | Bodily injury or death of any individual resulting from an accident the vehicle owner/driver causes | $25,000 per person |
| Total bodily injury or death liability resulting from an accident the vehicle owner/driver causes | $50,000 per accident | |
| Total property damage resulting from an accident the vehicle owner/driver causes | $20,000 per accident | |
| New Hampshire (Drivers aren't technically required to carry insurance) | Bodily injury or death of one person in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $25,000 |
| Total bodily injury or death in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $50,000 | |
| Property damage per accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $25,000 | |
| Medpay | $1,000 to cover medical expenses after a crash | |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | Same amount of coverage as liability | |
| New Jersey | Bodily injury | None required, but optional starting at a minimum of $10,000 per person and $10,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $5,000 | |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | $15,000 per person, per accident Up to $250,000 for brain and spinal cord injuries |
|
| New Mexico | Injuries to one person in an accident | $25,000 |
| Injuries to all people in an accident | $50,000 | |
| Property damages caused by an accident | $10,000 | |
| New York | Personal injury liability | $25,000 per person with a maximum of $50,000 per accident |
| Liability coverage for death | $50,000 per person with a maximum of $100,000 per accident | |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 per accident | |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | $50,000 per person | |
| Uninsured motorists | $25,000 per person with a maximum of $50,000 per accident | |
| North Carolina | Injuries to one person | $30,000 |
| Injuries to more than one person | $60,000 | |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 | |
| North Dakota | Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person $50,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 | |
| Ohio | Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per person $50,000 per incident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 | |
| Oklahoma | Injury or death of a single person | $25,000 |
| Injury or death of more than one person | $50,000 | |
| Damage to personal property | $25,000 | |
| Oregon | Injuries of ONE person | $25,000 |
| Injuries of MORE THAN ONE person | $50,000 | |
| Property damages | $20,000 | |
| Personal injury protection (also known as Medical Payments/MedPay) | $15,000 | |
| Uninsured motor | $25,000 per person and $50,000 per total accident | |
| Pennsylvania | Medical benefits coverage (also known as First-Party Benefits), a form of personal injury protection, to cover medical expenses for yourself or others, regardless of fault | $5,000 |
| Liability insurance to cover medical costs for injuries to one person, capped at $30,000 per accident | $15,000 | |
| Property damage if you’re at fault | $5,000 | |
| Rhode Island | Bodily injury coverage to cover the injuries of just one person | $25,000 |
| Injuries of more than one person | $50,000 | |
| Property damaged in a car accident | $25,000 | |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | $25,000 | |
| South Carolina | Bodily injury or death of one person in an accident caused by the owner/driver of the insured vehicle | $25,000 |
| Total bodily injury or death liability in an accident caused by the owner/driver of the insured vehicle | $50,000 | |
| Property damage per accident caused by the owner/driver of the insured vehicle | $25,000 | |
| South Dakota | Bodily injury liability coverage per person to cover the costs associated with the injury or death of an individual as the result of an accident you cause | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury liability coverage per accident to cover the costs associated with the total bodily injury or death liability resulting from an accident you cause | $50,000 | |
| Property damage liability coverage to cover the costs associated with property damages incurred by another individual or individuals resulting from an accident you cause | $25,000 | |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | Same amount of coverage as liability | |
| Tennessee | Bodily injury or death of an individual resulting from an accident you cause | $25,000 |
| Total bodily injury or death liability resulting from an accident you cause | $50,000 | |
| Property damage liability coverage to cover the total costs of another party or party’s property damage resulting from an accident you cause | $15,000 | |
| Texas | Bodily injury liability | $30,000 per person $60,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 | |
| Utah | Injury or death to any one person in an accident | $26,000 |
| Injury or death to two or more people in an accident | $65,000 | |
| Damage to property in an accident | $15,000 | |
| PIP coverage per person | $3,000 | |
| Vermont | Death or injury of one person | $25,000 |
| Death or injury of more than one person | $50,000 | |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 | |
| Virgina | Death or injury of one person | $25,000 |
| Death or injury of more than one person | $50,000 | |
| Property damage liability | $20,000 | |
| Washington | Bodily injury liability | $25,000 per one person $50,000 total per accident |
| Property damage liability | $10,000 per accident | |
| West Virgina | Bodily injury or death of one person in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $25,000 |
| Total bodily injury or death in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $50,000 | |
| Property damage per accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $20,000 | |
| Wisconsin | Bodily injury or death of one person in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $25,000 |
| Total bodily injury or death in an accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $50,000 | |
| Property damage per accident caused by the owner of the insured vehicle | $10,000 | |
| Injury to one person for both Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists | $25,000 | |
| Injury to more than one person for both Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists | $50,000 | |
| Wyoming | Bodily injuries/death of ONE person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injuries/death of MULTIPLE people | $50,000 | |
| Property damage | $20,000 |
In addition to bodily injury liability car insurance, many states require property damage liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage.
How much bodily injury liability insurance should I buy?
Injury and death from car crashes can be incredibly costly according to the CDC. Not having enough bodily injury liability insurance can bankrupt a person.
Consider how much you could possibly pay out of pocket if you’re sued or have to pay for someone’s medical expenses. The safest bet is to purchase as much as you can afford to ensure you keep your assets if expenses are high after a crash.
Bodily injury liability car insurance exists to make sure that drivers’ financial futures aren’t jeopardized if they cause a crash.
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Bodily Injury Liability Insurance: The Bottom Line
Now that you understand bodily injury liability car insurance and why drivers should have it, learn more elements and terms to help you understand your policy. Understanding all the insurance terms can go a long way when it comes to how to buy bodily injury liability car insurance.
Find out what kind of bodily injury insurance rates are available to you by using our free quote tool. Enter your ZIP code and get started now.
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Jeffrey Johnson
Insurance Lawyer
Jeffrey Johnson is a legal writer with a focus on personal injury. He has worked on personal injury and sovereign immunity litigation in addition to experience in family, estate, and criminal law. He earned a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and has worked in legal offices and non-profits in Maryland, Texas, and North Carolina. He has also earned an MFA in screenwriting from Chapman Univer...
Insurance Lawyer
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.