Protect Your Assets With Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

If you injure someone in a car accident, bodily injury liability coverage helps to pay for any medical costs that you are responsible for as the at-fault driver. It can also cover their lost wages if they can’t work after the crash.

Although this coverage won't pay for your own medical expenses, it applies to most other people involved in the accident, including:

Other drivers and their passengers.
Pedestrians.
Passengers in your own car, if they're not from your household.

Bodily injury coverage is necessary for many reasons, and it’s legally required in most states. It can also cover legal expenses from a lawsuit if you injure someone in a crash, provided your policy includes enough liability car insurance coverage.

Keep in mind this coverage won't pay for any repairs or property damage, whether it’s for your vehicle or the other driver's. In fact, bodily injury coverage won’t pay any of your immediate expenses. This means you’re on the hook to pay for any car repairs along with your own medical expenses and any lost income unless your auto insurance policy includes other coverage.

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🤓Nerdy Tip

Looking for coverage 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 be faced with a lawsuit.

If someone affected by an accident you cause sues you — and if your policy includes high enough liability car insurance limit to cover it — then 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 will typically show three numbers, such as “100/300/100.” These numbers represent your per-person bodily injury liability coverage, per-accident bodily injury liability coverage and per-accident property damage liability coverage.

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.

For example, let’s say you buy a policy with bodily injury insurance limits of 100/300. You then cause an accident that results in the following expenses for injuries for the three people in the other car:

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

National Safety Council. Costs of Motor-Vehicle Injuries. Accessed Dec 4, 2023.

View all sources

This is how you can interpret your insurance coverage and how much you’ll 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

Department of Banking and Insurance. Get Legal with New Jersey's Basic Auto Insurance Policy.

View all sources

, 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
Alabama	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Alaska	(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
Arizona	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident
Arkansas	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident
California	$15,000 bodily injury liability per person $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident $5,000 property damage liability per accident
Colorado	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident
Connecticut	$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
Delaware	$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
Florida	$10,000 property damage liability per accident $10,000 personal injury protection
Georgia	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Hawaii	$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
Idaho	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident
Illinois	$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
Indiana	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Iowa	$20,000 bodily injury liability per person $40,000 bodily injury liability per accident $15,000 property damage liability per accident
Kansas	$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
Kentucky	$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
Louisiana	$15,000 bodily injury liability per person $30,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Maine	$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
Maryland	$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
Massachusetts	$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
Michigan	$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.
Minnesota	$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
Mississippi	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Missouri	$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
Montana	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident
Nebraska	$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
Nevada	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident
New Hampshire	$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
New Jersey	$5,000 property damage liability per accident $15,000 personal injury protection
New Mexico	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident
New York	$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
North Carolina	$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
North Dakota	$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
Ohio	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Oklahoma	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Oregon	$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
Pennsylvania	$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
Rhode Island	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident
South Carolina	$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
South Dakota	$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
Tennessee	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Texas	$30,000 bodily injury liability per person $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident $25,000 property damage liability per accident
Utah	$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
Vermont	$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
Virginia	(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
Washington	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $10,000 property damage liability per accident
Washington, D.C.	$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
West Virginia	$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
Wisconsin	$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
Wyoming	$25,000 bodily injury liability per person $50,000 bodily injury liability per accident $20,000 property damage liability per accident

» MORE: Minimum car insurance requirements by state

🤓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.

Take control of your insurance.

It's easy with your free NerdWallet account. Link and monitor your auto and property insurance policies and costs in one secure location. Get notified when it's time to renew or explore new options.

Get Started

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.

» MORE: Compare auto insurance rates

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Bodily Injury Liability Coverage: What It Is and How It Works

Bodily injury liability covers a variety of expenses

Bodily injury liability insurance can also cover legal fees

Know your bodily injury insurance coverage limits

Which states require bodily injury liability coverage?

How much bodily injury liability insurance do I need?

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