Bodily Injury Liability FAQs

I’m comparing auto insurance policies, but what do they mean by bodily injury liability?
Bodily injury liability can be part of your auto insurance coverage, and protects you from claims by victims of an accident. In other words, bodily injury liability covers you if you’re responsible for an accident in which somebody else is injured and incurs medical expenses. This can be another driver, pedestrian, or cyclist, as well as any passengers in your own vehicle. Bodily injury liability also covers any legal costs you may have to deal with after an accident.

Why do I need bodily injury liability coverage?
Anybody who’s been in an accident knows how steep medical expenses can be. When your auto insurance coverage includes bodily injury liability, you’re covered for medical costs incurred by other parties involved, as well as legal fees if you’re sued. Without it, you could wind up facing thousands of dollars in medical and legal bills. It’s not unusual for claims to be in excess of $500,000, so the more bodily injury liability coverage you have, the better.

What’s the recommended coverage for bodily injury liability?
The simple answer is: as much as you can afford. Even if you’d rather spend less on your premium, you’ll be grateful for your bodily injury liability insurance in the event of an accident. It’s a good idea to shop around for the best policy, because insurance carriers offer different amounts of coverage. A rule of thumb is that a smaller amount will cover one person per claim, while a larger amount can cover multiple people. Also, find out if there is a cap per person and/or per incident. Some auto insurance policies instill a cap on both.

I already have uninsured motorist coverage. Do I still need bodily injury liability insurance?
Yes, you do. Uninsured motorist coverage covers you in the event that the other party in an accident isn’t insured, while bodily injury liability kicks in when you are liable for personal injuries incurred in an accident. It’s always a good idea to talk to your insurance agent to balance the coverage and premiums of both so the total becomes affordable and still offers you maximum coverage.

I want to add my teenage daughter to my auto insurance policy, should I purchase additional bodily injury liability coverage?
If you’re adding a young driver to your policy, you can expect a hefty rate hike. The reason is simple: inexperienced drivers are proven to be six times more likely to be involved in an accident than drivers over thirty. And accidents often result in injuries, which are very costly without bodily injury liability insurance. Find out how much bodily injury liability you’ll have after adding your teenage daughter to your existing policy, and make any additional changes in order to get the best coverage possible.