Bodily Injury
Plain English
Bodily injury liability pays for injuries you cause to other people, such as their medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering, plus your legal defense, up to your limit. It doesn't pay for your own injuries. On a car policy it has two limits, per person and per accident: the first two numbers in limits like 30/60/25.
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Definition
Bodily injury refers to physical harm, sickness, or death suffered by another person as a result of an accident or incident for which a policyholder may be held legally responsible. In liability insurance, bodily injury coverage typically pays for the injured party's medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and related legal costs, up to the policy's stated limit. Auto policies commonly express this as a bodily injury liability limit, often shown as two numbers, such as $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident.
Why It Matters
State minimum bodily injury limits are a legal floor, and a serious injury claim can exceed them. The limits you choose decide how much of a large claim the insurer pays and how much could fall on you.
Real-World Example
Say a driver with 30/60 bodily injury limits causes a crash that injures two people. One has $45,000 in bills and the other $20,000. The policy pays the first person up to $30,000 and the second $20,000, for $50,000 in total, which is under the $60,000 per-accident cap. The driver could owe the remaining $15,000 personally. With 100/300 limits, both claims would have been paid in full.
Common Misconceptions
- People sometimes assume bodily injury coverage pays for their own injuries, when it's specifically designed to cover injuries to other people you're found liable for.
- It's sometimes assumed the state-minimum bodily injury limit is adequate protection, when it's often set far below what a serious injury claim can actually cost.
- Some think bodily injury and property damage liability are the same coverage, when they're typically separate limits within the same liability section of a policy.
- People sometimes believe bodily injury liability only applies to car accidents, when the same underlying concept applies to homeowners and general liability claims involving injuries to others.
Key Takeaways
- Bodily injury coverage pays for injuries you're found responsible for causing to someone else, not your own injuries.
- Auto policies typically express bodily injury limits as a per-person and per-accident amount.
- State-minimum bodily injury limits are often lower than what a serious claim can cost.
- Raising your bodily injury limit is often a relatively low-cost way to meaningfully reduce your financial exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does bodily injury liability cover?
Injuries you cause to others: their medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering, plus your legal defense, up to your limits. It doesn't cover your own injuries or damage to cars.
What are the minimum bodily injury limits?
They vary by state, from $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident in states like Louisiana and Pennsylvania to $50,000 and $100,000 in states like Alaska, Maine, North Carolina and Virginia.
What's the difference between bodily injury liability and personal injury protection?
Bodily injury liability pays for injuries you cause to others. Personal injury protection, required in some states, pays your own injury costs regardless of fault.
Is bodily injury liability the same as property damage liability?
No. They're separate limits in the same liability coverage: bodily injury for people, property damage for cars and other property.
What happens if a bodily injury claim exceeds my limit?
You may be responsible for the rest. An umbrella policy can add liability coverage above your auto limits.
State-specific note: State minimum liability limits differ widely: Insurpedia's state table, checked against each state's official source in October 2026, ranges from 15/30/5 in Pennsylvania to 50/100/50 in North Carolina (for policies issued or renewed after July 1, 2025). New Hampshire doesn't require insurance but requires proof of financial responsibility, and Florida requires PIP and property damage liability rather than bodily injury liability for most drivers.
Related Terms
Related Coverages
- Auto Insurance
- General Liability Insurance
- Umbrella Insurance
Related Scenarios
Explore the rest of the Liability category.
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The factual claims on this page were checked against these sources. Rules and figures change, so check the source itself if you need to confirm the current version.
- tdi.texas.govAuto insurance guide · Texas Department of Insurance
- content.naic.orgAuto Insurance · National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
- content.naic.orgGlossary of Insurance Terms · National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
Educational information, not advice: This page is for general education only, not legal, financial, or insurance advice. Actual coverage, discounts, and requirements depend on your policy’s wording, your insurer, and the laws of your state. Confirm specifics with your own insurer or a licensed agent before making a decision. Insurpedia does not sell insurance and does not recommend specific insurers.