What Is Bodily Injury Liability Coverage?

Bodily injury liability coverage pays for injuries you cause to third parties in a covered accident—like the other driver, their passengers, your passengers, and pedestrians.

If you’re found liable, your insurer can pay settlements (or court judgments) up to your policy limit and may also provide legal defense if you’re sued.

How Bodily Injury Liability Coverage Works

After an accident, the injured person typically makes a claim against your policy (or their insurer seeks reimbursement from your insurer). Your insurance company investigates fault and damages, then negotiates a settlement or defends you in court.

Unlike collision or comprehensive coverage, bodily injury liability coverage usually does not have a deductible. Your insurer pays covered amounts up to your limit.

What Bodily Injury Liability Coverage Pays For

BIL can help pay for many of the costs the injured person claims after an accident, including:

Medical bills: ER care, hospital stays, surgery, follow-up visits, rehab, and ongoing treatment.
Lost wages: If the injured person can’t work or has reduced income due to the injury.
Legal defense costs: Attorney fees and related costs if you’re sued (typically in addition to the BI limit, depending on your policy).
Pain and suffering: Non-economic damages like emotional distress, loss of enjoyment, and similar claims (when applicable).

What Bodily Injury Liability Coverage Does Not Cover

BIL is designed to protect other people from injuries you cause. It typically does not pay for:

Your injuries (that’s usually covered by health insurance, MedPay, or PIP if your state requires it).
Damage to the other person’s car (that’s handled by property damage liability coverage).
Damage to your own car (that’s typically covered by collision/comprehensive if you carry them).

Bodily Injury Liability Limits Explained

Most states use “split limits” written like 25/50/25. The first two numbers are for bodily injury liability:

$25,000 per person: the maximum your insurer will pay for injuries to one person in a single accident.
$50,000 per accident: the maximum your insurer will pay total for bodily injury claims from one accident (even if multiple people are injured).

The third number (in this example, $25,000) is the property damage liability limit.

Some insurers also offer a combined single limit (CSL), where one total dollar amount applies to both bodily injury and property damage. Your agent can explain whether CSL is available where you live.

Is Bodily Injury Liability Coverage Required?

In most states, you must carry liability insurance that includes bodily injury coverage to legally drive. However, there are a few important exceptions and special cases:

Florida: Florida generally requires PIP and property damage liability, but does not require bodily injury liability coverage for most drivers.
New Hampshire: New Hampshire does not generally require car insurance, but drivers are still responsible for damages they cause, and minimum limits apply if you choose to buy a policy.
Self-insurance: Some states allow high-net-worth drivers or businesses to self-insure or post a bond instead of buying a standard policy.

Below are the current minimum liability limits by state. These are commonly shown as BI per person / BI per accident / property damage (for example, 25/50/25). For a full breakdown of other required coverages (like PIP or uninsured motorist coverage), see our state-by-state auto insurance requirements guide.

State	Minimum Bodily Injury (Per Person)	Minimum Bodily Injury (Per Accident)	Minimum Property Damage
Alabama	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Alaska	$50,000	$100,000	$25,000
Arizona	$25,000	$50,000	$15,000
Arkansas	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
California	$30,000	$60,000	$15,000
Colorado	$25,000	$50,000	$15,000
Connecticut	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Delaware	$25,000	$50,000	$10,000
District of Columbia	$25,000	$50,000	$10,000
Florida	Not required*	Not required*	$10,000 (PDL)
Georgia	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Hawaii	$20,000	$40,000	$10,000
Idaho	$25,000	$50,000	$15,000
Illinois	$25,000	$50,000	$20,000
Indiana	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Iowa	$20,000	$40,000	$15,000
Kansas	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Kentucky	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Louisiana	$15,000	$30,000	$25,000
Maine	$50,000	$100,000	$25,000
Maryland	$30,000	$60,000	$15,000
Massachusetts	$25,000	$50,000	$30,000
Michigan	$50,000	$100,000	$10,000
Minnesota	$30,000	$60,000	$10,000
Mississippi	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Missouri	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Montana	$25,000	$50,000	$20,000
Nebraska	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Nevada	$25,000	$50,000	$20,000
New Hampshire	$25,000**	$50,000**	$25,000**
New Jersey	$25,000***	$50,000***	$25,000***
New Mexico	$25,000	$50,000	$10,000
New York	$25,000	$50,000	$10,000
North Carolina	$50,000	$100,000	$50,000
North Dakota	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Ohio	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Oklahoma	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Oregon	$25,000	$50,000	$20,000
Pennsylvania	$15,000	$30,000	$5,000
Rhode Island	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
South Carolina	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
South Dakota	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Tennessee	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Texas	$30,000	$60,000	$25,000
Utah	$30,000	$65,000	$25,000
Vermont	$25,000	$50,000	$10,000
Virginia	$50,000	$100,000	$25,000
Washington	$25,000	$50,000	$10,000
West Virginia	$25,000	$50,000	$25,000
Wisconsin	$25,000	$50,000	$10,000
Wyoming	$25,000	$50,000	$20,000

*Florida generally requires PIP and property damage liability (PDL) to register and drive. Bodily injury liability is not required for most drivers, but it may be required in certain situations (like after specific violations).

**New Hampshire does not generally require car insurance, but these are the minimum limits if you choose to buy a policy.

***New Jersey offers multiple policy types. These limits reflect the “standard” policy minimums.

How Much Bodily Injury Liability Coverage Should You Buy?

State minimums are designed to meet the law—not necessarily to protect your finances in a serious crash. A single ER visit, surgery, or extended rehab can easily exceed minimum limits.

Many drivers choose liability limits higher than the minimum, like 100/300/100 or 250/500/100 (availability varies by insurer). The “right” amount depends on your income, savings, assets, and how much risk you can comfortably take. If you want a deeper walkthrough, see our guide on choosing auto insurance limits.

What Happens If Injuries Cost More Than Your Limits?

Your insurer will only pay up to your bodily injury liability limit. If the injured person’s damages exceed your coverage, you can be personally responsible for the remainder—potentially putting your savings (and future income) at risk.

This is one reason many drivers increase liability limits when they can afford it. It can be one of the most cost-effective ways to strengthen your policy.

How to Keep Costs Down While Carrying Strong Coverage

If you’re worried about premium increases, focus on saving strategies that don’t leave you underinsured. Start with our list of ways to save on auto insurance, then compare quotes across several carriers at the same coverage level.

FAQs on Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

Does Bodily Injury Liability Cover My Own Injuries?

No. Bodily injury liability coverage pays for injuries to other people when you are at fault. Your own injuries are typically handled by health insurance, MedPay, or PIP (in states where PIP is required).

Are Passengers Covered Under Bodily Injury Liability?

Usually, yes—your passengers are typically considered third parties, so if you cause an accident and your passenger is injured, they may be able to make a claim against your bodily injury liability coverage. Some policies and states have special rules (for example, certain household exclusions), so it’s smart to confirm with your insurer.

Do I Pay a Deductible on a Bodily Injury Liability Claim?

In most cases, no. Liability coverages (bodily injury and property damage) typically do not have deductibles. Deductibles are more common with collision and comprehensive coverage on your own vehicle.

What’s the Difference Between “Per Person” and “Per Accident” Limits?

Per person is the most your policy will pay for injuries to one individual in a single crash. Per accident is the total your policy will pay for all bodily injury claims combined from that crash. If multiple people are injured, you can hit the per-accident limit quickly—even if each person’s injuries are below the per-person limit.

What Happens If Injuries Cost More Than My Bodily Injury Liability Limits?

Your insurer will pay up to your policy limits. If the injured person’s damages exceed those limits, you may be personally responsible for the remaining amount. That can lead to out-of-pocket payments, settlements, or a lawsuit, depending on the situation.

Is Bodily Injury Liability Required in Florida or New Hampshire?

Florida generally requires Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and property damage liability to drive, but it does not require bodily injury liability for most drivers. New Hampshire generally does not require car insurance, but drivers are still responsible for damages they cause, and minimum limits apply if you choose to buy a policy.

How Much Bodily Injury Liability Coverage Should I Carry?

It depends on your budget and what you’re protecting (income, savings, home equity, etc.). Many drivers choose limits above the state minimums because medical costs and lawsuits can exceed minimum coverage quickly. If you can afford it, consider getting quotes for higher limits and comparing the price difference.

Final Word on Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

Bodily injury liability coverage helps pay for injuries you cause to other people in an accident, including medical bills, lost wages, and legal costs. It’s required in most states and worth considering even in places where it’s optional—because serious injuries can quickly exceed state minimum limits.

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What Is Bodily Injury Liability Coverage?

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