Bodily injury liability pays for other people’s medical bills, lost income and related expenses when you injure them in a crash. It’s required in almost all states as part of standard liability coverage.
What bodily injury liability does and doesn’t cover
Bodily injury liability, sometimes abbreviated as BI or BIL on your declarations page, covers expenses you owe to other people when you’re at fault in a crash. It does not cover your own injuries, your passengers, or damage to vehicles or property.
How bodily injury coverage works
Bodily injury liability has two limits that work together to protect you from medical claims, commonly expressed as the first two numbers in your liability policy, such as 25/50/25. Those first two numbers represent:
- Per-person limit (25): The most your insurer will pay for any single injured person; in this example, $25,000. This is sometimes called the “each person” limit.
- Per-accident limit (50): The most your insurer will pay for all injuries combined in one accident; in this example, $50,000. No individual can receive more than the per-person limit, even if the per-accident limit has not been reached.
That third number in the liability limits (15) is for property damage liability, which is a separate coverage that pays to repair or replace other people’s vehicles or property you damage in an at-fault accident.
Key takeaway: Bodily injury liability has no deductible. Your insurance pays covered medical costs up to your limits, and you’re responsible for anything beyond that amount.
How much bodily injury coverage you need
Every state except New Hampshire sets a minimum amount of bodily injury liability you must carry. Florida is unique in that it requires property damage liability and personal injury protection (PIP) but does not require bodily injury liability, though drivers there can still be held personally responsible for injuries they cause.
Why minimums often aren’t enough: The average bodily injury claim has risen to $29,900 per injured person as of mid-2025, according to CCC Intelligent Solutions. That’s a 32% increase since 2021. If your state only requires $25,000 per person, a single average claim already exceeds your coverage. When multiple people are injured, your per-accident limit can be exhausted in a moment.
State minimum bodily injury liability requirements
The table below shows the minimum BI limits for several states.
| State | Per person minimum | Per accident minimum |
| California | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| Florida | Not required. | Not required. |
| Georgia | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Michigan | $250,000 | $500,000 |
| New York | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| North Carolina | $50,000 | $100,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Tennessee | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| Texas | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| Virginia | $50,000 | $100,000 |
Use the map below to see your state’s bodily injury liability minimum requirements.
Why it matters: The average bodily injury claim is $26,500 (Insurance Information Institute). Minimum coverage can leave you with a 1,500–11,500 gap for just one person. If several people are injured, your per-accident limit can be exhausted quickly.
How much it costs for higher bodily injury limits
Curious how much more coverage really costs? Here’s what Jerry users paid for the most common state minimum limit (25/50) compared to a 100/300 limit over the past six months.
| Coverage level | Monthly cost |
| 25/50 liability | $95 – $243 |
| 100/300 liability | $136 – $304 |
| Difference | +$41 – $61 |
For as little as $41 more per month, you get protection that’s 4 – 6 times higher than the most common state minimum.
Key takeaway: The extra cost of higher bodily injury limits may seem significant until you consider that one serious injury claim could leave you owing tens of thousands out of pocket if you only have minimum coverage.
How a bodily injury claim works: step by step
Understanding the claims process can help you know what to expect if you’re ever involved in an at-fault accident. Here’s how a bodily injury liability claim typically works.
| Step | What happens |
| 1 | You cause an accident and someone else is injured. |
| 2 | The injured person (or their insurer) files a claim against your liability policy. |
| 3 | Your insurance company investigates the claim, reviews medical records, and determines fault. |
| 4 | Your insurer pays the injured person’s medical bills, lost wages, and other covered expenses up to your per-person and per-accident limits. |
| 5 | If the injured person sues you, your insurer provides and pays for your legal defense. |
| 6 | If damages exceed your limits, you are personally responsible for the remaining amount. This can lead to wage garnishment or asset seizure. |
Compare bodily injury coverage with Jerry
When shopping for car insurance, it’s important to compare bodily injury limits to find the right balance of protection and cost.
Factors that affect your bodily injury costs
Several factors influence your bodily injury liability rates.
| Factor | How it affects your rate. |
| Driving record | Accidents and traffic violations increase premiums. An at-fault accident can raise rates anywhere from 20% to 50%, depending on your state and insurer. |
| Location | Urban areas with more traffic, higher medical costs, and more lawsuits typically cost more than rural areas. |
| Coverage limits | Higher limits cost more but provide significantly better protection. The cost increase is often modest compared to the additional coverage. |
| Insurance history | Continuous coverage (no gaps) helps keep rates lower. A lapse in coverage can raise your premium. |
| Credit score | Used in most states (except California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Michigan) as a factor in rate calculation. |
| Age and gender | Younger drivers and male drivers statistically file more claims, so they often pay higher premiums. |
Who needs higher bodily injury limits
Consider higher limits if you:
- Have significant financial assets (home, savings, retirement accounts) to protect.
- Drive frequently or in high-traffic areas.
- Have teenagers on your policy.
- Work in a profession that makes you a lawsuit target.
Lower limits may work if you:
- Have few financial assets and low income.
- Drive infrequently.
- Live in rural areas with minimal traffic.
- Need the cheapest coverage you can get, as some coverage is better than none at all.
Why higher limits matter: Even if you think you won’t get in a wreck, consider your future earning potential. Lawsuits can follow you for years, and wage garnishment can affect future income.
Bodily injury liability vs. PIP vs. medical payments coverage
These three coverages all relate to medical expenses after an accident, but they work very differently. Here’s how they compare.
| BI liability | PIP | MedPay | |
| Who it covers | Other people you injure. | You and your passengers. | You and your passengers. |
| Fault required? | Yes, you must be at fault. | No, it pays regardless of fault. | No, it pays regardless of fault. |
| What it pays for | Medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, funeral costs and legal defense. | Medical bills, lost wages, rehab and essential services. | Medical and funeral expenses only. |
What to know about bodily injury claims
Bodily injury activates whenever you’re at fault and someone gets hurt, including:
💥 Rear-ending another car and injuring the driver.
🚦 Running a red light and hitting pedestrians.
🚙 Losing control and hitting multiple vehicles.
⚠️ Any accident where you’re at fault and people are injured.
The coverage also pays for legal defense if injured parties sue you for additional compensation.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 39,345 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2024, and approximately 2.44 million were injured in 2023. These numbers show why adequate bodily injury coverage is essential for every driver.
FAQ
- Will bodily injury liability cover you or your passengers?
- Does bodily injury insurance coverage have a deductible?
- Can health insurance replace your auto policy for medical bills?
- How much bodily injury liability do I need?
- What happens if my BI limits aren’t enough?
- Do I need umbrella insurance with high BI limits?
- What is the average bodily injury claim worth?
- Is bodily injury liability the same as liability insurance?
- What states don’t require bodily injury liability insurance?
- Does bodily injury liability cover hit-and-run accidents?
- Can I be sued for more than my bodily injury limits?
Methodology
Statistics, rates and conclusions in this article are based on Jerry’s proprietary database of real-world car insurance quotes, not third-party models or estimates. As a licensed insurance broker in all 50 states, Jerry has firsthand visibility into how quotes are generated and validated, and all data is aggregated and anonymized to protect privacy.
With millions of quotes delivered each year (often multiple offers per driver), our datasets are large enough to avoid bias toward any one region, insurer or driver type. Unless otherwise indicated, quotes shown are from drivers with clean records in the last 12 months. Quotes involving accidents, violations or credit use the last 18 months to ensure a reliable sample.
