Bodily Injury Liability: What It Covers and How Much You Need
Last updated 06/12/2026 by
Ante Mazalin
Edited by
Andrew Latham
Summary:
Bodily injury liability is the part of car insurance that pays for injuries you cause to other people in an at-fault accident.
It covers their medical bills, lost wages, and related legal costs.
- Per-person limit: The most the policy pays for one injured person.
- Per-accident limit: The most the policy pays for everyone hurt in one crash.
- Required: Mandated in most states as a minimum coverage.
- Does not cover: Your own injuries or your own vehicle.
Bodily injury liability is the coverage that stands between an at-fault crash and your savings. It is the reason most states require you to carry insurance at all.
What bodily injury liability covers
Bodily injury liability pays for the medical and financial harm you cause to others when you are at fault. It includes their hospital bills, rehabilitation, lost income, and your legal defense if they sue.
It does not pay for your own injuries or your own car. Those fall under separate coverages like medical payments, personal injury protection, and comprehensive coverage.
Pro Tip
Raising bodily injury limits from 25/50 to 100/300 usually adds only a modest amount to your premium, because severe claims are rare. The extra coverage shields your home, savings, and future income from a single bad accident.
How the limits work
Bodily injury liability comes with two numbers, written as a pair like 25/50. The first is the most paid per person, and the second is the most paid per accident.
| Limit shown as 25/50 | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 per person | Maximum for any one injured person | One injured driver can claim up to $25,000 |
| $50,000 per accident | Maximum for everyone hurt in the crash | Three injured people share up to $50,000 |
If costs run past your limits, you are personally responsible for the difference. That gap is why minimum coverage can be risky.
State minimums and why they fall short
The most common state minimum is 25/50, meaning $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Some states require more, but even higher minimums rarely cover a serious injury.
The average bodily injury liability claim was $26,501 in 2022, according to the Insurance Information Institute. A single serious crash can easily exceed a $25,000 per-person limit.
Good to know: Carrying only the state minimum protects the other driver more than it protects you. Anything above your limit becomes a personal debt that a court can collect from your wages or assets.
How much bodily injury liability you should carry
Many experts recommend 100/300 coverage instead of the state minimum. That is $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, which covers most serious injuries.
A useful rule is to carry enough liability to protect your net worth. The cost difference between minimum and recommended limits is often smaller than people expect.
How to choose your bodily injury liability limits
- Check your state minimum: Know the legal floor where you live.
- Add up your assets: Include home equity, savings, and investments a lawsuit could target.
- Aim to cover your net worth: Pick limits high enough to protect what you own.
- Compare 100/300 quotes: See how little more the recommended limits cost.
- Consider an umbrella policy: For larger net worth, extra liability coverage adds a cushion.
The goal is to match your coverage to what you could actually lose. Minimum limits keep you legal, but they often leave the most exposed.
Related reading on car insurance
- Auto insurance explains how liability fits alongside the other coverages on a policy.
- Comprehensive coverage pays for non-crash damage to your own car, which liability never covers.
- Deductible shows how out-of-pocket amounts work on the coverages that protect your vehicle.
- Auto loan covers the financing that often requires you to carry full coverage.
Frequently asked questions
What does bodily injury liability pay for?
It pays for injuries you cause to other people in an at-fault accident, including their medical bills, lost wages, and your legal defense. It does not cover your own injuries or vehicle.
What do the numbers like 25/50 mean?
The first number is the most the policy pays per injured person, and the second is the most it pays for everyone hurt in one accident. A 25/50 policy pays up to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.
Is bodily injury liability required?
Most states require it as part of their minimum car insurance. The required limits vary, but 25/50 is the most common minimum.
How much bodily injury coverage do I need?
Many experts recommend at least 100/300 to cover serious injuries. A good benchmark is to carry enough liability to protect your total net worth.
Key takeaways
- Bodily injury liability pays for injuries you cause to others in an at-fault crash.
- Limits are shown as two numbers, the per-person and per-accident maximums.
- The common state minimum is 25/50, often too low for a serious accident.
- The average bodily injury claim was $26,501 in 2022, which can exceed a $25,000 limit.
- Carrying 100/300 or enough to cover your net worth offers stronger protection.
Rates for the same liability limits can vary widely from one insurer to the next. You can compare auto insurance companies to find strong bodily injury coverage at a price that fits your budget.
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