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Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) Insurance

Things to Remember

  • Only one state does not require bodily injury liability insurance: Florida.
  • Most would recommend that you have bodily injury liability coverage in the amounts of $100,000/$300,000 or more.
  • Bodily injury liability helps pay for medical expenses and lost wages.

So you’re wondering what bodily injury liability insurance means. Don’t worry, we’re going to get into it. We understand insurance is complicated. This is why we will get into what bodily injury liability does for you in a step-by-step manner.

In the meantime, get a good start comparing auto liability insurance rates using our helpful tool above simply by typing in your ZIP code. Which bodily injury liability insurance company is for you? Find out now.

Table of Contents

Bodily Injury Liability Insurance Defined

What is liability auto insurance coverage? This is the coverage that pays for the other person’s bills when you cause an accident. If you cause an accident that results in another individual sustaining an injury, bodily injury liability insurance coverage pays for their medical expenses and any income they lost while recovering.

For a fuller bodily injury liability insurance description, take a look at a brief and fun video further explaining what this form of coverage is. Note that the video will also go into the definition of property damage liability.

In short, bodily injury liability covers medical expenses, and property damage liability covers damage costs for an individual’s vehicle and/or property.

Note that these forms of coverage are usually a package deal. Let’s take a look at a table comparing rates for Liability coverage state by state.

Average Annual Liability and Full Coverage Auto Insurance Rates by State
StatesAverage Annual
Liability Auto Insurance Rates
Average Annual Full Coverage Auto Insurance Rates
North Dakota$298.18$773.30
Iowa$299.18$702.46
South Dakota$300.22$766.91
Wyoming$321.04$847.44
Maine$338.87$703.82
Vermont$343.12$764.02
Idaho$344.29$679.89
Kansas$358.24$862.93
North Carolina$359.42$789.09
Nebraska$364.64$831.02
Wisconsin$374.37$737.18
Indiana$382.68$755.03
Montana$386.29$863.52
Arkansas$394.13$906.34
Alabama$394.21$868.48
Ohio$397.11$788.56
New Hampshire$400.56$818.75
Tennessee$413.91$871.43
Missouri$415.88$872.43
Virginia$425.61$842.67
Illinois$446.72$884.56
Minnesota$456.82$875.49
Hawaii$458.54$873.28
Mississippi$460.50$994.05
Oklahoma$461.01$1,005.32
New Mexico$488.03$937.59
California$489.66$986.75
West Virginia$491.83$1,025.78
Utah$497.53$872.93
Pennsylvania$499.06$970.51
Arizona$508.76$972.85
Colorado$520.04$981.64
South Carolina$527.09$973.10
Texas$528.75$1,109.66
Kentucky$529.21$938.51
Alaska$539.68$1,027.75
Georgia$557.38$1,048.40
Oregon$584.13$904.83
Washington$596.67$968.80
Massachusetts$606.04$1,129.29
Maryland$609.74$1,116.45
District of Columbia$628.82$1,330.73
Connecticut$650.94$1,151.07
Nevada$681.56$1,103.05
Rhode Island$759.80$1,303.50
Louisiana$775.83$1,405.36
Michigan$795.32$1,364.00
Delaware$799.30$1,240.57
New York$804.51$1,360.66
Florida$857.64$1,257.13
New Jersey$869.57$1,382.79
U.S. Average$538.73$1,009.38
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The bottom line is that you are usually going to need liability insurance and it’s not all that expensive. Let’s move on to see in which states you will be required to carry bodily injury liability insurance.

Bodily Injury Liability Insurance: Where It’s Needed

Interestingly enough, every state save Florida requires bodily injury liability insurance. All 50 states and Washington D.C. require property damage liability.

So, why Florida? According to the Insurance Information Institute, Florida requires personal injury protection (PIP). With that being said, other states require both bodily injury liability and personal injury protection.

This is mostly because Florida is a no-fault state. This means that, no matter who caused the accident, their own personal injury protection will be what covers them.

Let’s move on to see how much bodily injury liability insurance you’ll need in the states that  require it.

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How much bodily injury liability insurance do I need?

If you were to listen to the majority of experts, what you would need is coverage amounts of $100,000 for one individual and $300,000 for the accident. A lot of states require only $25,000/$50,000, though. With that being said, it may not be enough.

Just because you have this coverage amount, or your state’s particular minimum, doesn’t mean you are truly, fully covered. If you cause an accident and your insurance doesn’t cover you fully, you’re essentially opening yourself up to lawsuits.

The premiums paid would pale in comparison to the ramifications of a lawsuit. This is why, depending on where you live and how likely an accident is, it is for the best to raise your coverage level.

If we haven’t answered all of your questions today, fear not, because we’re going to be wrapping up with an FAQ section.

For bodily injury liability insurance quotes, type your ZIP code into our helpful tool below and get bodily injury liability insurance rates for bodily injury liability coverage from insurers in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions: Bodily Injury Liability Insurance

Read below to have your other questions about bodily injury liability insurance answered.

#1 – Does bodily injury liability cover me?

In a way, considering it protects your from lawsuits, but it really pays for the other party’s injuries.

#2 – What is the difference between bodily injury liability and personal injury protection?

BI covers the expenses of the person who didn’t cause the accident and PIP  is an extension of auto insurance.

#3 – What is the minimum insurance you must have in Indiana for bodily injury?

The minimum in Indiana for bodily injury is $25,000/$50,000

#4 – What is the max you can get from an auto accident settlement?

The average property damage claim is about $3,500 but it all depends on the extent of the accident’s damage.

#5 – Does liability cover your vehicle?

It would cover the other person’s automobile.

#6 – When should you get liability-only auto insurance?

If the cost of comprehensive and collision exceeds 10 percent of your vehicle’s value, get liability-only coverage.

#7 – Is bodily injury the same as pain and suffering?

Essentially, yes, because bodily injury claims usually involve medical expenses.

#8 – What is the difference between bodily injury and medical expenses?

Most likely they are referring to MedPay, which pays for reasonable medical expenses incurred by you or passengers.

#9 – Do I need personal injury protection if I have health insurance?

Only in the 16 states that require PIP.

#10 – What is the average payout for personal injury?

Anywhere from $3,000 to $75,000.

References:

  1. https://www.iii.org/automobile-financial-responsibility-laws-by-state

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