Bodily injury liability
Auto coverage that can pay when you are legally responsible for injuring someone else in a crash.
Plain definition
Bodily injury (BI) liability on auto policies pays third-party medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering where covered, and legal defense costs up to your limits when you are at fault. Limits are usually split per person and per accident.
Why it matters
Serious injuries can exceed minimum BI limits quickly. Assets and future wages are exposed when damages outrun your policy.
Example
You rear-end another driver who needs surgery. BI liability may pay their covered medical and liability damages up to your per-person limit; amounts above may be your responsibility.
Common misunderstanding
BI liability does not pay your own medical bills—that may involve health insurance, med pay/PIP where applicable, or UM in other scenarios.
Policy language always controls. This is educational content, not advice. See our disclaimer.