Accident Claim Lawyers
InsuranceUpdated September 2026

Bodily injury liability coverage

In plain English: bodily injury liability coverage is the part of a car insurance policy that pays for injuries the policyholder causes to other people. If another driver hurts you, this is usually the insurance your claim is paid from.

What it pays for

It covers the injured person's losses that the at-fault driver is legally responsible for, typically medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering and, in serious cases, future care and loss of earning capacity. It also pays for the at-fault driver's legal defence if they're sued. It does not pay for the at-fault driver's own injuries or car. Those come from other coverages.

How US limits are written

In the US, limits are usually shown as split limits: two numbers in thousands, such as 25/50. The first is the most the policy pays for any one injured person. The second is the most it pays for everyone injured in one accident combined. A third number is often added for property damage liability. Some policies use a single combined limit instead. Every state that requires liability insurance sets its own minimum, and state minimums are often low compared with the cost of a serious injury.

Example

The at-fault driver has 25/50 limits. You and two passengers are hurt. You can each receive no more than $25,000 from this coverage, and all three of you together can receive no more than $50,000, even if your combined losses are far higher.

The UK and Canada work differently

UK: motor insurance must cover liability for injuries to others, and that injury cover is unlimited under compulsory insurance rules. If the driver was uninsured or can't be traced, the Motor Insurers' Bureau may compensate you.

Canada: third-party liability cover is compulsory, with a minimum set by each province, and many drivers buy well above it. Injury claims also interact with no-fault accident benefits, and Quebec compensates road injuries mainly through a public scheme instead of lawsuits.

When the coverage isn't enough

  • Your own underinsured motorist cover (US): may pay the gap between the at-fault driver's limits and your actual loss.
  • Other responsible parties: an employer, vehicle owner or business may have its own, larger policy.
  • Umbrella policies: some drivers carry extra liability cover on top.
  • Personal assets: you can pursue the driver personally, but many people don't have enough to make that worthwhile.
Find out the limits early

If your injuries are serious, knowing the at-fault driver's limits shapes the whole claim. Ask for them in writing. In some places the insurer must disclose them on request; in others it takes a formal request or a lawsuit.

Next: coverage limits · policy limits · car accident claims guide.

Related terms

DeductibleA deductible is the amount you pay toward a claim on your own insurance before the insurer pays the rest.Diminished ValueDiminished value is the drop in your car's resale price because it now has an accident history, even after it has been properly repaired.ExclusionAn exclusion is a clause in an insurance policy that removes certain people, vehicles, activities or losses from cover, even though they might otherwise seem to fall within it.First-Party ClaimA first-party claim is one you make under your own insurance policy, such as collision, medical payments, no-fault or uninsured motorist cover.

General information, not legal or medical advice. Rules differ between US states, the UK and Canadian provinces, so check the law where your accident happened. How we write and check · Legal disclaimer