It is often believed that car accidents are unavoidable. In fact, crashes happen to drivers around once every 18 years, on average. Although they are not spaced out like that. It is the probability that a driver faces when he or she gets on the road.
Despite the statistics, there are some people that are poor drivers. There are also others who drive more often, increasing the chances of an accident. Moreover, applying statistics to real life often does not work that well. Statistics aside, there are still drivers who have never crashed and might never will.
Regardless of whether you’re due for a car wreck or not, there’s still the potential for an accident. If you hit another driver, you will need to know about bodily injury liability. This article will tell you what is bodily injury liability. You will also learn what it does and does not cover.
What is Bodily Injury Liability and Do You Need It?
Bodily Injury Liability (BIL) is the part of your insurance that can aid you during a car accident you caused. It can help you pay for injuries to others if you’re at fault for the accident. It can even help pay for legal fees. In particular, if the victim sued you for damages. As such, it is a good idea to make sure a bodily injury liability is part of your policy.
Take note that the purpose of the BIL is not to reimburse the driver who caused the incident. It is to reimburse the injured or harmed people in other vehicles involved in the crash.
Usually, bodily injury liability insurance has two separate coverage limits. One is a per-person limit and a per-accident limit. These are limits often shown as a series of numbers. An example is 15/30/15, with the first two numbers being your BIL limits. The third number in this is your property damage liability limit.
What if you cause an accident and injure the other person? Then, your per-person liability limit applies. How about if there are several people who got hurt in the accident you caused? Then, your per-accident limit applies in this case. This applies to all the combined injury costs that stem from the accident.
What Does Bodily Injury Liability Cover?
So, do you need bodily injury liability insurance? Liability car insurance is a need in every state except New Hampshire and Virginia. This car insurance includes bodily injury coverage.
Even if having BIL is not a need in your state, you might want to have one. After all, BIL covers a range of costs associated with car incident injuries you cause to others.
Here are the things covered by your bodily injury liability:
- Medical Costs: BIL can cover several kinds of medical costs for other people. These include emergency care, ongoing medical care, and hospital fees.
- Legal Fees: Does the person injured in the accident plan to sue you? Your Bodily Injury Liability will cover your legal defense fees. It can also cover your court costs, judgments, and settlements. This is often up to your policy limits.
- Loss of Income: What if the injury to the other person has caused them to miss work? Bodily Injury Liability can cover the income they lose.
- Pain and Suffering: Yes, you will also have to pay for the victim’s pain and suffering. There are cases in the claims will involve payment when there’s emotional stress. There is also the prolonged pain from the accident you caused.
- Funeral Costs: What if the accident you caused results in the fatality of the other person? Your Bodily Injury Liability will help cover and pay for the related funeral costs.
Keep in mind that there are things your Bodily Injury Liability does not cover. There are three main costs it doesn’t cover, such as:
- Your Medical Costs: Yes, your own BIL does not cover your medical costs. It can only cover the medical costs other people have as a result of the accident. If you want coverage for your medical costs, buy a personal injury protection. Or you may buy medical payment coverage. It usually depends on your state.
- Property Damage: A crash usually causes damage to the other driver’s vehicle. It may also cause damage to someone else’s property like a fence or even a house. Your Bodily Injury Liability cannot cover the cost of such damage. What you can use to pay for it is the property damage part of liability car insurance.
Hire the Bodily Injury Lawyer You Need
Hire your experienced personal injury lawyer from Warner and Warner. Our lawyers give a high level of representation and bring the justice you deserve. Our experienced bodily injury lawyer will fight to protect your rights. You can send your queries to info@warnerandwarner.com. You can also reach us at (321) 341-6785 or drop us a line here.