Updated May 2026
What Is Bodily Injury Liability Insurance?
Bodily injury liability pays the other driver's medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, and legal fees if you cause an accident. Most states mandate a split limit—one amount per injured person and a higher total per accident. Your policy pays up to those limits; anything beyond comes out of your pocket. This is the coverage every carrier verifies before filing SR-22 paperwork with your state DMV.
- You rear-end a car at a stoplight. The other driver has $18,000 in emergency room bills and misses six weeks of work, losing $4,200 in wages. Your bodily injury liability covers the full $22,200 if your per-person limit is $25,000 or higher. If your limit is $15,000, you pay the remaining $7,200 personally.
- You cause a three-car pileup. Two drivers sustain injuries: one with $30,000 in medical costs, the other with $20,000. Your policy has $50,000 per-person and $100,000 per-accident limits. The insurer pays $50,000 total—$30,000 to the first driver and $20,000 to the second—because the per-accident cap wasn't exceeded.
- You strike a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Their medical bills reach $85,000, and they file a lawsuit for pain and suffering. Your $50,000 per-person limit pays the first $50,000. You're liable for the remaining $35,000 plus any court-awarded damages above your policy cap.
How Much Does Bodily Injury Liability Insurance Cost?
Bodily injury liability adds $40–$90 per month for recently-reinstated drivers with SR-22 filings, depending on state minimums and your violation history.
- State-required minimum limits—higher mandated coverage costs more per month.
- SR-22 filing status—carriers classify SR-22 filers as high-risk, which raises base premium 50–150%.
- Original suspension cause—DUI suspensions trigger steeper surcharges than points-based or uninsured violations.
- Chosen limits above the minimum—raising per-person coverage from $25,000 to $100,000 adds $15–$30 monthly.
- Driving record during suspension—additional citations or accidents while suspended compound the premium increase.
- Zip code accident density—urban areas with high claim frequency cost 10–25% more than rural zones.
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Who Needs Bodily Injury Liability Insurance?
Every driver needs bodily injury liability—it's the legal floor in every state except New Hampshire. For recently-reinstated drivers, it's also the foundation of your SR-22 filing; no carrier will submit SR-22 paperwork without active liability coverage. If you're setting up a non-owner policy because your vehicle was sold during suspension, bodily injury liability is the primary coverage included.
The only decision is how much coverage to carry above your state's minimum. If you own a home, have significant savings, or earn above median income, raise your per-person limit to $100,000 and your per-accident limit to $300,000. A serious injury can generate six-figure claims, and minimum-limit policies leave you personally liable for the difference.