Bodily Injury liability insurance
When you’re involved in a car accident, your first thoughts are about whether you or any passengers in your vehicles have been injured. But, what about the occupant(s) of the other vehicle(s). What about their injuries?
Bodily injury liability insurance is a type of auto insurance coverage that is usually required by most states. If you’re found to be liable for a car accident that results in injuries to another person or persons, this type of insurance, in most cases, covers the short and long-term costs of the other driver(s) and their passengers. In addition, it would also cover any pedestrians or bystanders that were injured as a result of the accident.
The following are covered by bodily injury liability insurance, but not limited to:
- Medical expenses
- Legal fees
- Loss of income
- Future lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Funeral expenses
If you’re found to be at fault for the accident, bodily injury liability insurance doesn’t cover your medical bills or expenses or the injuries to the passengers riding in your vehicle at the time of the accident.
Do you need it?
The minimum auto insurance requirements under the laws of the state of California are:
- Bodily injury liability per person: $15,000
- Bodily injury liability per accident: $30,000
- Property damage liability: $5,000
California drivers who are caught driving without, at least, the minimum bodily injury liability insurance required by law face multiple penalties, including fines and impounding of their cars.
Should you consider getting more bodily injury liability insurance than is required by the state of California? The answer is “yes” if you can afford it. In many cases, the minimum amount of auto insurance coverage required won’t provide adequate protection for you personally if you’re found to be at fault for causing a car accident.
With higher coverage limits, your insurance carrier will pay more for the injuries to another person and/or property damage that result from an accident for which you’re liable. Additional coverage could include provisions that will cover your injuries, your vehicle, underinsured or uninsured motorist, for example.
Speaking with an expert
If you’re trying to decide whether you should purchase more bodily insurance coverage than the minimum required coverage in California, you’ll want to do your due diligence when it comes to comparing quotes from several insurers.
The problem with doing that is it’s a time-consuming and frustrating process researching a lot of different auto insurance policies. Let Daniel Fraisse, independent auto insurance broker in Los Angeles, take all of the stress, frustration, and worry out of the process while finding you the policy that best fits your needs at a price that best fits your budget.