What Is Bodily Injury Liability?

If you have just gotten a new car insurance policy, you may have been wondering what the additional parts of your policy are, and what they cover. In Florida, car insurance policyholders are required to add personal injury protection, and are encouraged to add bodily injury coverage packages to their base policy.

Bodily injury liability coverage is an important part of your policy, because it protects you (up to the coverage amount) against personal injury lawsuits in an accident that you cause. It also covers members of your family who may be driving your car, even if they are not specifically named on the policy. Miami personal injury attorneys begin the process of collecting damages for their clients by pursuing the policy’s bodily injury liability coverage, and if you are responsible for the accident, the hope is that your policy covers all of the damages.

Why Do I Need Bodily Injury Liability Coverage?

There is no law that states you are required to have bodily injury coverage on your car insurance (unless you have been convicted of a DUI), but it is a very good idea to add it. If not, and you were to be sued by a personal injury lawyer, then you are personally responsible for the full amount. For many people, losing a personal injury case can cause financial ruin.

Should I Add Bodily Injury Liability Coverage to My Insurance Policy?

Just because the law does not demand it, does not mean it is not a good idea. We highly suggest that you add the bodily injury coverage to your policy to protect you, your family members, and other drivers from financial hardships in the event of an accident. Since the policy additionally covers members of your family, it means that another member of your household can drive to the grocery store, and if they were to unfortunately cause an accident, will be protected up to the amount of your policy with no additional cost to you.

Even in a low-speed crash, there is always the chance that a freak injury can create major medical issues, which, in turn, will create major financial issues for you if you do not have a policy that alleviates this issue for you.

What Does Bodily Injury Liability Cover?

The victim will need to prove to your insurance company that they need the full amount they are requesting, which will take place during a series of negotiations between them and your insurance company. The major coverage aspects that they will be discussing are:

• Medical bills

• Lost wages

• Pain and suffering

• Legal fees

• Funeral costs

Of course, under each of these coverage points, there are far more details that are addressed. Hopefully, you will never need to rely on this coverage, but when you need it, you REALLY need it. If the attorney representing the victim and your insurance company are not able to come to an agreement during negotiations, they will then move into a trial. Most often, this means that the amount requested exceeds the coverage amount of your policy.

Not only will bodily injury liability coverage protect you from financial liability, it also ensures that the injured party(s) in the accident are able to recover damages that you may not have been able to repay if you did not have the policy in place. Our suggestion: always opt for this additional coverage.