What is Bodily Injury Liability Coverage?
When you are found legally responsible for a car accident, bodily injury liability coverage is the part of your insurance policy that pays for the costs associated with injuries to the other person or people involved. This coverage also provides a legal defense in the event that you are sued for damages.
What Does Bodily Injury Liability Cover?
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Medical expenses
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Legal fees
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Loss of income
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Pain and suffering
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Funeral costs
How is Bodily Injury Liability Structured?
Bodily injury liability limits are typically displayed as two dollar amounts next to each other: $50,000/$100,000.
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The first dollar amount ($50,000) represents the coverage limit for damages if only one person is injured in an accident. In this example, you would be covered for damages up to this amount. However, if the damages to this person exceeded $50,000, you would be responsible for covering what remains.
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The second dollar amount ($100,000) represents the coverage limit for the total amount of damages if more than one person is injured. If the damages exceed this amount, you would be responsible for covering what remains.
The Benefits of Additional Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
Most states require a minimum amount of bodily injury liability insurance, but this may not be enough to cover the total amount of damages you may be responsible for paying. Purchasing a higher limit of bodily injury liability insurance will further protect your assets and future earnings against the risk of a large financial loss.
What is Property Damage Liability Coverage?
When you are found legally responsible for a car accident, property damage liability coverage is the part of your insurance policy that pays for the costs associated with repairing or replacing another person's property. This typically means damage to someone else's car, but it could apply to any other type of property you damage in an accident.
How is Property Damage Liability Structured?
Your property damage liability limit is a dollar amount that represents the maximum amount of property damage your insurance policy will cover. If you have a $50,000 coverage limit, your policy will only cover up to this amount and you would be responsible for covering what remains.
The Benefits of Additional Property Damage Liability Coverage:
A minimum amount of property damage liability coverage may not be enough to cover the total amount of damages you may be responsible for paying. Purchasing a higher limit of property injury liability insurance will further protect your assets and future earnings against the risk of a large financial loss.
What is Medical Payments coverage?
In the event you are hurt in an accident and taken to the hospital, Medical Payments Coverage pays for your initial medical expenses related to the accident, regardless of who is at fault, The passengers in your car are also covered, as well as family members living with you if they are injured as pedestrians or when riding in another person's car. This coverage is subject to your policy terms and conditions.
What Does Medical Payments Cover?
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Ambulance transportation to the hospital.
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Emergency room care.
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The initial hospital stay.
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Other reasonable medical and funeral expenses resulting from the accident.
How Medical Payments Coverage Works
Say you're involved in an accident and spend two nights in the hospital recovering. If the cost of your stay totals $2,500 but your coverage limit is $1,000, you would be responsible for paying the amount that remains. Medical Payments Coverage is not intended as a substitute for health insurance. Coverage limits are typically low and meant only to help you cover your immediate medical expenses. You or your health insurance are responsible for covering expenses above your coverage limit.
The Benefits of Medical Payments Coverage
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Avoiding paying out-of-pocket for the cost of your medical care and the care of others in your car at the time of the accident.
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Lessening the potential amount that you will owe for the cost of your medical care and the care of others in your car at the time of the accident.
This coverage is mandatory in some states.