Bodily Injuries In Your Insurance Claim After St. Louis Car Crash

In an insurance claim, bodily injury (BI) refers to physical harm suffered by a person in an accident. Bodily injury liability coverage is a part of your car insurance policy that helps pay for the medical expenses and other losses of other people injured if you are found at fault for an accident.

Here's a breakdown of what bodily injury liability covers:

  • Medical Bills: This covers the medical expenses of the injured person, including ambulance rides, emergency room visits, doctor appointments, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and other medical care costs related to the accident.
  • Lost Wages: If the injured person is unable to work due to their injuries, your BI coverage can help compensate them for lost wages.
  • Pain and Suffering: This covers non-economic damages for the physical and emotional pain the injured person experiences due to the accident.
  • Loss of Consortium: In some cases, BI coverage may also compensate a spouse of the injured person for the loss of companionship or intimacy caused by the accident.

Key Points to Remember:

  • Bodily Injury vs. Property Damage: BI liability covers injuries to people, while property damage liability covers damage to property belonging to others (vehicles, buildings, etc.) caused by the accident.
  • Protects Others, Not You: BI liability pays for the expenses of those injured by you, not your own injuries. For coverage of your own medical bills, you might need Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, depending on your state's insurance laws and your policy.
  • Limits Apply: Bodily injury liability coverage has policy limits, which is the maximum amount the insurance company will pay for each injured person and for the total accident.

Here are some additional things to consider:

  • State Requirements: Minimum bodily injury liability coverage amounts vary by state. Check your state's insurance requirements to ensure you have adequate coverage.
  • Considering Higher Limits: While minimum limits meet legal requirements, medical costs can be substantial. Consider purchasing higher BI liability limits to protect yourself from financial burden if you cause a severe accident.

This is not legal advice. It is posted for informational purposes only.

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