What is Bodily Injury Liability Coverage?

IE takes a look at how US State law varies on car insurance and how that affects your injury claims;

Each state sets its own requirements for the amount of car insurance coverage that every driver needs to have before going on the road. It is meant to protect individuals so that they can recover damages in the unfortunate case of an accident. In Georgia, drivers must carry:

● Bodily injury liability: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident

● Property damage liability: $25,000 per person

Although not required, drivers are strongly encouraged to carry:

● Uninsured motorist bodily injury: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident

● Uninsured motorist property damage: $25,000 with a deductible ranging between $250 or $1000

Some drivers don’t have uninsured motorist coverage because they want to save on their premiums. But personal injury lawyer Henningsen warns that if you are hit and injured by an uninsured motorist, then you may be without any legal recourse and stuck with your medical bills and other debts related to your accident. When you have this type of coverage, you can recover financial compensation to help you with your damages.

What Bodily Injury Covers

Suppose you are found liable for a car accident. In that case, your bodily injury liability coverage will pay for the medical expenses of the people who are injured, the legal fees if they decide to file a personal injury lawsuit, lost income if they are unable to perform their job duties due to their injuries, their pain and suffering and funeral costs in the unfortunate event that the accident results in a fatality.

What is the difference between bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage?

Both types of coverage will kick in if you’re ever found to be at fault for causing a car accident, but they cover two different types of damages. Bodily injury liability coverage pays for the emergency room services, hospital stay, follow-up care, and rehabilitative services if you injure someone in an accident. It will also cover legal fees if the injured party decides to sue you for damages. Property damage liability coverage helps you pay for damage to another’s property if you caused an accident that resulted in, for example, damage to someone’s car, motorcycle, or home.

Should I buy more insurance than the minimum?

Assuming that meeting your monthly premium requirements is not a hardship for you, it’s worth considering getting more coverage than the state requires. The minimums don’t include coverage if you also get injured in an accident. Rather, that type of coverage is called Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance and needs to be purchased separately.

Remember that $25,000 is the maximum amount of compensation that can be paid to another driver or their passengers if you injure them in an accident and if you only carry the minimum amount of bodily injury coverage required by law, but medical expenses are generally a lot more than $25,000. You should talk to your insurance provider about affordable plans that cover more so that you’re not left in a tough financial spot if you cause an accident that leads to serious injuries.

How can an attorney help me?

Whether you have been injured in an accident or caused an accident that led to injuries, you should have an attorney on your side. The insurance companies are not as altruistic as you may think. Their goal is to make money, whereas a lawyer’s goal is to help you recover fair and just compensation. Even if you are at fault, you still have rights which an attorney can defend. Speak to an attorney today about your accident.