# What is bodily injury liability?

> Bodily injury liability is coverage for covered injuries you cause to other people in an auto accident.

Glossary date: January 12, 2026.

## How it works

It may pay medical expenses, lost income, legal defense costs, and other covered damages. Limits often appear as an amount per person and an amount per accident.

## Example

A 25/50 limit can mean up to $25,000 for one injured person and $50,000 total for all injured people in one accident.

## Why it matters

Several injured people can exhaust a per-accident limit quickly.

## What to check on your policy

Confirm both the per-person and per-accident limits. Ask how legal defense expenses interact with those limits.

Coverage, definitions, limits, and legal requirements vary by policy and state. Your declarations page and policy forms control your coverage.

## Related terms

- [Liability coverage](https://locations.goautoinsurance.com/car-insurance-glossary/liability-coverage.md)
- [Property damage liability](https://locations.goautoinsurance.com/car-insurance-glossary/property-damage-liability.md)
- [Split limits](https://locations.goautoinsurance.com/car-insurance-glossary/split-limits.md)

- [Car insurance guide](https://locations.goautoinsurance.com/car-insurance-guide.md)
- [Complete glossary](https://locations.goautoinsurance.com/car-insurance-glossary.md)