Car accidents happen every day. The majority of them are minor fender benders that allow both parties to walk away unharmed, but every so often a more serious accident occurs that results in injuries to the occupants of one or both vehicles. In this case, some forms of regular liability insurance don't compensate people for their pain, suffering, or medical bills. Fortunately, bodily injury liability coverage exists to provide some degree of compensation for these victims, and monetary protection for the driver.

Bodily injury liability coverage does not just extend to people in a car during an accident. If a pedestrian is struck, or a bystander injured by a collision, this is the type of insurance that will cover the cost of their injuries. In the event of a fatality, this insurance will also cover the cost of a burial, and wrongful death settlement. Because injuries or deaths sustained as the result of a car accident generally progress to personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits, this insurance will also provide for the insured party's legal defense. All told, most forms of bodily injury liability insurance will cover a victim's medical bills, pain and suffering, lost time from work, burial costs, wrongful death settlement, and the cost of a legal defense for the insured party. Since all of these things are far too expensive to pay for out of pocket for the majority of drivers, investing in bodily injury liability coverage is extremely important.

The amount of coverage that bodily injury liability insurance provides is generally much higher than regular property damage liability insurance. This is because property, like a house, a car, or a computer, has a set market value. If it is damaged, it will cost a certain amount to repair it until it's as good as new. If it is irreparable, then it can be replaced. Unfortunately, the same thing isn't true for people. If someone is injured, it can take many years of physical therapy, and repeated surgeries, to attempt to help them overcome their injuries. Even then, medical treatment may meet with little success. If a person is crippled for life, or killed, they can not simply be replaced. Should an injury from an accident render someone unable to work and provide for themselves, then they can get a very large personal injury settlement. Personal injury or wrongful death suits are settled in court. It's very common for judges and juries alike to award victims with large sums of money, so many personal injury cases are settled for hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages. Wrongful death suits are generally even higher, and are settled for millions of dollars. The majority of drivers would never be able to pay these kind of expenses out of pocket, so bodily injury liability coverage can save them.

Even though car accidents with injuries happen less often than minor accidents covered by liability insurance, bodily injury liability is extremely important. In most situations, liability is determined based on several factors, which influence whose insurance company is responsible for paying whom. When it comes to striking a pedestrian, however, the driver of the vehicle is always at fault. Considering how quickly and easily a wrongful death or personal injury suit can bankrupt a person, having bodily injury liability coverage can mean the difference between being able to live a normal life financially, or having to declare bankruptcy. Legal settlements can result in the defendant having liens placed on their assets, including their home. If the settlement is high enough, this means that someone could sell their property, and not actually receive any of the money from it. It's unfortunate, but it does happen, and a good bodily injury liability plan could prevent it.

Injuries resulting from car accidents can be life-altering and devastating. Some people will be unable to walk, work, or live normally, and are rewarded large cash settlements to compensate them for their injuries. Bodily injury liability coverage doesn't just help these people get their rightful compensation, however, it also protects drivers from having to pay the high costs of personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits. Even if your state doesn't require very much bodily injury liability coverage, investing in as much coverage as you can can save you in the long run.