Bodily Injury Liability 101

 

No matter how careful you are in every area of your life, there is no way to avoid every single fall, bump, or accident. The problem is that in many cases we manage not only to hurt ourselves but to hurt someone else. For this reason, and being aware that accidents are a part of life, both general liability insurance, and automobile insurance include bodily liability coverage in their policies. Its purpose is to help you pay for the costs that come with having caused injuries to someone else.
 

Bodily Injury Defined
 

A narrow definition of bodily injury coverage includes three main areas which are personal injury to the body, disease, and sickness. A broader definition goes much further and includes such items as:

• Shock
• Disability
• Mental injury
• Mental anguish
• Death

What is the biggest problem associated with a personal injury?
 

Personal injuries are generally associated with secondary problems that may last much longer than the original injury itself. These secondary issues can have a negative impact on the life of whoever suffers from them, making daily living difficult. These may include:
 

• Past and future medical expenses
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Diminished ability to carry out a previously held job
• Inability to work
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish

How can your insurance policy help you face the possibility of having to deal with those issues?
Insurance policies reflect the fact that the issues listed above are a reality. Thus, they include different types of coverage that aim at protecting you (and your bank account) every day. These types of third-person liability coverage are:
 

Bodily Injury
 

This coverage offers financial protection to others when you are found to be at fault for an accident or an injury to a third party. It is understood that you may end up causing harm to somebody else either directly (such as when you harm them with your car), and indirectly (such as when you have left objects lying around and someone trips over them and gets injured).
 

Property Damage
 

This section of the coverage is used to offer financial protection in cases where things get damaged. If you destroy or damage someone else’s property, such as their car during an accident, your insurance would help cover the cost of repairing or replacing the damaged property.
 

How can you protect yourself from bodily injury claims?
 

Before you face an accident where you are at fault or damage someone else’s property, you should protect yourself with a general liability insurance policy. If you are the owner of a small business, this coverage is that much more crucial, since one single claim could end up ruining your business and forcing you to close your doors forever.
 

According to lawyer Kenneth King, it is more important to focus on the things you have to do to stay afloat in these economic circumstances than having to constantly worry about unexpected accidents and their effects on your business. Protect yourself and your livelihood: get a bodily injury policy now. It will offer you protection for third-party medical bills, legal fees, lost wages, mental anguish, pain and suffering, and even funeral costs.

In California, bodily injury liability insurance must cover $15,000 for bodily injury or death and $30,000 for wrongful death. That is what’s known as the “15/30” insurance.       
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