Who and what Bodily Injury Liability (BI) will cover can differ according to state laws insurance policy terms. Each auto insurance policy will define the scope of coverage for Bodily Injury Liability coverage. In most states where Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is available, PIP will extend to your passengers. Medical Payments (MP) and/or Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UM) usually will extend to your passengers.

Liability coverage is intended to cover the legal responsibility for one's acts or omissions- those items that you are liable for. In Texas for example the DOI explains in a consumer publication, Liability insurance pays for bodily injury, property damage, and some additional expenses of other drivers, their passengers, and your passengers when you or a driver covered by your policy causes an accident.

In other states, like Massachusetts, Compulsory Bodily Injury Liability does not cover your passengers in an auto accident. Optional Bodily Injury To Others pays for bodily injury to others for which you are held liable. This coverage extends Compulsory Bodily Injury coverage to accidents within the United States, its possessions and territories, and Canada. It also extends coverage to your passengers, and to injuries caused by an attached trailer.

As a rule, you should not purchase Bodily Injury Liability to protect your passengers, even though your states laws or policy terms may allow BI to cover them. To make certain that your passengers would be covered if you were at fault in an accident you should purchase coverages such as PIP, MP, Uninsured Motorist BI, and/or Underinsured Motorist BI.

To find out more about these types of insurance coverages that would provide coverage for your passengers if you are at fault in an accident view our Coverage Definitions page of our Learning Center.

To find out if any of the coverages you currently have on your automobile would cover your passengers if you were found at fault in an accident, read your policy and check with your insurance agent. You may also discuss with your agent if your limits and make sure they are high enough for your needs.