Auto Insurance Coverage- Bodily Injury Liability

"Why are there two numbers?" That's a common question I hear from customers as they inquire about their auto coverages. This is your Bodily Injury Liability(BI) and it might look like one of these on your auto policy:

• $25,000/$50,000
• $50,000/$100,000
• $100,000/$300,000
• $250,000/$500,000

This coverage pays for injuries that you caused to someone else. Medical bills of the other driver or pedestrian that you hit, for instance. 

The first of the two numbers is the limit your insurance company will pay for any one person that is hurt. The second number is the total your insurance company will pay for everyone who you hurt in the accident. 

The state minimum in Oregon, at the time of this post, is $25,000/$50,000. To legally drive your car in Oregon, that is the minimum amount of Bodily Injury Liability insurance you must have on your policy. 

It's easy to imagine that $25,000 would not be enough money if you caused a major accident. If you can afford to pay for more coverage, you should.