Insurance, the Bodily Injury and Property Damage portion of your Auto Insurance policy covers injury sustained to persons and property involved in an auto accident in which your insured automobile is involved. Standard limits are written in may forms and there are minimum state requirements depending on which state in which you live. At a minimum you must carry the limit which is mandated for your insured auto for your state.
BIPD Example 1 - Split Limit Liability
100/300/100
The first number in red in this case is 100 = This number is a multiple of $1000. It means that the insurance company will cover a Bodily Injury claims up to a maximum of $100,000 per person, per accident.
The second number in blue of 300 = Also a multiple of $1000. This is $300,000 in this case. It is the total aggregate limit of Bodily Injury pay out per accident regardless of how many people are involved.
The third number of 100 = A multiple of $100, so this is $100,000 in damage to property of others. This could include other vehicles, buildings, bikes, signs, windows, etc. Anything that isnt a person and is owned by someone else.
BIPD Example 2 - Combined Single Limit Liability or CSL
300
There is only one number for CSL BIPD coverage. It is a multiple of $1000 so for this case it is $300,000 Combined Single Limit. This is a maximum amount of payout per accident, regardless of how many people, cars or property are involved.
Exceeding Your Liability Limits
If you are involved in an accident that exceeds any or all of your limits of Liability, you are then responsible as a person for damages. You are subject to being sued in a court of law if other parties or insurance companies see fit to do so. It is always smart to carry higher limits of liability if you have assets that you can lose.
GetCoveredUSA.com Insurance Tip: If you have more in assets, future earned income, investments and cash or in other words Net Worth than your BIPD limit will cover. It is very wise to increase your Limits of Liability to make sure what is yours, stays that way. It is possible to be sued for wages earned, some states this can be as high as 30% of your income for 10 years! Its much easier to increase your BIPD limits to account for this suable interest than to have to fight for that which is already yours in court! Each step up in limits for the average person, only increases your monthly premium by $1-10! |