Yes, it can provide bodily injury insurance. But, that doesn’t mean it will in every case.

Some auto insurance companies lump bodily injury and property damage cover together under the umbrella of underinsured motorist insurance. In these instances, if you have underinsured motorist coverage, bodily injury insurance will automatically be included with your coverage.

However, most car insurance providers offer underinsured bodily injury and property damage coverages separately. So, if you only have underinsured property damage protection, you won’t have the bodily injury coverage.

What Is Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury?

This type of auto liability insurance covers injuries you or your passengers suffer when you’re involved in a car accident caused by an underinsured driver.

It picks up where the other driver’s coverage leaves off, and pays for medical bills, doctor’s visits, medical treatments, lost wages, and other related matters that exceed the limits of the guilty party’s insurance.

Of course, your protection only extends as far as your policy limits.

Example of Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Let’s say an underinsured motorist causes an auto accident and injures you, leaving you with $25,000 of medical expenses. The driver only has a meager $15,000 of bodily injury insurance.

So, his insurance would pay for the first $15,000 of payments. Then, your insurance would take care of the rest.

Even though your insurer is left footing the rest of the bill, your insurance premiums should not go up as a result of this claim.

Is Underinsured Motorist Insurance Required?

Many states have low car insurance requirement limits. So, out of concern of being in an auto accident with an underinsured driver, quite a few states require their drivers to carry underinsured motorist coverage.

Visit your state's DMV site to learn more about your car insurance requirements.