If you have been injured in a car accident in Kansas, knowing how the state’s insurance laws work is necessary to protect yourself. Kansas follows a no-fault insurance system, which affects how you file claims, what compensation you are eligible for, and when you can pursue a case against the at-fault driver. These rules can feel complex, but the more familiar you are with them, the better positioned you will be throughout your Kansas car accident claim.
How Kansas’s No-Fault Car Insurance System Works
Most states follow a fault-based car insurance system: a driver causes an accident, and they are financially responsible for the damages suffered by the victims. Kansas operates under a no-fault insurance system. After a car accident, your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays for your medical bills and certain other out-of-pocket losses, regardless of who caused the crash.
The minimum PIP benefits available in Kansas include:
- $4,500 per person for accident-related medical expenses
- $900 per month (for up to one year) for disability or lost income
- $25 per day for in-home services like housecleaning that you can’t perform due to your injuries
- $2,000 for funeral, burial, or cremation expenses if the injured person passes away
- $4,500 for rehabilitation expenses
These benefits extend to the policyholder, any family or household members who drive the covered vehicle, and anyone riding in the vehicle as a passenger, unless they have their own PIP coverage.
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When Can You File a Third-Party Car Accident Claim in Kansas?
In some cases, you can step outside Kansas’s no-fault system and file a claim directly against the at-fault driver. To do so, your case must meet one of two thresholds:
- Your accident-related medical bills must total $2,000 or more.
- Your injuries must qualify as serious under the state’s no-fault rules.
Kansas law defines serious injuries as permanent disfigurement, a fracture of a weight-bearing bone, a compound, compressed, or displaced fracture of any bone, a permanent injury, or permanent loss of a body function.
If you meet either threshold, you have the right to hold the at-fault driver responsible through a third-party insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. This opens the door to compensation for all categories of losses, including pain and suffering and other non-economic damages.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Kansas
To register and drive a vehicle in Kansas, you must carry certain amounts of insurance coverage. Your PIP insurance policy must cover the minimum benefits listed above. You will also need to carry the following coverage:
- Bodily Injury Liability: At least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
- Property Damage Liability: At least $25,000 per accident for damage to other parties’ vehicles or property
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: At least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident
If you are found responsible for causing an accident and the other parties’ losses exceed your policy limits, you could be personally responsible for covering the difference out of your own assets.
Contact a Kansas Car Accident Attorney for a Free Case Review
After a serious injury, Kansas’s car accident laws can feel overwhelming to navigate on your own. In these situations, trust the Kansas City injury attorneys at Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe to help you evaluate your options and pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact our firm today at (816) 876-2600 for a free case review.