Kansas Auto Insurance: Essential Services And The Law

Kansas is a no-fault state, which means that your auto insurer will pay for first-party benefits, such as medical costs and lost wages, regardless of who is at fault in an accident. Kansas requires all its residents to carry auto insurance with liability and uninsured motorist coverage. The minimum insurance coverage for bodily injury is $50,000 per accident, and $25,000 per person. Property damage liability has a minimum coverage of $25,000 per accident. Personal injury protection (PIP) is also mandated, with a minimum coverage of $4,500 per person for medical expenses and other benefits. Uninsured motorist protection is also required, with a minimum of $50,000 per accident.

Kansas is a no-fault state

The minimum PIP insurance in Kansas includes:

• $4,500 for medical expenses per person, per accident
• $900 per month for one year of lost income due to disability
• $25 per day for in-home services (such as cleaning and childcare)
• $2,000 for funeral and burial expenses
• $4,500 for rehabilitation expenses

PIP insurance also covers members of your household, whether they are riding in your car or injured as cyclists or pedestrians. Passengers in your car who have their own cars are covered by their own PIP insurance, but if they don't own a car, they are covered under your insurance.

It's important to note that the no-fault system only applies to injuries and fatalities. Damage to your car or other property is still paid for on an at-fault basis. Additionally, under certain circumstances, you may be able to take legal action against the at-fault driver to cover additional expenses related to your injuries.

In Kansas, you can sue for a car accident if your medical bills exceed $2,000, or if your injury includes at least one of the following:

• Permanent disfigurement
• A fracture to a weight-bearing bone, or a compound, comminuted, displaced, or compressed fracture to any bone
• Permanent loss of bodily function

By filing a lawsuit, you may be able to receive compensation for damages not covered by your PIP insurance, such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of quality and enjoyment of life. The lawsuit can also cover medical expenses, wage loss, and other costs that exceed your PIP policy limits.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Kansas law requires drivers to have a minimum amount of car insurance, including personal injury protection (PIP) insurance. PIP insurance covers any expenses incurred as a result of injuries from a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. This includes medical bills and other expenses.

There are two parts to personal injury protection in Kansas: coverage for medical care and reimbursement for lost income and expenses related to your injury.

Medical Care Coverage

PIP insurance covers the cost of medical care after an injury sustained in a car accident, such as brain injuries, broken bones, or whiplash. All PIP policies in Kansas are required to provide at least $4,500 of coverage, with the option to purchase more depending on the insurer. This includes at least $4,500 for rehabilitation, including psychiatric services, occupational therapy, and vocational training.

Reimbursement for Lost Income and Expenses

If you are injured in a car accident and unable to work, PIP insurance will cover your lost income. You will generally receive 85% of your monthly income, with a limit of $900 per month (equivalent to $10,800 annually) for up to one year following your accident. You can also receive benefits to pay someone to perform household chores, such as grocery shopping, cleaning, and lawn care. PIP insurance also provides reimbursement for funeral, burial, or cremation expenses, with a minimum of $2,000 of coverage.

Survivor Benefits

In the event of the death of an insured person, PIP insurance provides survivor benefits to a surviving spouse or dependent child under 18. This includes disability or loss of income benefits of up to $900 per month for one year, as well as in-home services of up to $25 per day for one year.

Claim Process

To make a PIP claim, you should notify your insurance company as soon as possible, even if you don't think you are injured. You must make your claim within two years of the accident. You will need to fill out a PIP application form and provide details about the accident and the medical care you have received. Keep careful notes and records of all the details relating to your accident.

Essential services include household chores

In Kansas, auto insurance is a necessary expense that protects you and your vehicle in the event of an accident, collision, or other types of damage. The state's insurance laws require four types of coverage: bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection (PIP), and uninsured motorist protection.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is a crucial aspect of auto insurance in Kansas. PIP provides coverage for various expenses incurred by injured parties in an accident, including medical expenses, wage loss, and essential services. Essential services encompass household chores and activities that an individual can no longer perform due to their injuries. This can include cooking, cleaning, mowing the lawn, running errands, and home repairs.

To make a successful claim for loss of essential services, several key steps should be followed. Firstly, it is important to demonstrate that you previously performed these household chores before the accident. Additionally, a medical professional's recommendation to refrain from such activities due to your injuries is critical. The doctor's records must establish a direct link between your inability to perform household chores and the injuries sustained in the accident. Finally, you must provide documentation of the monetary expenses incurred, such as receipts for hiring help or increased food expenses if you are unable to cook.

While the loss of essential services claim is not typically highly disputed, insurance companies may still challenge these claims. Therefore, it is essential to consult with a personal injury attorney to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

Wage loss payments

Kansas is a "no-fault state", which means that all parties involved in a collision must claim on their own insurance, regardless of who is responsible for the accident. This may also prevent the victim from suing the other party. In this scenario, wage loss payments are provided by Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. These laws ensure that injured victims receive compensation for their medical bills and lost wages before seeking a settlement from the at-fault party.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits are mandatory in Kansas, and auto insurance policies must include minimum coverage on these benefits. However, individuals can purchase higher package options for increased protection. The minimum coverage for wage loss payments is $900 per month for up to one year, reimbursed at 85% of the gross wage loss. To receive these benefits, individuals must provide two forms of documentation: an off-work slip from their doctor confirming the time frame they are unable to work, and written wage loss verification from their employer confirming their absence and rate of pay.

It's important to note that Kansas insurance laws require all drivers to carry the minimum insurance coverage. Failure to do so can result in penalties such as fines, jail time, suspension of driving privileges, and higher insurance rates.

Medical bills

Kansas is a no-fault state, which means that your auto insurer will pay for first-party benefits, including medical costs for injuries from an accident, regardless of fault.

Personal injury protection (PIP), also known as no-fault insurance, covers the cost of particular needs for you and other passengers injured in an accident. The minimum coverage for this protection in Kansas must include $4,500 per person for medical expenses and other benefits, $900 per month for one year for disability or loss of income, $25 per day for substitution or in-home services, $2,000 for funeral, burial or cremation expenses, and $4,500 for rehabilitation expenses.

PIP must also include survivor benefits, including disability or loss of income up to $900 per month for one year, and in-home services up to $25 per day for one year.

Kansas also requires residents to carry uninsured or underinsured motorist protection. This protects you if you get into an accident with someone who does not have insurance or has insufficient insurance to cover your medical bills, damages, or rehabilitation costs. The required minimum for uninsured or underinsured coverage in Kansas is $50,000 per accident.

If you are injured in a car accident in Kansas, you can use your auto insurance Medical Payments Coverage or Personal Injury Protection benefits to cover medical bills. Contact your auto insurance company to find out if you have this coverage.

If you do not have health insurance or medical coverage on your auto insurance policy, you may be able to arrange a lien with the medical provider. This means they will withhold seeking payment until your personal injury claim is resolved.

Frequently asked questions