All 50 U.S. states require drivers to carry auto insurance, but the level of required coverage varies from state to state. Kansas requires all drivers to carry liability insurance, which covers the expenses for the other driver if you are determined to be at fault for the accident. Kansas drivers are also required to carry PIP, or Personal Injury Protection, which covers your own medical expenses resulting from an accident, and UMC, or Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage, which covers your expenses following an accident caused by an insufficiently insured or uninsured driver.

Your auto insurance covers accidents involving your vehicle whether you are driving or someone else is driving with your permission.

Minimum Required Insurance Coverage in Kansas

BIL (Bodily Injury Liability): Liability coverage for injuries/deaths in the other vehicle

• Minimum of $25,000 for one person
• Minimum of $50,000 total for the other driver and all passengers

PDL (Property Damage Liability): Liability coverage for damage to the other vehicle or the other driver’s property, and any public or private property surrounding the accident scene

• Minimum of $10,000 for all property damage, including damage to public or private property in the vicinity of the accident

PIP (Personal Injury Protection): Covers expenses resulting from injuries to yourself and your passengers, including the following minimum coverage amounts:

• $4,500 per person in medical expenses
• $900 per month (up to 1 year) for loss of income due to injuries
• $25 per day for in-home care expenses
• $2,000 for funeral expenses
• $4,500 for rehabilitation expenses

UMC (Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage): Covers your medical expenses following an accident which was the other driver’s fault, and for which the other driver is not sufficiently insured

• Minimum of $25,000 per person
• Minimum of $50,000 total coverage per accident

About Liability Insurance

Whoever is at fault for an accident assumes the financial responsibility for damages and injuries resulting from the accident. Liability insurance only covers the other driver’s damages and injuries after an accident that is determined to be your fault. In that case, injuries to yourself and your passengers will be covered by your PIP plan. Damages to your vehicle in an accident that is your fault will only be covered if you purchase collision coverage. If the accident is determined to be the other driver’s fault, his/her liability insurance will pay your repair and medical expenses.

If you have a loan, lease, or lien on your vehicle, you may be required to carry more comprehensive coverage than what is required by the state.

About Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection is designed to cover your medical expenses in an accident that is determined to be your own fault. If the other driver causes the accident and carries proper liability insurance, you won’t need to cover your own medical expenses through this policy. However, if you are at fault for the accident and you are injured, PIP is the only insurance coverage that will apply to those expenses.

Although personal injury protection (PIP) is required in Kansas, you may not have to purchase this coverage from your auto insurance provider. Many health insurance plans will cover auto accident injuries, so you should check with your healthcare insurance provider to make sure you aren’t doubling up on coverage. However, be advised that your health insurance plan will only cover injuries to you and your family members, whereas PIP coverage applies to anyone riding in your vehicle.

About Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Although all Kansas drivers are required to carry liability insurance, mandatory UMC coverage is designed to protect you from uninsured drivers. UMC does not cover the expenses of the uninsured driver, but rather covers your medical and repair expenses if you are involved in an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

State-Issued Proof of Insurance

Kansas drivers are required to carry proof of insurance in their vehicles at all times. Following an accident or a traffic stop, you may be asked to provide proof of insurance. Failure to do so is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $300-$1,000. A second offense within 3 years will result in a Class A misdemeanor and a steeper fine of $800-$2,500, and the state may choose to suspend your registration and/or your driver’s license. In order to have your registration or license reinstated, the state will assess fines and may require that you file special proof of insurance with the state.

How Fault is Determined after an Accident

If you are involved in an accident, you should file a police report on the scene. The officer(s) may ask you for proof of insurance immediately, and you will be asked to give a statement of events for the official accident report. The report will include the statements of both drivers, any passengers, and any available witnesses, as well as other circumstances of the accident scene. You should not admit fault after an accident; rather, wait for the police to assess the situation and then for your insurance company to determine who was at fault for the accident.