Kansas has a pretty high car wreck rate in the United States. According to the data provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) for 2019, the state of Kansas had 362 fatal motor vehicle crashes. The Kansas Department of Transportation reported a significant increase in car crashes over the years. From 355 fatalities in 2015, 429 in 2016, 461 in 2017 to 401 in 2018, 412 in 2019, and 421 in 2020, Kansas has seen many deaths due to collisions. Although the numbers dipped slightly after 2017, they began to rise shortly after.
All these stats are enough to conclude that Kansas has a significantly high car wreck rate in America. Naturally, automobile wrecks mean injuries and crippling medical bills, which most people cannot afford. Therefore, knowing what medical expenses are reasonable and necessary as well as who pays the medical bills after a car wreck is essential.
Determining Who Is At Fault?
Logically speaking, the person liable for causing the crash should bear all the incurring expenses, including the healthcare costs. However, proving who is responsible for such an incident often takes a long time, which doesn’t stop the medical bills from piling up.
The Car Insurance Policy or No-Fault Personal Injury Protection in Kansas
The car insurance policy or no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) is the first bearer of medical bills incurred from a crash. PIP is an important portion of your car insurance policy and the minimum state limits for Kansas are:
- $4500 for medical bills
- $900/month as compensation for the loss of income resulting from the collision for a year
- $25/day for in-house services lasting up to a year
- $2000 for funeral costs
- $4500 for rehabilitation services
- $900/month for the bereaved family as survivor’s benefits
Furthermore, if a victim sustains a life-altering injury, such as loss of a body part, paralysis, weight-bearing bone fracture, or any other severe life-long medical condition, the at-fault driver is liable for the damages.
As mentioned earlier, legally declaring someone ‘the culprit’ for an auto collision can take a while, which is why many people choose to buy additional health insurance. Sometimes you can be involved in a hit-and-run, where the at-fault driver bolts away, never to be found.
In that case, you don’t have anyone to file a claim against in court. That said, if you reach out to an experienced law professional, they may be able to help you seek reimbursement for the loss.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with the troubles of a car wreck can be challenging, especially if you don’t know your right so having firm legal support is critical.
Contact the injury attorneys at DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers and let us handle the insurance companies while you focus on recovering.