Car Accident Claims in Missouri
Minimum car insurance in Missouri, whether the state is no-fault, how fault is shared, and the deadline to sue after a crash.
Short answer: Missouri's leaving-the-scene law requires a driver in a crash causing injury, death, or damage to another's property to stop and give their name, home address, vehicle registration or plate number, and driver license number to the other party or to a law enforcement officer, or, if no… RSMo § 577.060.1
| Reporting a crash to police | Missouri's leaving-the-scene law requires a driver in a crash causing injury, death, or damage to another's property to stop and give their name, home address, vehicle registration or plate number, and driver license number to the other party or to a law enforcement officer, or, if no officer is nearby, to the nearest law enforcement agency. No separate general rule requiring drivers to call police after a crash, with a dollar threshold, was found in the sections reviewed. Source: RSMo § 577.060.1 |
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| Crash report to the DMV | Under Missouri's motor vehicle financial responsibility law, a written report must be made to the Director of Revenue within 30 days after a crash on a street, highway, or public parking lot or facility that involves an uninsured motorist and in which someone is killed or injured or any one person's property damage exceeds $500. An owner or operator who does not carry liability insurance must also report any crash within 30 days. The report is on the director's form. If the operator is physically unable, the owner must report within 30 days after learning of the crash (a late report due to incapacity needs a doctor's certificate). After a report, the director may require uninsured operators and owners to post security or face license and registration suspension (RSMo § 303.030). Source: RSMo § 303.040 |
| Leaving the scene (hit and run) | A driver who knows they were in a crash causing injury, death, or damage to another person's property commits the offense of leaving the scene if they leave without stopping and giving their name, address, registration or plate number, and driver license number to the other party or police. Leaving the scene is a class A misdemeanor; it is a class E felony if someone was physically injured, damage to another's property exceeded $1,000, or the person has a prior leaving-the-scene conviction; and a class D felony if someone died. The section also applies to vessel operators. A specific duty to give aid to the injured was not found in § 577.060. Source: RSMo § 577.060 |
| Minimum car insurance | Owners must maintain financial responsibility; a motor vehicle liability policy must cover at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage. Requirement to maintain coverage: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=303.025 |
| Fault rule (comparative negligence) | Pure comparative fault. In product liability claims, the statute expressly applies pure comparative fault: the plaintiff's fault reduces the award proportionately but does not bar recovery. Missouri applies the same pure comparative fault approach to negligence cases generally through court decisions. In dog-bite cases, damages are reduced by the injured person's percentage of fault. |
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Five years. Actions for "any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract" and not otherwise listed must be filed within five years. Some injury claims have shorter periods under other sections (for example, medical malpractice, two years; wrongful death, three years). Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(4) |
| Deadline to sue for property damage | Five years for taking, detaining or injuring goods or personal property. Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(4) |
More Missouri personal injury & wrongful death
- Deadlines to File an Injury Lawsuit in Missouri
- Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Missouri
- Medical Malpractice Rules in Missouri
- Dog Bite Liability in Missouri
- Sidewalk and Public Property Falls in Missouri
- Motorcycle Accident Claims in Missouri
- Pedestrian Accident Claims in Missouri
- Bicycle Accident Claims in Missouri
- Uber and Lyft Accident Claims in Missouri
- Truck Accident Claims in Missouri
- Construction Site Injuries in Missouri
- All Missouri personal injury & wrongful death rules
FAQ
When do you have to report a car accident to the police in Missouri?
Missouri's leaving-the-scene law requires a driver in a crash causing injury, death, or damage to another's property to stop and give their name, home address, vehicle registration or plate number, and driver license number to the other party or to a law enforcement officer, or, if no officer is nearby, to the nearest law enforcement agency.
Do you have to report a car accident to the DMV in Missouri?
Under Missouri's motor vehicle financial responsibility law, a written report must be made to the Director of Revenue within 30 days after a crash on a street, highway, or public parking lot or facility that involves an uninsured motorist and in which someone is killed or injured or any one person's property damage exceeds $500. An owner or operator who does not carry liability insurance must also report any crash within 30 days. The report is on the director's form. If the operator is physically unable, the owner must report within 30 days after learning of the crash (a late report due to incapacity needs a doctor's certificate).
What are your duties after a car accident in Missouri?
A driver who knows they were in a crash causing injury, death, or damage to another person's property commits the offense of leaving the scene if they leave without stopping and giving their name, address, registration or plate number, and driver license number to the other party or police. Leaving the scene is a class A misdemeanor; it is a class E felony if someone was physically injured, damage to another's property exceeded $1,000, or the person has a prior leaving-the-scene conviction; and a class D felony if someone died.
What is the minimum car insurance required in Missouri?
Owners must maintain financial responsibility; a motor vehicle liability policy must cover at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage.
Can you recover damages if you were partly at fault in Missouri?
Pure comparative fault. In product liability claims, the statute expressly applies pure comparative fault: the plaintiff's fault reduces the award proportionately but does not bar recovery. Missouri applies the same pure comparative fault approach to negligence cases generally through court decisions. In dog-bite cases, damages are reduced by the injured person's percentage of fault.
What is the statute of limitations for personal injury in Missouri?
Five years. Actions for "any other injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract" and not otherwise listed must be filed within five years.
How long do you have to sue for property damage in Missouri?
Five years for taking, detaining or injuring goods or personal property.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.