Question 1

Do you have to wear a motorcycle helmet in Missouri?

Accepted Answer

Motorcycle and motortricycle operators and passengers under 26 must wear a helmet whenever the vehicle is moving, and so must operators 26 or older riding on an instruction permit; other adult riders are not required to wear one. Local governments may not impose their own helmet rules, and no one may be stopped just to check helmet compliance. The section does not say that not wearing a helmet reduces damages in a lawsuit.

Question 2

Is lane splitting legal in Missouri?

Accepted Answer

No Missouri statute read names lane splitting. On roads divided into lanes, the state traffic law requires a vehicle to be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and not moved from that lane until the driver has made sure the move can be made safely.

Question 3

Can you recover damages if you were partly at fault in Missouri?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

What is the minimum car insurance required in Missouri?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

What is the statute of limitations for personal injury in Missouri?

Accepted Answer

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.

Motorcycle helmet law	Motorcycle and motortricycle operators and passengers under 26 must wear a helmet whenever the vehicle is moving, and so must operators 26 or older riding on an instruction permit; other adult riders are not required to wear one. Local governments may not impose their own helmet rules, and no one may be stopped just to check helmet compliance. The section does not say that not wearing a helmet reduces damages in a lawsuit. Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. §302.020.2
Lane splitting	No Missouri statute read names lane splitting. On roads divided into lanes, the state traffic law requires a vehicle to be driven as nearly as practicable entirely within a single lane and not moved from that lane until the driver has made sure the move can be made safely. Missouri's statutes read do not separately address riding between lanes; how §304.015 applies to motorcycles is not stated in the statute. Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. §304.015
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. Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 537.765, 273.036
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 Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 303.025, 303.190
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)

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