Truck Accident Claims in Missouri
The safety and insurance rules for trucks in Missouri, how fault is shared, any limits on damages, and the deadline to sue.
Short answer: Missouri requires commercial motor vehicles (as defined in federal rules) to be equipped and operated as required by the federal motor carrier safety regulations, 49 CFR Parts 390 through 397 (which include hours of service and inspection, repair and maintenance), for both intrastate and… Mo. Rev. Stat. §307.400.1
| Truck safety and insurance rules | Missouri requires commercial motor vehicles (as defined in federal rules) to be equipped and operated as required by the federal motor carrier safety regulations, 49 CFR Parts 390 through 397 (which include hours of service and inspection, repair and maintenance), for both intrastate and interstate transportation, and the Department of Public Safety may adopt further safety rules. Federal minimum insurance for interstate carriers is in 49 CFR 387.9. Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. §307.400.1 |
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| 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. |
| Damage caps | No general cap on damages in ordinary injury cases was found. Caps apply to noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases, to punitive damages (the greater of $500,000 or five times the net judgment), and to claims against the state and local governments. |
| 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) |
More Missouri personal injury & wrongful death
- Deadlines to File an Injury Lawsuit in Missouri
- Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Missouri
- Medical Malpractice Rules in Missouri
- Car Accident Claims 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
- Construction Site Injuries in Missouri
- All Missouri personal injury & wrongful death rules
FAQ
What safety and insurance rules apply to trucks in Missouri?
Missouri requires commercial motor vehicles (as defined in federal rules) to be equipped and operated as required by the federal motor carrier safety regulations, 49 CFR Parts 390 through 397 (which include hours of service and inspection, repair and maintenance), for both intrastate and interstate transportation, and the Department of Public Safety may adopt further safety rules. Federal minimum insurance for interstate carriers is in 49 CFR 387.9.
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.
Does Missouri cap damages in personal injury cases?
No general cap on damages in ordinary injury cases was found. Caps apply to noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases, to punitive damages (the greater of $500,000 or five times the net judgment), and to claims against the state and local governments.
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.
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.