What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Missouri

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Missouri

A car accident can turn your entire day — and your life — upside down in a matter of seconds. In the moments after a crash, adrenaline is pumping, emotions are high, and it's easy to make mistakes that can hurt your health and your legal claim.

If you've been in a car accident in Missouri, the steps you take immediately afterward matter more than you might think. Here's exactly what to do, from the scene of the crash to the moment you call a lawyer.

Step 1: Check for Injuries and Call 911

Your first priority is safety — yours and everyone else's. Check yourself for injuries, then check on your passengers and anyone in the other vehicle. Even if injuries seem minor, call 911. Missouri law requires you to report any accident involving injury, death, or property damage exceeding $1,000.

When you call 911, you're also creating an official record of the accident. That police report will be one of the most important pieces of evidence in your case.

Step 2: Move to a Safe Location

If your vehicle is drivable and there are no serious injuries, move it out of traffic. Missouri's "Move It" law encourages drivers to move vehicles from travel lanes after minor crashes to prevent secondary accidents. Getting rear-ended while standing in the highway is a real and dangerous possibility.

Turn on your hazard lights and set up flares or reflective triangles if you have them.

Step 3: Document Everything at the Scene

This is where you start building your case. While the details are still fresh:

• Take photos of all vehicle damage, license plates, street signs, traffic signals, skid marks, and road conditions
• Get video of the entire scene if possible — it captures more than photos
• Write down the make, model, and color of the other vehicle(s)
• Note the time, weather, and road conditions
• Look for witnesses and get their names and phone numbers

Don't rely on the police report alone. Officers arrive after the fact and may miss details that matter to your claim.

Step 4: Exchange Information — But Watch What You Say

Missouri law requires you to exchange name, address, driver's license number, vehicle registration, and insurance information with the other driver. Be cooperative, but do not apologize, admit fault, or speculate about what happened.

Anything you say at the scene can be used against you later. A simple "I'm sorry" can be twisted into an admission of liability. Stick to the facts and save your story for your attorney.

Step 5: Seek Medical Attention — Even If You Feel Fine

Many car accident injuries don't show symptoms right away. Whiplash, concussions, and internal bleeding can take hours or even days to become apparent. If you don't seek medical treatment promptly, the insurance company will argue that your injuries aren't serious — or that they weren't caused by the accident at all.

Go to the emergency room or see your doctor within 24 hours. Keep every medical record, bill, and receipt. This documentation is the foundation of your injury claim.

Step 6: Notify Your Insurance Company

Report the accident to your own insurance company promptly. Most policies require timely notification. But again — keep it factual. Don't give a recorded statement without talking to a lawyer first. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts, and they'll use your own words against you.

Step 7: Keep Records of Everything

From this point forward, become your own best evidence collector:

• Medical records and bills from every provider
• Repair estimates and rental car receipts
• Lost wages documentation from your employer
• A pain journal — write down how you feel each day, what you can't do, and how the injury affects your daily life
• All correspondence with insurance companies

Step 8: Talk to a Missouri Car Accident Attorney Before Accepting Any Offer

Insurance companies move fast. They'll often contact you within days with a settlement offer. It might look tempting, especially if you're facing mounting bills — but it's almost always far less than what your case is actually worth.

A Missouri car accident lawyer can evaluate your claim, calculate the full value of your damages (including future medical costs, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering), and negotiate on your behalf. Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless they win your case.

Missouri-Specific Considerations

Comparative Fault

Missouri follows a pure comparative fault system. That means even if you were partly at fault for the accident, you can still recover damages — but your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you're found 20% at fault, your award is reduced by 20%.

This is why preserving evidence and avoiding admissions at the scene is so critical. Every percentage point of fault they can pin on you costs you money.

Statute of Limitations

In Missouri, you have five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. That sounds like a long time, but building a strong case takes months. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better your chances of a favorable outcome.

Minimum Insurance Requirements

Missouri requires drivers to carry at least $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person and $50,000 per accident. If the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may need to rely on your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage — another reason to talk to an attorney who understands Missouri insurance law.

The Bottom Line

What you do in the hours and days after a car accident in Missouri can make or break your claim. Protect your health, document everything, watch what you say, and get legal advice before dealing with insurance companies.

Call 314-721-3040 for a free consultation.

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