I Was Hurt In A Car Accident In Missouri — What Should I Do?

Sansone & Lauber | | Car Accidents
I Was Hurt in a Car Accident in Missouri

I Was Hurt in a Car Accident in Missouri — What Should I Do?

If you were hurt in a car accident in Missouri, get medical help immediately, call the police, exchange information, document the scene, avoid admitting fault, follow up with medical treatment, and get legal advice before giving detailed recorded statements or accepting a fast insurance settlement. Missouri’s Department of Revenue says you must stop, help anyone who is hurt, contact police, exchange identifying and insurance information, and not leave until law enforcement tells you that you may.

If you are injured in St. Louis or anywhere in Missouri, the first few hours and days after a crash matter. What you do right away can affect your health, your insurance claim, and the value of your case. Call Sansone & Lauber at 314-863-0500 for immediate help.

What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Missouri?

Start here.

1) Get to safety and call 911

Your safety comes first. If the vehicle can be moved safely and is creating a danger, move it. If not, leave it in place until law enforcement tells you otherwise. Missouri’s Department of Revenue says you must stop after an accident, help anyone who is hurt, contact police, and not leave until a law enforcement officer tells you that you may.

2) Get medical help right away

Do not try to “tough it out.” Adrenaline can hide serious injuries. Neck injuries, back injuries, concussions, internal injuries, and soft-tissue damage often feel worse hours later. If you need emergency treatment, go. If you are released from the scene, follow up quickly with urgent care, your doctor, or a specialist.

3) Exchange the right information

Missouri’s Department of Revenue says you should exchange:

  • name and address

  • driver license number

  • vehicle identification

  • license plate number

  • insurance company name

  • policy number

Take photos of all of it. Do not rely on memory.

4) Document everything

Take photos of:

  • all vehicles

  • property damage

  • skid marks

  • debris

  • traffic signals/signs

  • visible injuries

  • the other driver’s plate

  • the overall scene

Also get witness names and phone numbers if possible.

5) Do not admit fault

Do not apologize. Do not guess. Do not say “I’m fine” if you are not sure. Be polite, but keep your statements factual. Insurance companies love loose statements because they use them later to reduce or deny claims.

What Should I Do in the First 24 Hours After the Crash?

The first day is critical.

Get checked by a doctor

Even if the ER says nothing is broken, you may still have serious pain, inflammation, nerve symptoms, or a concussion. Early medical documentation helps protect both your health and your claim.

Start a crash folder

Save:

  • ER and urgent care records

  • prescriptions

  • discharge paperwork

  • towing receipts

  • car rental receipts

  • photos

  • witness information

  • your claim number

  • the police report number

Notify your insurance company

Report the crash promptly, but be careful about detailed recorded statements until you understand the full picture of your injuries.

Write down what happened

While it is fresh, note:

  • date and time

  • location

  • direction of travel

  • weather

  • traffic conditions

  • what you saw

  • what the other driver said

  • whether airbags deployed

  • where your body hit inside the vehicle

That note can become extremely important later.

Do I Need a Police Report After a Missouri Car Accident?

Yes—practically speaking, you usually want one.

Missouri’s Department of Revenue specifically says to contact the police after an accident. A police report can become one of the most important early documents in your claim because it often identifies the parties, location, vehicles, witnesses, and basic narrative of the crash.

If the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the crash, it says a basic crash report costs $6, you should wait 10 days from the date of the crash to request it, and there may be delays because of a current backlog.

Do I Need to File Anything With the State of Missouri?

Sometimes, yes.

Missouri’s Department of Revenue says you must report an accident to the Driver License Bureau if:

  • the accident happened less than one year ago,

  • it involved an uninsured motorist, and

  • it caused more than $500 in property damage, or someone was injured or killed.

That is a specific Missouri rule many drivers do not know. So if the other driver had no insurance, do not assume the police report alone handles everything.

What Should I Not Do After a Missouri Car Accident?

These mistakes hurt cases every day.

Do not skip treatment

If you are hurt, follow through. Gaps in care are one of the easiest ways for an insurance company to argue that you were not really injured.

Do not post about the crash on social media

Photos, comments, and “feeling better” posts can be twisted against you.

Do not accept a quick settlement

Fast money is often cheap money. Once you settle, you may lose the right to ask for more later.

Do not sign broad medical authorizations

The insurer may try to get access to years of unrelated records to argue your pain is “pre-existing.”

Do not minimize your symptoms

Be honest. If your pain worsens, say so. If you are missing sleep, struggling to work, or getting headaches, say so.

Who Pays My Medical Bills After a Car Accident in Missouri?

That depends on the facts, the insurance involved, and whether the other driver is insured. In the short term, treatment is often handled through health insurance, MedPay if available, or self-pay arrangements depending on the situation. In the long term, the at-fault driver’s liability coverage may be responsible for your damages.

The bigger point is this: do not let billing pressure force you into a bad settlement. If you are getting treatment and the bills are starting to stack up, call the car accident lawyers at Sansone & Lauber at 314-863-0500 before you make a rushed decision.

How Long Do I Have to File a Missouri Injury Claim?

Missouri’s five-year limitations statute includes actions for “injury to the person or rights of another” under RSMo 516.120.

That does not mean you should wait. Waiting hurts evidence, witness memory, and leverage. Crash footage disappears. Vehicles get repaired or sold. Witnesses stop answering their phones. The smart move is to act early.

When Should I Call a Missouri Car Accident Lawyer?

Call a lawyer as soon as any of these are true:

  • you are hurt

  • the other driver’s insurance is calling repeatedly

  • liability is being disputed

  • your car is totaled

  • you missed work

  • you may need imaging, injections, or surgery

  • the other driver was uninsured

  • the insurance company is making a fast offer

The earlier you get advice, the easier it is to avoid mistakes.

What Makes Missouri Car Accident Cases Go Wrong?

Usually it is not one huge mistake. It is a series of small ones:

  • waiting too long to see a doctor

  • giving a recorded statement without preparation

  • saying “I’m okay” at the scene

  • failing to document injuries

  • not getting the crash report

  • settling before the full medical picture is clear

That is why people who are genuinely hurt should treat the first week after a crash as a critical window.

What If the Other Driver Was Uninsured?

This is where Missouri’s Department of Revenue reporting rules become especially important. If the crash involved an uninsured motorist and caused over $500 in property damage or injury/death, Missouri says an accident report must be filed with the Driver License Bureau within the applicable period.

Uninsured-driver crashes can get complicated fast. Do not assume there is no recovery just because the other driver had no insurance.

FAQ: I Was Hurt in a Car Accident in Missouri — What Should I Do?

What should I do first after a car accident in Missouri?

Get to safety, call 911, get medical help, exchange information, document the scene, and avoid admitting fault. Missouri’s Department of Revenue says you must stop, help injured people, contact police, exchange identifying and insurance information, and stay until law enforcement tells you that you may leave.

Do I need to call the police after a Missouri car accident?

Missouri’s Department of Revenue says to contact the police after an accident.

How do I get my Missouri crash report?

If the Missouri State Highway Patrol handled the crash, it says the fee for a basic crash report is $6, you should wait 10 days to request it, and there may be delays because of a backlog.

Do I need to file a report with the Missouri Driver License Bureau?

Yes, if the crash involved an uninsured motorist and caused more than $500 in property damage or someone was injured or killed, according to the Missouri Department of Revenue.

How long do I have to sue after a Missouri car accident?

Missouri’s five-year limitations statute includes actions for injury to the person under RSMo 516.120.

Talk to Sansone & Lauber Now

If you were hurt in a car accident in Missouri, do not let the insurance company control the story before you understand your rights.

Call Sansone & Lauber at 314-863-0500 for immediate help after a crash in St. Louis or anywhere in Missouri.

Call now: 314-863-0500