Missouri · Car accidents

Lawyers for car accidents in Missouri?

Missouri is an at-fault state with pure comparative fault, a five-year filing window, and 25/50/25 minimum insurance — three rules that decide most car-accident claims.

Last refreshed August 27, 2026

Stable fields	§ 303.190 minimums, § 537.765 pure comparative fault, § 516.120 five-year window	Dynamic fields	A specific crash's insurers and limits, Current UM/UIM pricing

Direct answer

The three statutes that decide most claims

• RSMo § 303.190 — minimum insurance (25/50/25) — $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage — why underinsured-motorist coverage matters in serious crashes.
• RSMo § 537.765 — pure comparative fault — Recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, never barred — even a driver found mostly at fault can recover the remainder. Illinois, across the river, cuts recovery off at 51%.
• RSMo § 516.120 — five-year window — Most Missouri injury suits may be filed within five years — far longer than Illinois' two — but evidence and witnesses fade much sooner.

What to do — and what decides value

• Police report first — The crash report anchors fault; Missouri's pure comparative system makes every percentage point argueable — and valuable.
• Watch the minimum-limits trap — A 25/50/25 policy exhausts fast in a hospital-level injury; your own UM/UIM coverage often becomes the real recovery.
• Cross-river crashes are different — If the crash happened in Illinois, different deadlines (two years) and a 51% fault bar apply — where the crash occurred controls, not where you live.
• Insurers know the five-year window too — A long window invites delay tactics; treatment records and consistent documentation keep value intact.

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This is general legal information, not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.