Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers Missouri Revised Statutes § 516.120 Missouri Revised Statutes § 302.020

What should I do after a motorcycle accident in Missouri?

After a motorcycle crash in Missouri, the first hours protect both your health and your claim: call 911 and get a police report, see a doctor even if you feel fine, document the scene, exchange information, and do not admit fault. Missouri gives you five years to file an injury claim (RSMo § 516.120), follows pure comparative fault — so you can recover even if you were partly at fault — and since 2020 no longer requires a helmet for riders 26 and older who carry at least $25,000 in medical coverage (RSMo § 302.020). Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers, based in St. Louis and serving Missouri and Southern Illinois, offers free consultations and works on contingency — you pay nothing unless they win. Call (314) 499-1190.

1. At the scene — first steps

Call 911. A police report creates the official record your claim depends on, and Missouri requires reporting crashes that involve injury, death, or significant property damage.
Get to safety if you can, but do not move anyone who may be seriously injured — wait for EMS.
Exchange names, contact details, insurance, and plate numbers with everyone involved.
Photograph everything: your motorcycle, the other vehicles, the roadway, skid marks, signage, and your injuries.
Get the names and phone numbers of any witnesses.

Do not admit fault. Do not apologize or speculate about the cause. Under Missouri's comparative-fault rule, anything that sounds like an admission can cut your recovery.

2. Get medical attention the same day

See a doctor even if you feel fine — adrenaline masks injuries, and internal or soft-tissue damage may not surface for hours or days.

A gap in treatment is the first thing an insurer uses to argue your injuries are not serious or not related to the crash.

Keep every record and receipt — medical documentation is the backbone of an injury claim.
Follow through on all recommended treatment and appointments.

3. Missouri rules that affect your claim

Five-year deadline. Missouri gives you five years from the crash date to file (RSMo § 516.120) — longer than many states, but evidence and memories fade, so do not wait.

Helmet law. Since 2020, riders 26 and older with at least $25,000 in medical coverage are not required to wear a helmet (RSMo § 302.020). Not wearing one does not bar recovery, though an insurer may argue it worsened head injuries.

Pure comparative fault. Missouri lets you recover even if you were partly at fault — your damages are simply reduced by your fault percentage. A rider 30% at fault still recovers 70%.

4. What comparative fault means for your recovery

0% at fault
25% at fault
50% at fault
75% at fault

5. Insurer tactics to watch for

Recorded statements. — You are not required to give the other driver's insurer a recorded statement; they use it to minimize your claim.
Fast lowball offers. — Early offers almost always come in below the true value, before you know the full extent of your injuries.
Social media. — Adjusters look for photos or posts to dispute your injuries — stay offline about the crash.
Helmet blame. — Expect arguments that not wearing a helmet increased your injuries; an experienced lawyer counters this.

6. When to call Cofman Townsley

Cofman Townsley Injury Lawyers is based in St. Louis and serves all of Missouri and Southern Illinois. Consultations are free and the firm works on contingency — you pay nothing unless they win. Call (314) 499-1190.