What to Do After a Car Accident in Missouri — Complete Checklist

The minutes after a car accident are chaotic. Adrenaline is pumping, your mind is racing, and the wrong decision can have consequences that last for years. Most accident victims have no idea what they are supposed to do — and insurance companies know it.

This article gives you a clear, step-by-step checklist for what to do after a car accident in Missouri. Follow it, and you will protect your legal rights while everyone else is still figuring out what happened.

Immediately After the Crash — At the Scene

The first ten minutes determine a lot about how your case unfolds. Here is what to do:

1. Do not leave the scene

Missouri law requires drivers involved in accidents resulting in injury, death, or property damage to remain at the scene. Leaving is a crime — hit and run — and it will destroy any injury claim you might have had.

2. Check for injuries — yours and everyone else's

If anyone appears seriously injured, call 911 immediately. Do not try to move injured people unless they are in immediate danger (fire, oncoming traffic). Moving someone with a spinal injury can worsen the harm significantly.

3. Call the police

In Missouri, you are required to report any accident resulting in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500 to local law enforcement. Even in minor fender-benders, calling the police creates an official record — the accident report — that will be critical evidence in your claim. When officers arrive, give them accurate information but do not volunteer fault. Saying "I didn't see them" or "I should have been paying more attention" will appear in the report and will be used against you.

4. Move to safety if you can

If your vehicle is creating a hazard and it is safe to do so, move it to the side of the road. Turn on your hazard lights. If the vehicle cannot be moved, stay inside with your seatbelt on until help arrives, unless staying inside poses a greater danger.

5. Exchange information — but carefully

Missouri requires you to provide your name, address, vehicle registration, and insurance information to other drivers involved in the accident. You are not required to provide any additional statement — to the other driver, their insurance company, or anyone else at the scene. You can say: "I'm not making any statement right now. My attorney will be in touch."

Get the following from the other driver:

• Full name and contact information
• Insurance company name and policy number
• Driver's license number
• License plate number

6. Look for witnesses

Witnesses can be the difference between a contested case and an easy settlement. If anyone saw the accident, ask for their name and contact information. A brief statement from a neutral third party who saw what happened can be powerful evidence. Do not pressure them — just get their contact info and let them decide whether to speak.

7. Document everything at the scene

Use your phone to photograph:

• All vehicles involved (from multiple angles, showing damage)
• The accident scene — overall view of the intersection or road
• Traffic signs, traffic lights, road conditions
• Your vehicle's position relative to lanes and markings
• The other driver's license plate and insurance card

Within 24 Hours — Medical and Documentation

Once you are safe, these are the steps that protect your health and your legal claim:

8. See a doctor — even if you feel fine

Many accident injuries — whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries — do not show symptoms immediately. The adrenaline from the crash can mask pain for hours or even days. Some people walk away from serious accidents feeling fine, only to develop serious complications days later.

Go to an emergency room or urgent care facility on the same day if possible. Tell the physician exactly what happened — that you were in a car accident, describe the impact — so it goes in your medical record. Even mild symptoms like headache, dizziness, or neck stiffness should be documented. These records become the foundation of your injury claim.

9. Follow your treatment plan completely

If your doctor refers you to physical therapy, a specialist, or follow-up appointments — attend every one. Gaps in treatment give the insurance company an argument: "If she was really injured, she would have kept going to appointments." Missing treatments or stopping early can significantly reduce the value of your claim, even if your injuries are legitimate.

10. Keep records of everything

From this point forward, maintain a file — physical or digital — containing:

• All medical bills and receipts
• All physician notes and diagnostic reports
• Receipts for medications and medical equipment
• Records of time missed from work
• Any repair estimates or invoices for your vehicle
• Photos from the accident scene
• The police report number

The Insurance Phase — What to Watch For

11. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance

Within days of the accident, the other driver's insurance company will likely call you. They will be polite, professional, and seem genuinely interested in helping. They are not. Their goal is to get you to say something that reduces or eliminates your claim.

They may say you are required to give a statement — you are not. In Missouri, you have no obligation to speak with the other driver's insurance company, and you should not do so without an attorney present. Politely decline and refer them to your attorney.

12. Do not accept the first settlement offer

The first offer an insurance company makes is almost never their best offer. It is a lowball designed to resolve the claim cheaply before you understand the full extent of your injuries and damages. Once you accept a settlement, you lose the right to seek additional compensation — even if your injuries turn out to be worse than you thought.

13. Know what you are entitled to claim

Your claim against the at-fault driver's insurance should include:

• All past and future medical expenses related to the accident
• Lost wages during recovery
• Future lost earning capacity if your injuries result in permanent limitations
• Pain and suffering — the physical and emotional toll of the accident and recovery
• Property damage to your vehicle

When to Call a Missouri Car Accident Attorney

Not every car accident requires a lawyer. For very minor fender-benders with minimal property damage and no injuries, you may be able to handle the claim yourself. But you should call an attorney if any of the following apply:

• Anyone was injured — even if it seems minor, get a lawyer. What feels like a stiff neck today could be a chronic condition in six months.
• The other driver is disputing fault — if they are claiming you caused the accident, you need legal representation.
• The insurance company is denying your claim or offering far less than you expect — this is a signal they are not treating you fairly.
• Your injuries required surgery, hospitalization, or are expected to be permanent — these cases are worth significant money and insurance companies will fight hard to reduce what they pay.
• The accident involved multiple vehicles or complicated liability — the more parties involved, the more complex the case.

The Most Common Mistake Accident Victims Make

The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long to get help. People think they should "see how things go" before calling an attorney — and then, months later, they have missed important evidence, their treatment records have gaps, and the insurance company has already low-balled them twice. By the time they call us, the case is much harder to build than it needed to be.

The right time to call an attorney is as soon as you possibly can after the accident — ideally before you speak with any insurance company. We will protect your rights from the beginning, and we will not let the insurance company take advantage of you during a vulnerable time.

Our Free Consultation

If you or someone you know has been in a car accident in Missouri, call (573) 227-8841 for a free, no-obligation case review. We will tell you honestly what your case is worth, what obstacles we see, and how we can help. You do not pay anything unless we win or settle your case.