A car accident happens in seconds. The panic, adrenaline, and confusion that follow can push you into making decisions that hurt your case before it even starts. Insurance companies know this — and they count on it.
This guide walks you through exactly what to do after a car accident in Missouri, step by step, so you're protected from the moment the crash happens through the resolution of your claim.
Stay at the Scene and Check for Injuries
Missouri law requires you to remain at the scene of any accident involving injury, death, or property damage. Leaving — even if you weren't at fault — can result in criminal hit-and-run charges.
Check yourself and your passengers for injuries first. Then, if it's safe to do so, check on the other driver and any passengers in the other vehicle. Do not move anyone who may have a spinal injury unless there's an immediate danger like fire or oncoming traffic.
Call 911
Call 911 for any accident involving injuries. In Missouri, you're also required to report accidents that result in property damage exceeding $500, or any accident involving injury or death.
Even for "minor" accidents, a police report creates an official record of what happened. Insurance companies take claims without police reports less seriously, and some will use the absence of a report to dispute fault entirely.
Why this matters for your case
The police report captures fault determinations, witness statements, and traffic citations at the scene — before anyone has time to get their story straight. It's often the most important document in a personal injury claim.
When police arrive, give an accurate account of what happened. Don't speculate, don't apologize, and don't admit fault — even if you think you may have been partially responsible. Missouri's comparative fault rules may still entitle you to compensation even if you share some blame.
Document the Scene
Your smartphone is one of the most powerful tools you have in the minutes after a crash. Use it.
- Photograph all vehicles — damage, positions, license plates, VINs visible through windshields
- Photograph the scene — road conditions, traffic signs, skid marks, debris, weather conditions
- Photograph your injuries — bruises, cuts, airbag burns, seatbelt marks (even if they seem minor)
- Video pan the intersection or road — capture the full scene in context
- Note the time, location, and direction of travel for each vehicle involved
Evidence disappears fast. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses is typically overwritten within 30 to 90 days. Physical evidence gets cleared from the road. Get it documented now.
Exchange Information
Missouri law requires drivers to exchange the following information after an accident:
- Full legal name and contact information
- Driver's license number
- Vehicle registration and license plate number
- Insurance company name and policy number
Also collect contact information from any witnesses. Witness statements independent of the involved parties carry significant weight with insurance companies and juries.
What not to do during this exchange: Don't discuss fault, don't apologize, and don't agree to "handle it outside of insurance." Private settlements often leave you holding unexpected medical bills when injuries turn out to be worse than they appeared.
Seek Medical Attention — Even If You Feel Fine
This is the step most people skip, and it's the one that causes the most damage to their case.
Adrenaline masks pain. Whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and soft tissue injuries may not produce noticeable symptoms for 24 to 72 hours after a crash. By the time you feel the full effect of your injuries, you may have already given an insurance adjuster a recorded statement saying you're "not injured."
See a doctor the same day — either through the ER, urgent care, or your primary care physician. Establish a medical record that links your injuries to the accident. The gap between the accident and your first medical visit is used by insurance companies to argue your injuries weren't caused by the crash.
Common delayed-onset injuries
Whiplash · Concussion / traumatic brain injury · Herniated discs · Internal bleeding · PTSD and anxiety disorders — all commonly missed in the immediate aftermath of a crash.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Report the accident to your own insurance company promptly. Most policies require "prompt notification" of accidents — failure to report can void your coverage. Stick to the facts: date, time, location, and what happened. Do not give a recorded statement without first speaking to an attorney.
If the other driver was at fault, you'll eventually file a claim with their insurance company. But that comes later — after you understand the full extent of your injuries and have spoken with a lawyer.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
You don't have to hire anyone today. But you should at least speak with an attorney before you accept any settlement offers or give any recorded statements to insurance companies.
Here's why timing matters: insurance companies are for-profit businesses. Their adjusters are trained to close claims quickly and cheaply — before you fully understand what your injuries will cost you. A settlement signed before you've finished medical treatment is a settlement that doesn't account for future medical expenses, physical therapy, lost earning capacity, or long-term pain and suffering.
Attorney Mark Taran reviews every Missouri accident case for free. There's no fee unless you win. If you've just been in an accident, use our free case value calculator to get an initial estimate of what your claim may be worth — or call directly for a personal evaluation.