Auto Accident Injury in Springfield, MO

A qualified Springfield auto accident attorney can guide you through Missouri’s fault-based insurance system, help you gather crucial evidence, and negotiate with insurers on your behalf. Whether your injuries are minor or life-changing, legal help ensures you’re not left footing the bill for someone else’s negligence.

Auto Accident Injury Statistics in Springfield, Missouri

In 2023, Springfield, Missouri, reported 3,603 total traffic crashes on public roads within city limits. Of these incidents, 1,238 involved injuries, and 23 resulted in fatalities. Additionally, 58 crashes involved pedestrians, and 34 involved bicyclists. 

Contributing factors to these accidents included 783 instances of failure to yield, 496 cases of distracted driving, 268 incidents of speeding or driving too fast for conditions, and 182 crashes involving alcohol or drug impairment.

What to Do After an Auto Accident

Being involved in a car accident can be overwhelming, but taking the right steps immediately afterward is crucial to protect your health, legal rights, and financial interests. Here’s a comprehensive guide tailored for residents of Springfield, Missouri:

Receive Immediate Medical Attention

After a car accident in Springfield, MO, one of the most important steps you can take is to seek medical attention—right away. Even if you feel “fine” at the scene, injuries like whiplash, concussions, or internal trauma may not become noticeable until hours or even days later. Getting checked out by a medical professional ensures early detection and treatment—and just as importantly, it creates a medical record that ties your injuries directly to the crash.

File a Police Report

Missouri law mandates that you must report a car accident if any of the following conditions are met:

• The accident resulted in injury or death.
• Property damage exceeds $500.
• An involved driver was uninsured.

In such cases, you are required to report the accident to the local police department and the Missouri Department of Revenue within 30 days.

Gather the Appropriate Documentation

Start by exchanging key information with the other driver(s):

• Full names, addresses, and phone numbers
• Driver’s license numbers and issuing states
• Vehicle makes, models, years, and license plate numbers
• Insurance companies and policy numbers

Use your smartphone to take clear, detailed photos of:

• Damage to all vehicles from multiple angles
• The surrounding scene, including road signs, skid marks, debris, and traffic lights
• Close-ups of license plates and any visible injuries
• Weather or road conditions that may have contributed to the crash

Recovering Damages After an Auto Accident Injury

Common accident-related injuries include whiplash, broken bones, head trauma, spinal injuries, and soft tissue damage. These injuries often require emergency care, follow-up treatment, and time away from work. Missouri is an at-fault state, which means the person who caused the accident (and their insurance provider) is responsible for covering the damages.

You may be eligible to recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost income and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Property damage
• Permanent disability or disfigurement

Common injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents include:

• Burn injuries
• Back and neck injuries, such as whiplash
• Brain and head injuries
• Broken bones
• Spinal injuries
• Soft tissue injuries

Auto Accident Laws in Missouri

Liability Laws for Springfield

Missouri uses a pure comparative fault model under RSMo § 537.765, which allows you to recover damages even if you were partially at fault. However, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. For example, if you’re found to be 30% at fault and awarded $50,000, your actual recovery would be $35,000.

Statute of Limitations in Springfield

Missouri gives you five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury or property damage lawsuit (RSMo § 516.120). This is one of the more generous deadlines in the country, but if you miss it, you’ll likely lose your right to pursue compensation altogether.

Work With an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer Near Springfield, MO

A knowledgeable local attorney will help you navigate Missouri’s fault laws, gather the right documentation, and protect you from lowball settlement offers. They can assess the full value of your case—including future medical costs and long-term losses—and fight to ensure you’re treated fairly. Whether through negotiation or litigation, their goal is to hold the at-fault party accountable and maximize your financial recovery.

After a car accident, you have enough to worry about. We can help you find an auto accident attorney for your unique case. Get the financial restitution that you deserve if you’re the victim of someone else’s conduct.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to speak with an experienced lawyer in Missouri!

About the Author

Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.

With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations.