Auto Accident Injury in St. Louis, MO

A qualified St. Louis car accident attorney can help you understand Missouri’s fault laws, file a strong injury claim, and pursue the compensation you deserve. Legal support can be the difference between a lowball settlement and the financial recovery you actually need to move forward.

This guide walks you through the most important steps to take after a crash in St. Louis—from gathering evidence to seeking medical care and navigating the legal process. If you’ve been injured, don’t wait. Taking action now can protect your health, your finances, and your future.

Auto Accident Injury Statistics in St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis continues to grapple with a high rate of traffic accidents and fatalities. In 2023, the city reported 51 traffic-related deaths, a decrease from 79 in 2022. However, when combined with St. Louis County, the total number of fatalities reached 151, highlighting the ongoing challenges in ensuring road safety in the region. 

Pedestrians and cyclists remain particularly vulnerable. In 2023, there were 646 reported injuries or fatalities involving individuals walking or biking in St. Louis City and County. Notably, St. Louis County experienced its highest number of pedestrian deaths on record that year.

What to Do After an Auto Accident

The moments after a car accident can be stressful and chaotic—but the steps you take immediately can have a lasting impact on your health, your finances, and any legal claim you may file. Whether your crash occurred on I-64, Lindell Boulevard, or a side street in South City, following the right procedures can help protect your rights.

Receive Immediate Medical Attention

After a car accident in St. Louis, your health should be your first concern—even if your injuries seem minor at first. It’s common for symptoms like headaches, dizziness, or stiffness to surface hours or even days after the collision. That’s why it’s critical to get evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible, whether at the scene or shortly after.

Prompt medical care serves two important purposes: it helps catch and treat injuries early, and it creates a written medical record that ties your condition directly to the crash.

File a Police Report

Filing a police report after a car accident in St. Louis, MO is not only smart—it’s often required by law. Under Missouri statute, any crash that results in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500 must be reported to law enforcement (RSMo § 303.040). In the city of St. Louis, this means contacting the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to respond to the scene or filing a report after the fact if no officer is dispatched.

If officers arrive at the scene, they will document the incident, interview the parties involved, and complete a formal crash report. Be cooperative, answer their questions truthfully, and avoid speculating about fault. Before leaving, ask the officer for the report number and their name and badge number.

Gather the Appropriate Documentation

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

• Full name, phone number, and address
• Driver’s license number and state
• Vehicle make, model, year, color, and license plate number
• Insurance company name and policy number

Then, use your phone to take wide and close-up photos of:

• All vehicle damage (from multiple angles)
• The position of vehicles before they are moved
• Skid marks, road debris, damaged signs or barriers
• Traffic signals or signs near the scene
• Weather conditions and road surface (wet, icy, etc.)
• Any visible injuries you or others sustained

Recovering Damages After an Auto Accident Injury

Common injuries from car accidents in St. Louis include back and neck injuries, broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and chronic soft tissue damage. These conditions often require emergency care, follow-up treatment, and time away from work. Missouri operates under an at-fault system, meaning the driver who caused the crash (or their insurance company) is responsible for covering your expenses.

You may be eligible to recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses (current and future)
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional distress
• Property damage
• Permanent disability or disfigurement

Auto Accident Laws in Missouri

Liability Laws for St. Louis

Missouri uses a pure comparative fault rule, outlined in RSMo § 537.765. Under this rule, you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault for the accident. However, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of your responsibility.

For example, if your damages total $100,000 and you are found 25% at fault, your award would be reduced to $75,000. There’s no upper limit on fault—meaning even if you were 90% at fault, you could technically still recover 10% of your damages.

Statute of Limitations in St. Louis

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in St. Louis, it’s important to understand how the statute of limitations affects your ability to take legal action. In Missouri, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident is five years from the date of the crash (RSMo § 516.120). This deadline applies whether you’re seeking damages for physical injuries, lost wages, or emotional distress.

Work With an Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer Near St. Louis, MO

An experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer will know how to evaluate your claim, calculate your full damages, and hold the at-fault party accountable. They’ll guide you through every step—from understanding Missouri’s comparative fault rules to meeting the state’s five-year statute of limitations—so you can focus on healing while they fight for the compensation you deserve.

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 get in touch 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.