Missouri’s Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act is a set of laws that requires insurance companies to handle your claim fairly, promptly, and honestly after an auto accident.
These rules are found in Missouri Revised Statutes sections 375.1000 to 375.1018, and they apply to both your own insurer and the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
In plain terms, the UCSPA tells insurers how they must behave after you file a claim for injuries from a car, truck, or motorcycle accident. It covers both your own insurance company and the at-fault driver’s insurance company.
There is one important limit you need to know: the UCSPA does not let you personally sue an insurance company just for breaking one of its rules. However, other Missouri laws, like bad faith and vexatious refusal to pay, may give you that right.
After a crash, many accident victims run into delays, lowball offers, or outright denials from insurance adjusters. Knowing what the law requires gives you a clearer picture of when an insurer is crossing a line and what you can do about it.
What Counts as an Unfair Claims Practice in Missouri?
Missouri law lists specific acts that qualify as improper claims practices under RSMo section 375.1007. These are the warning signs to watch for after your accident.
- Misrepresenting your policy: The adjuster tells you coverage does not apply when it actually does.
- Ignoring your claim: The insurer does not respond to your calls or emails for weeks.
- Denying without investigating: The company rejects your claim before reviewing your medical records or the police report.
- Offering far less than your claim is worth: The insurer makes a low offer hoping you will accept quickly out of financial pressure.
- Leaving you in limbo: The company fails to confirm or deny coverage even after you have submitted everything they asked for.
- Refusing to explain a denial in writing: The insurer will not put its reasoning in writing or point to a specific policy provision.
These tactics show up most often in auto accident claims involving delayed medical bill payments, stalled property damage payouts, and denied uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits.
What Deadlines Must Missouri Insurers Follow?
Missouri’s administrative regulations under 20 CSR 100-1 give specific timeframes that insurers must meet. These rules define what “prompt” actually means.
| Action Required | Deadline |
| Acknowledge your claim | 10 working days |
| Provide necessary claim forms | 10 working days |
| Complete the investigation | 30 days |
| Accept or deny claim after proof of loss | 15 working days |
| Notify you if more time is needed | 15 working days |
“Proof of loss” is the formal document you submit that shows what you are claiming and why. If the insurer misses these deadlines without a valid reason, you may have grounds to escalate your case.
Any denial must also be in writing and must reference the specific policy language used to justify the decision. Vague denials that do not cite your policy are a red flag.
Can You Sue an Insurance Company for Bad Faith in Missouri?
Bad faith is a legal claim you can bring against an insurance company that acts unreasonably, not just makes a mistake. While the UCSPA itself does not allow a direct lawsuit, Missouri courts recognize a separate bad faith claim under common law.
This comes up most often in third-party situations. For example, if the at-fault driver’s insurance company refuses to settle your claim within the driver’s policy limits, that refusal could expose the driver to a court judgment that exceeds their coverage. The insurer’s job is to protect their policyholder, and refusing a fair settlement puts that person at financial risk.
To prove a Missouri bad faith insurance claim, you generally need to show:
- The insurer controlled the defense and settlement process.
- You or the insured demanded a settlement within policy limits.
- The insurer refused that demand.
- The refusal was unreasonable, not just a judgment call.
If you succeed, the insurer may be liable for the full judgment amount, even if it exceeds the policy limits.
What Is Vexatious Refusal to Pay in Missouri?
Vexatious refusal to pay is a Missouri law that protects you when your own insurance company unreasonably refuses to pay benefits you are owed. It is found in RSMo sections 375.296 and 375.420.
This law applies to first-party claims, meaning claims against your own policy. It is especially relevant in auto accident cases involving:
- Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage: Pays you when the at-fault driver has no insurance.
- Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage: Pays you when the at-fault driver’s insurance is not enough to cover your losses.
- Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage: Covers your medical bills regardless of who caused the crash.
- Collision coverage: Pays for damage to your vehicle.
If you win a vexatious refusal claim, you can recover the benefits your insurer owed you, plus statutory penalties up to 10 percent of the loss or $5,000, whichever is greater, plus your attorney’s fees. This gives you real leverage when your own insurer is stalling or lowballing you.
What to Do if Your Car Accident Claim Is Delayed or Denied
Dealing with a stalling insurance company while you are recovering from a crash is exhausting. The good news is that you have concrete steps you can take to protect yourself.
Step 1: Document Every Contact With the Insurer
Write down the date, time, and name of every person you speak with at the insurance company. Note what was said and what was promised. This log becomes your evidence if the dispute escalates.
Step 2: Ask for a Written Denial With Policy Citations
If your claim is denied or the offer seems too low, ask the insurer to put its reasoning in writing and identify the exact policy provision it is relying on. Missouri law requires this, and vague verbal explanations are not acceptable.
Step 3: Reference Missouri’s Regulatory Deadlines
When you follow up on a delayed claim, politely mention the specific deadlines under 20 CSR 100-1. Based on the provided search results, that URL appears to be the Missouri Secretary of State PDF containing 20 CSR 100-1.
Step 4: File a Complaint With the Missouri DCI
The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) oversees insurance companies in the state. Filing a complaint does not hurt your claim and often prompts the insurer to respond more quickly.
You can file a complaint with the DCI through any of these channels:
- Online: insurance.mo.gov/consumers/complaints
- Phone: 800-726-7390
- Email: consumeraffairs@insurance.mo.gov
- Mail: P.O. Box 690, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0690
Step 5: Call an Attorney Before You Sign Anything
Do not accept a settlement, sign a release, or give a recorded statement to an adjuster before speaking with our Missouri auto accident attorneys. Once you sign a release, you almost always give up the right to seek any additional compensation.
Missouri Auto Accident Law… Since 1990 It’s All We Do
You should not have to fight an insurance company while you are trying to heal from a serious crash. At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we represent injured Missourians and work to secure the compensation they deserve.
We are the only law firm in Missouri that focuses exclusively on auto accident law. That means we know exactly how insurance companies operate, where they cut corners, and how to hold them accountable under Missouri’s unfair claims practices laws.
We offer free case evaluations, and you pay nothing unless we win. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Missouri Unfair Claims Practices FAQs
What Documents Help Prove an Insurance Company Violated Missouri’s Unfair Claims Practices Rules?
Written communications, a call log with dates and adjuster names, and denial letters that use vague language or fail to cite specific policy provisions are the most useful forms of evidence.
How Long Does a Missouri Insurer Have to Finish Investigating My Auto Accident Claim?
Missouri regulations give insurers 30 days to complete their investigation. They can only take longer if it is genuinely necessary and they notify you in writing with an explanation.
What Is the Difference Between a Bad Faith Claim and a Vexatious Refusal Claim in Missouri?
Bad faith is a common law claim typically used against a third-party insurer that refuses to settle within policy limits. Vexatious refusal is a statutory claim you bring against your own insurer for unreasonably denying or delaying payment of your own policy benefits.
Can I Recover Attorney’s Fees if My Own Insurer Refuses to Pay My UM or UIM Claim?
Yes. Under Missouri’s vexatious refusal statute, if your own insurer unreasonably refuses to pay your uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits, you may be entitled to statutory penalties and your attorney’s fees on top of the benefits owed.
Will Filing a DCI Complaint Affect My Ability to Sue the Insurance Company Later?
No. Filing a complaint with the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance is a separate process from a lawsuit and will not hurt your legal claim. It is often a useful first step that pressures the insurer to respond fairly.
