In 2021, Missouri experienced a spike in the number of traffic-related deaths, with 1,016 people losing their lives in collisions. In all, 52,109 people suffered injuries because of crashes, resulting in pain, suffering, and economic losses.
If you’ve been in a crash, you’re likely seeing mounting medical bills and repair bills draining your finances. You may not be sure what your options are or even if there’s any way of getting help. If the accident was the result of someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct, you could be entitled to compensation, but how do you begin?
To ensure you have the best chance of getting the assistance you deserve, it’s important to know what to do after a car accident in Missouri. Learn more about the common mistakes you should avoid and the steps you need to take to start the claims process and recover damages.
IMPORTANT! Avoid Making These Common Mistakes After Getting Into a Car Accident in Missouri
As you get ready to learn what to do after a car accident in Missouri, there are several mistakes you should avoid making.
Leaving the Scene of the Accident
Leaving the scene of the accident is a serious mistake that you never want to make because it can have legal consequences. It’s a class A misdemeanor in Missouri and could even be a felony if anyone is injured in the collision. Aside from being charged with a hit-and-run, you might be giving up all chances of recovering losses.
Make sure to stay at the site of the accident and exchange information with the other parties involved. Do this even if you don’t think there were injuries or serious property damage.
Admitting Fault
Even if you’re certain the car accident was 100% your fault, never say this at the scene of the accident or when you speak with your insurer. Missouri is an at-fault state regarding traffic accidents, so the degree of fault assigned to you will have an impact on the amount of compensation you’re able to recover.
When you speak with the other parties involved or with the police, talk only of the facts of what happened and don’t embellish. The police will investigate how the accident occurred, and they’ll speak with witnesses, so let them follow their procedure without inputting anything but a description of your experience.
Not Calling the Police
In Missouri, you must call the police after a car accident that results in injuries, deaths, or property damage of at least $500. Not doing so is against the law, and it can also keep you from recovering losses. When filing a claim, you will need the police report, so you’re only hurting yourself by not ensuring law enforcement gets to the scene.
Make sure you speak with the officer and offer a full description of what occurred. If there were passengers in the car, they’ll also need to talk with the police.
Speaking With Insurers Without Legal Guidance
Letting your insurer know that you’ve been in an accident is an important step you need to take, but it’s also one you want to have some help with. Speaking with an experienced Missouri car accident lawyer before reaching out to the insurance company is always a good idea.
If you absolutely must reach out to your insurer before contacting a lawyer, make sure not to mention fault in any way. A mistake lots of people make is to think that their insurance company is on their side. That’s not the case. These companies are only focused on their own bottom lines, so they want to find any way to avoid paying you.
Not Gathering Evidence at the Scene
Another common mistake people make is not gathering evidence from the scene of the accident. You should take lots of pictures and even videos of the vehicles involved to have a record of the exact damage that occurred. Take photos of the street, too. If there were speed limits or other directions posted nearby, get records of these as well.
You also should take pictures of your injuries. If you suffered cuts or already have visible bruises, getting images of them immediately after the accident is vital. Take the time to also jot down your thoughts on how the accident occurred so that you don’t forget any details.
There’s another type of evidence you need to gather — eyewitness accounts. If there were people who saw the accident, you need to get their contact information and a statement from them. Although passenger testimony is important, impartial eyewitness accounts are essential.
Not Getting Medical Care
When you’re in a stressful situation like a car accident, you may experience an adrenaline surge and that can dull pain. You might not even know you’re injured at first. That’s why it’s so important to call emergency services and have them check you over right after the accident.
Steps to Take Immediately After a Missouri Car Accident
Knowing what to do after a car accident in Missouri can save you a lot of stress when you file a claim later. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you.
Above All, Prioritize Your Own Safety
Above everything else, ensure that you and your passengers are safe. In most instances, you shouldn’t move the car from where the accident occurred, but if you’re in the middle of the highway or any location where other vehicles can hit you, move out of the way.
Stay as close to the scene as you can, but ensure you’re a safe distance from traffic.
Make sure to turn on your hazard lights. If you have emergency flares or a warning triangle, use them to warn others that an accident occurred.
If it’s safe to do so, stay in the vehicle. This can protect you from further injuries since other cars may not expect to see anyone walking near traffic.
Check Yourself Thoroughly For Injuries
Assess yourself for injuries. Do you feel any pain? Did you hit your head during the accident? If you find that you’re actively bleeding or you know you hit your head, try not to move too much. The same thing applies to passengers.
As mentioned, adrenaline often does a good job of masking pain, so don’t trust that you’re fine. Instead, contact emergency services so that they can assess you and everyone else involved in the accident.
Speak With Emergency Medical Personnel
Emergency medical personnel will be able to tell if you have a concussion or internal bleeding, which you’ll likely not notice until symptoms start. This step is vital not just because you can begin getting immediate medical care but because it also ensures there’s a record of the injuries you suffered.
If EMTs recommend that you go to the hospital for further tests or to get treatment, do so. Refusing care could be an issue later if you’re planning on filing a claim.
Contact the Local Police Department
When considering what to do after a car accident in Missouri, one of the most crucial things to remember is to call the police. Do this even if no one was hurt so that you have an official report of the accident.
When the officer gets to the site of the collision, they will ask you about everything that you remember. You may see them taking pictures and drawing diagrams of how they think the crash happened. They will also talk to witnesses.
You will need the police report the officer files before you’re able to begin your claim, so ask them how you can get a copy. Most of the time, you can call the non-emergency number of the appropriate police district and ask for a copy.
Exchange Important Information With The Other Parties Involved in the Accident
You will need to exchange a few pieces of information with the other party involved in the accident. You’ll need the other driver’s:
- Name
- Phone number
- Address
- Insurance information
- Vehicle information
- Driver’s license number
Offer them the same information. Keep this conversation as short as possible and don’t apologize or argue with the other driver. Remember that they’ll want to place as much blame on you as possible so that they can get more compensation, so don’t give them any ammunition to use against you.
Take Detailed Notes And Write Down Exactly What Happened
Right after the accident, you will likely have a very clear idea of how it all happened. As the adrenaline wears off, you may start to forget some of the details, so you need to quickly write down an account of the crash from your point of view.
Take Photos and Speak With Anyone Who Witnessed The Accident
Every bit of evidence that proves what happened in the accident is vital. It can help your lawyers fight for the kind of fair compensation you deserve after what you’ve suffered. Pictures and videos of the road are helpful because they can show details like whether the other vehicle attempted to brake.
Make sure to record the weather conditions, too, since visibility can sometimes be a factor in crashes. If you see traffic cameras or other kinds of surveillance cameras in the area, note where they’re located since they can also offer useful evidence.
The most crucial witnesses are those who are not connected to you in any way. If there were eyewitnesses and they’re still nearby, get their contact information so that your lawyer can follow up on what they saw.
Contact a Skilled Missouri Car Accident Lawyer
You don’t want to start the claims process without having a lawyer helping you. If possible, contact an experienced attorney right after the accident occurs so that you don’t speak with your insurance company without guidance.
Make sure to tell your lawyer everything you can about the accident and give them photos, medical records, and anything else that can help them fight for compensation. As simple as the claims process may look, you don’t want to tackle it on your own.
One of the reasons for this is that you won’t know how to negotiate with insurance companies. They may offer a low offer and push you to accept it. Without representation, you may not realize that you’re entitled to more.
If negotiations don’t go as well as you hoped or if there are disputes about fault that make reaching a settlement impossible, you have the option of taking the claim to court. Unless you have litigation experience, you never want to do this on your own.
Something to remember is that you don’t have to worry about upfront fees when you hire a car accident lawyer. Reputable attorneys work on contingency, which means they only get paid when you do. Worrying about fees should not prevent you from getting the assistance you need.
Let Your Insurers Know You’ve Been in an Accident
Once you’ve spoken with your lawyer, let your insurer know that you’ve been in an accident. Stick to the facts and don’t make any mention of fault. They will conduct their own investigation, so you don’t have to go into a lot of detail about what happened.
Contact Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers Today
When you stop to consider what to do after a car accident in Missouri, your first thought should be to contact experienced attorneys. At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we can help you understand your options and begin the claims process. We’re dedicated to offering our clients the compassionate and dependable help they need.
Contact our team to schedule a free consultation or call our office directly at 314.470.4928. We help car accident victims throughout the state of Missouri including St. Louis, Florissant, Columbia, Springfield, Kansas City, Kirksville and Cape Girardeau.
