Is Missouri a no-fault state?

No. Missouri is an at-fault (“tort”) state — the driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, is responsible for the injury damages. You generally pursue the at-fault driver's insurer rather than your own.

What is Missouri's fault rule for a car accident?

Missouri follows pure comparative fault. You can recover even if you were mostly at fault — your award is reduced by your share of fault.

How long do I have to file an injury claim in Missouri?

In Missouri the statute of limitations for a personal-injury claim is generally 5 years from the date of the accident. Miss it and the claim is usually barred for good — separate from any deadlines your insurer sets.

Missouri · Injury claims

Car accident injury claims in Missouri

In Missouri, an injury claim runs through the at-fault driver's insurer — and how much you can recover turns on the state's fault rule, coverage minimums, and a filing deadline that's easy to miss. Here's what shapes an injury claim in Missouri.

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Missouri at a glance

Fault rule: Pure comparative fault
No-fault state?: No
Minimum liability coverage: 25/50/25 ($25,000 BI/person; $50,000 BI/accident; $25,000 PD) under RSMo § 303.190; UM mandatorily included at 25/50; UIM optional
Time limit for an injury claim: 5 years

How fault works in Missouri

Missouri is a PURE comparative fault state under Gustafson v. Benda, 661 S.W.2d 11 (Mo. banc 1983) (common-law) — joins the CA/WA/NY/AZ/NV/KY/LA cluster. Plaintiff at 99% fault still recovers 1%; there is NO fault-percentage bar. § 537.765 codifies pure comparative fault for PRODUCTS LIABILITY only — there is NO general MV-negligence statutory codification. § 537.067 governs joint-and-several: defendants at ≥51% fault remain jointly-and-severally liable; defendants below 51% are severally liable.

Paying for injuries in Missouri

Missouri has NEVER enacted mandatory no-fault PIP. It is a pure at-fault state. § 303.190 establishes mandatory liability coverage at 25/50/25. MedPay is OPTIONAL first-party medical-payments coverage (carrier-offered, not statutorily mandated). UM mandatory under § 379.203; UIM voluntary/contractual. No tort threshold — noneconomic damages recoverable at any at-fault % subject to pure comparative fault reduction.

How Moe handles injury claims in Missouri

Knowing the rule is one thing — applying it against a carrier is another. Moe builds your case to Missouri’s rules, drafts every letter for your approval, tracks the deadlines, and only pings you when there’s a decision to make.

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Missouri injury claims — common questions

Is Missouri a no-fault state?: No. Missouri is an at-fault (“tort”) state — the driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, is responsible for the injury damages. You generally pursue the at-fault driver's insurer rather than your own.
What is Missouri's fault rule for a car accident?: Missouri follows pure comparative fault. You can recover even if you were mostly at fault — your award is reduced by your share of fault.
How long do I have to file an injury claim in Missouri?: In Missouri the statute of limitations for a personal-injury claim is generally 5 years from the date of the accident. Miss it and the claim is usually barred for good — separate from any deadlines your insurer sets.

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All Missouri accident-claim rules · Other states

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This page summarizes Missouri’s car-accident claim rules for general information — it is not legal advice, and the rules can change. What applies to your claim depends on your policy and the specific facts.