How Long Do You Have to Report a Car Accident to Your Insurance

How long do you have to report a car accident to your insurance? In Missouri, you generally have 30 days to report a car accident to your insurance company, though this time frame can vary depending on your specific insurance policy.

Reporting an accident promptly to your insurer is crucial for several reasons:

• Protect Your Rights: Reporting the accident quickly helps protect your rights and ensures you’re covered as needed after the incident.
• Ensure Accurate Documentation: Filing a report right away helps create a reliable record of the incident, which can be essential for insurance reviews and investigations.
• Strengthen Your Claim: A detailed accident report strengthens your case, supporting any insurance claims or potential legal actions.

You should also file a police report within 30 days of the accident. This report should detail essential information, such as the vehicles involved, road and weather conditions, and statements from any witnesses.

Additionally, in Missouri, you have up to five years from the date of the accident to file a claim. This statute of limitations applies to claims involving both personal injury and property damage.

Don’t wait to consult a trusted St. Louis car accident attorney from Burger Law to learn how to protect your right to compensation within the applicable timelines.

Time Limits for Reporting Accidents to Insurance Companies

Insurance companies have unique timelines that dictate when a policyholder should report after a crash. Some insurance providers may require you to report the collision within 24 hours, while others may extend the deadline to a few days.

Some insurance companies do not issue a strict timeline for reporting a crash. Instead, they actively encourage policyholders to report a car accident immediately. The faster you notify an insurer about a crash, the quicker you can find results.

Once an insurer is aware of the crash, they can commence investigations and finalize the details of your personal injury claim.

The Consequences of Delayed Claims

Insurers require policyholders to report the crash as soon as possible. Prompt notification ensures all parties have vital information about the crash. Most importantly, it gives the insurer a basis for taking suitable action regarding the collision.

If too much time has gone, it becomes difficult to establish facts related to your case. Prompt reporting is vital for crashes involving bodily injury because there should be a clear connection that the accident caused physical harm.

You must notify your insurer about the accident if you intend to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. The defense attorney may question the severity of your losses if you file a late notification.

Here are a few benefits of prompt notification:

• Preserving Evidence: The sooner you report an accident, the easier it is for an insurer to gather and preserve vital evidence. An insurer may find important evidence, including eyewitness statements, traffic camera footage, and the police accident report.
• Processing the Claim: When a policyholder informs an insurer about the crash, the insurer can expedite the process, leading to a faster outcome and a fair settlement value for the losses.

“I’ve devoted my life to ensuring our clients get full injury compensation.”

 

Gary Burger

Litigation Attorney

Should You File Your Claim With Your Insurance Company or the Other Driver’s Insurer?

If involved in a crash caused by someone else’s negligence, you must file an insurance claim for the damages. You have two options: file a claim against your insurance company if you have appropriate coverage or file a claim against the other driver via a third-party claim.

Usually, the injured party should file a third-party claim against the at-fault party. The other party’s liability coverage should pay losses associated with your property, and it should also cover medical bills up to the policy limits. 

However, it would help if you still had your attorney notify your insurer of the accident despite another party being responsible. Your insurer may have to help cover the injury-related losses in a few circumstances. Your insurance might kick in if the other party does not have adequate policy limits to cover losses for severe injuries, for example.

An experienced car accident attorney can evaluate the facts of your case and determine the at-fault party responsible for your losses.

What Does Your Insurance Cover in St. Louis, Missouri

Your car insurance covers the following losses after a crash:

• Bodily Injury: It covers injury-related losses like medical expenses or lost income for victims in other vehicles when you’re at fault for an accident.

• Collision Coverage: Your insurance has collision coverage, which covers the cost of repairing or replacing your car if it is involved in a collision with an object like a tree, wall, or another vehicle.

• Property Damage Liability: It covers damage to the other party’s vehicle or other property when responsible for a crash. It can also cover legal expenses and settlement if the other party files a lawsuit.

• Uninsured Motorist Coverage (UM) can cover medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage if an uninsured driver crashes into you.

• Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM): It covers accident-related losses if the at-fault motorist has insufficient coverage.
• Personal Injury Protection: It covers medical expenses, lost wages, and out-of-pocket expenses for you and your passengers, regardless of the at-fault party.

Can You File an Insurance Claim and a Lawsuit for a Car Accident in St. Louis, Missouri?

You have a right to file a car accident claim if you are injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s fault. While many car accident victims obtain compensation from the at-fault party, insurers often present settlement offers that barely match the losses.

You can file a car accident lawsuit if you can’t reach an agreement with the at-fault party. You are also entitled to file a car accident lawsuit if the at-fault party’s insurer declines your personal injury claim.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim for a Car Accident in Missouri?

In Missouri, the statute of limitations for filing car accident claims is five years from the accident date or after discovering the injury. Individuals who fail to file a lawsuit in civil court within the five-year limit will likely lose their ability to obtain compensation for their losses, as the court will usually dismiss such cases.

Always Call a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney

Your quality of life can significantly deteriorate in many ways after sustaining an injury in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence. You deserve representation from an attorney who will aggressively pursue compensation within the applicable timelines.

Call our office at (314) 500-HURT to schedule a free case evaluation or visit us online. Burger Law’s injury attorneys have over 70 years of combined litigation experience, which gives us an edge in representing you. 

Gary Burger

Founder | Injury Attorney
Gary Burger has dedicated his career to standing up against bullies. The founder and principal attorney of Burger Law | St. Louis Personal Injury Lawyer has helped hundreds of Missouri and Illinois individuals and families recover th …
Years of experience: 30 years
Location: St. Louis, MO

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