100+ years of combined experience and over $200 million won for our clients in Missouri and Illinois. Contact a personal injury lawyer near you.
Free Consultation
(314) 500-HURTThe Missouri statute of limitations determines how long a plaintiff has to file a civil claim. In personal injury claims, the statute of limitations in Missouri is generally longer than other states at five years. The five-year countdown typically begins the date of the accident. However, there are certain exceptions.
Missouri Revised Statute §516.140 states that there is a five-year limitation on any actions for any “injury to the person or rights of another, not arising on contract,” and not otherwise mentioned in the states’ statutes.
Meaning, that in order to file a lawsuit for injuries sustained in a car accident, slip and fall, product liability claim, or any other case or any other type of negligence, you have five years from the date the negligence occurred to file an initial complaint in court. If you miss this deadline and try to file anyway, the defendant can file a “motion to dismiss,” which will be granted in most cases.
While the statute of limitations applies to court filings, filing a claim with an insurance company quickly after your injury is still vital. If the deadline is approaching or has already past, your ability to negotiate for more money will be greatly diminished, as the other side will not have the threat of an expensive and lengthy trial hanging over their heads.
Missouri law does provide for several exceptions to the five-year limit:
Missouri Revised Statute §516.105 stipulates its own set of rules for making claims against healthcare providers. Generally, medical malpractice claims must be filed within two years of the date the negligence occurred, with the following exceptions:
In no cases can you make a medical malpractice claim after 10 years of the alleged neglect or after your 20th birthday, whichever is later.
There are four other important exceptions to the Missouri statute of limitations:
If you are afraid that the statute of limitations for your claim may have passed, you should still talk to an attorney to see if any of the exceptions apply to you.
Client Reviews
View More Reviews on Google Maps and Yelp
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Gary Burger who has more than 30 years of legal experience as a practicing personal injury trial attorney. Gary’s robust legal knowledge is recognized by his peers as demonstrated by his industry awards and frequent Continuing Legal Education (CLE) lectures.
NO FEES UNTIL WE WIN YOUR CASE
We offer free consultations and are available 24/7 to take your call. Live chat, text, and virtual meetings are available.
or call us at