Free Consultation
(314) 500-HURTWhether travelers are staying relatively close to home, visiting hot spots like Nashville or Chicago, or traveling
further to the east or west coast, an accident can happen at any time. Like most states, Missouri is a tort state,
meaning the insurance company of the at-fault driver will pay out expenses related to the accident.
What happens if an accident happens outside of Missouri may depend on what state the car accident occurred in.
Illinois, for instance, is also a tort state, so the insurance process would follow the same procedures as in
Missouri. However, if the accident happened in Kansas—a no-fault state—the process may work slightly differently.
After ensuring that no one was hurt and that everyone involved received necessary medical
attention, the next step to take after an out-of-state car accident is to contact the police. Some states have
laws stating that the drivers must always call police after an accident, whereas some only require it if there were a
certain amount of injuries and damages. To keep all parties involved safe and ensure no one is breaking the law, it is
best to contact the police and let them know about the accident. They may not visit the scene, but they will still file
a report which can also be helpful later on.
Once the individual notifies the police, it is then important for all parties to contact their insurance company. They will need to know the
details of the accident and will likely send a claims adjustor to the scene as soon as possible. However, this does not
mean that those involved in the accident must remain at the scene, although they may have to tell the adjuster where the
car is if it needs repairs.
While speaking to the insurance company it is important to ask them what the insurance policy covers in regards to
out-of-state towing, repairs, and car rentals. Some policies will cover a partial portion of these expenses, and some
will cover all. It will greatly depend on the individual policy.
The police in the state and the insurance company will be the greatest sources of information after an out-of-state car
accident. When there are significant injuries to the out-of-state individual, they may also wish to file a lawsuit
against the negligent driver. They will also have to do this in the state where the accident occurred.
No matter where the accident happened, or whether or not someone wants to file a personal injury claim, it is important
that drivers do not take blame in an accident. It is natural to want to apologize after an accident, but
this can be considered an admission of guilt. To avoid both civil and criminal self-incrimination, an individual should
never say anything to this effect until the police and insurance adjustors investigated the scene and identified the
culpable driver.
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
Similar Blog Posts
So What if You Have a Bad Insurance Experience? You pay for insurance to manage the numerous risks of driving, owning a house, or many other things. Based on the advertisements an...
Millions of Americans are involved in traffic accidents each year, and many accidents result in injuries and fatalities. For example, in 2021, 46,980 people died in motor vehicle c...
When you search ‘’car accident settlement calculator’’, you’ll find several sites with software that generate an estimated settlement value. Most firms create a calculato...
521 W. Main Street Suite 201 O
Belleville, IL 62220
By appointment only
(618) 500-4878 GET DIRECTIONS332 S Michigan Ave Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60604
By appointment only
(312) 500-HURT GET DIRECTIONS100 Chesterfield Business Pkwy Suites 200-222
Chesterfield, MO 63005
By appointment only
(314) 648-8348 GET DIRECTIONSNO 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
(314) 500-HURT