What’s the Statute of Limitations in Missouri for Car Accidents?

An estimated 2.09 vehicle occupants were injured in auto
accidents in 2012, and 21,667 lost their lives. Truck
accidents alone kill 4,000 people every year, and it hasn’t changed the fact that only 10% of trucks on the road
have active safety technology, according to The American Trucking Association.

Accidents happen all around us every day, and if you get off lightly, you may be inclined to put off calling a
car accident attorney or truck accident lawyer and seeking compensation.

But is there a statute of limitations for car accidents?

A statute of limitations is a law that limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit in court after a dispute
occurs or harm is inflicted, and in general, yes, there is a statute of limitations for car accidents. The time frame
differs from state to state, however, so in this post, we’ll be going over the statute of limitation laws in Missouri.

Missouri law outlines different statutes for accidents that cause injuries versus accidents that cause death.

Under Missouri Revised Statutes section 541.07, any party injured in an accident must file a civil lawsuit (ideally with
the help of a car accident attorney or semi truck accident attorney) within
five years of the accident date. This includes drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicycle or motorcycle riders who
may have been injured.

However, if the accident causes a fatality, a representative or family member has three years after the date of death to
file a wrongful death claim against the
driver that was at fault in the accident. This statute is a part of wrongful death law rather than car accident law and
can be found under the Missouri Revised Statutes section 537.100.

Most car accident cases will swing in your favor if you and your car accident attorney can prove that
the other drivers involved were negligent. However, if you file after a deadline, it’s likely the defendant will be able
to get the case dismissed in court.

Try to contact a Missouri car accident lawyer as soon as you can after an accident to avoid
missing the statute of limitations window.

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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