How to Report a Car Accident in St. Louis, Missouri

Stop your vehicle. Missouri law (RSMo 577.060) requires every driver involved in an accident to stop immediately at the scene or as close to it as safely possible. Do not move your vehicle unless it creates a hazard for other traffic. Turn on your hazard lights.

Check for injuries. If anyone is injured — yourself, your passengers, the other driver, or pedestrians — call 911 immediately. Do not attempt to move an injured person unless they are in immediate danger (fire, oncoming traffic). Give the 911 dispatcher the exact location, the number of vehicles involved, and the nature of any injuries.

If the accident is minor and there are no injuries, Missouri law (RSMo 304.151) requires you to move vehicles out of the travel lanes if they can be moved safely. Move to a shoulder, parking lot, or side street. This reduces the risk of a secondary crash and keeps traffic flowing.

Once everyone is safe, exchange information with the other driver(s). Missouri law requires you to provide your name, address, vehicle registration number, and insurance information. Write down or photograph the other driver's license plate, driver's license number, insurance card, and contact information. Get names and phone numbers of any witnesses.

Call 911 if: anyone is injured or killed, a driver appears impaired (alcohol or drugs), a vehicle is blocking traffic and cannot be moved, there is a dispute about what happened, or you suspect the other driver has no insurance or is driving with a suspended license.

In the City of St. Louis, SLMPD dispatches an officer. In St. Louis County, the County Police or the relevant municipal police department responds. On state highways and interstates (I-70, I-64, I-44, I-55, I-270), the Missouri State Highway Patrol typically responds.

For minor fender benders with no injuries and minimal damage, you may use the non-emergency line. SLMPD's non-emergency number is (314) 231-1212. St. Louis County Police's non-emergency number is (314) 889-2341. Be aware that in high-call-volume situations, officers may take time to arrive for non-injury accidents, or the dispatcher may instruct you to file a report at the nearest station.

When the officer arrives, cooperate fully. Provide your license, registration, and proof of insurance. Describe what happened factually — stick to what you saw and did. Do not speculate about who was at fault and do not apologize, as statements at the scene can be used later. Ask the officer for their name, badge number, and the report number or case number.

Missouri law (RSMo 303.040) requires every driver involved in an accident resulting in injury, death, or property damage exceeding $500 to file a written Motor Vehicle Accident Report (Form 1140) with the Missouri Department of Revenue within 30 days. This is separate from the police report — the officer's report does not always satisfy this requirement, depending on the circumstances.

Download Form 1140 from the Missouri Department of Revenue website at dor.mo.gov or pick up a copy at any DOR license office. The form asks for the date, time, and location of the accident; the names and addresses of all drivers and passengers; vehicle and insurance information; a description of what happened; and an estimate of property damage.

Mail the completed form to: Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau, P.O. Box 200, Jefferson City, MO 65105-0200. You can also submit it in person at a DOR license office. The closest DOR offices to St. Louis include locations in the City, Clayton, South County, and North County.

The DOR uses this report to verify that all drivers involved in the accident had the required minimum liability insurance at the time of the crash. If the other driver was uninsured, the DOR may take action against their driving privileges. If you fail to file Form 1140, the DOR may suspend your driver's license under RSMo 303.041.

Do not rely solely on the police report. Use your phone to photograph everything: damage to all vehicles from multiple angles, the position of vehicles before they are moved, skid marks on the road, traffic signs and signals near the intersection, road conditions (potholes, debris, ice), weather conditions, and any visible injuries.

If there are witnesses, ask for their names and phone numbers. Write down or record their account of what happened while it is fresh. Witness statements can be critical in disputed-fault cases, and memories fade quickly.

Note the time of the accident, the direction each vehicle was traveling, the speed limit, and any conditions that contributed to the crash (rain, fog, sun glare, construction). These details may seem minor now but can make a significant difference months later when your case is being evaluated.

If you are too injured to document the scene, ask a passenger or bystander to take photos and gather information for you. Under Missouri's pure comparative fault system (RSMo 537.765), every piece of evidence that supports your version of events helps maximize your recovery.

Report the accident to your own insurance company as soon as possible — most policies require prompt notification. Provide the basic facts: the date, time, and location of the accident, the other driver's information, and the police report number. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurance company without consulting an attorney first.

Missouri is an at-fault (tort) state, meaning the driver who caused the accident is responsible for damages. Missouri requires minimum liability insurance of $25,000 per person for bodily injury, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25). However, many St. Louis drivers carry only the minimum or drive without insurance altogether.

If the other driver is uninsured or underinsured, you may need to file a claim under your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. Missouri law requires insurers to offer UM/UIM coverage, and most policies include it unless you specifically rejected it in writing.

Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime in Missouri. If you are involved in an accident and someone is injured, you must stop, render reasonable assistance, and provide your identification (RSMo 577.060). Leaving the scene of an injury accident is a Class D felony, punishable by up to 7 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

If the accident involves a fatality, leaving the scene is a Class B felony, punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison. Even for property-damage-only accidents, leaving the scene without exchanging information is a Class A misdemeanor (RSMo 577.060).

If you are the victim of a hit-and-run in St. Louis, call 911 immediately. Try to note the other vehicle's license plate, make, model, color, and direction of travel. Check for witnesses and nearby security cameras. File a police report as soon as possible. You can still pursue a personal injury claim through your own UM coverage if the hit-and-run driver is never identified.

The 30-day deadline to file Form 1140 with the Missouri Department of Revenue is strict. If you fail to file, the DOR may suspend your driver's license under RSMo 303.041. You will receive a notice of suspension, and you must then prove you had valid insurance at the time of the accident to get your license reinstated.

For your personal injury claim, the statute of limitations is 5 years from the date of injury (RSMo 516.120). However, that 5-year window does not mean you should wait. Evidence disappears, witnesses move away, and memories fade. Report the accident and consult an attorney as soon as possible to preserve your right to recover damages.

If you were involved in an accident with a government vehicle or on government property, additional reporting and notice requirements may apply under Missouri's sovereign immunity statute (RSMo 537.600). Consult an attorney immediately if a government entity may be involved.

If you have been in a car accident in St. Louis and want to understand your options, take our free 2-minute assessment. You will answer a few quick questions about your accident, and we will give you a personalized report that includes Missouri's reporting requirements for your situation, the filing deadline for your personal injury claim, and whether connecting with a personal injury attorney makes sense.

Reporting an accident is the first step. Knowing what to do next is just as important. Our assessment is free, confidential, and gives you the information you need to protect your rights under Missouri law.