42 Missouri Civil Laws to Know for Your Personal Injury Claim
These are the Missouri laws to know for your personal injury claim:
- Comparative Fault: Missouri follows a comparative fault system, reducing damages based on the plaintiff's percentage of fault (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 537.060).
- Minimum Insurance Requirements: Drivers must have $25,000 per person in bodily injury coverage, $50,000 per accident in bodily injury coverage, and $25,000 per accident in property damage liability protection (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Missouri requires $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in uninsured motorist coverage (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Hit-and-Run Laws: Drivers must stop at the scene of an accident and provide their information; failure to do so can result in legal consequences (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 577.060).
- Reporting Requirements: Accidents resulting in injury, death, or property damage must be reported to the police (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 577.060).
- Fault Determination: Fault is determined based on evidence such as police reports, witness statements, and accident reconstruction (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 537.060).
- Insurance Claims: Victims can file claims with their own insurance company, the at-fault driver's insurance company, or file a lawsuit to seek compensation (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Punitive Damages: Punitive damages may be awarded in cases of outrageous conduct due to evil motive or reckless indifference to the rights of others (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 510.265).
- Medical Malpractice: Medical malpractice claims must be filed within two years from the date the injury was discovered, but no more than 10 years from the date of the act or omission causing the injury (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.105).
- Defamation: Defamation claims must be filed within two years from the date the defamatory statement was made (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.140).
- Injury to Property: Injury to personal property claims must be filed within five years from the date of the injury (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.120(4)).
- Trespass: Trespass claims must be filed within five years from the date of the trespass (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.120(3)).
- Enforcement of Written Contracts: Written contracts must be enforced within five years from the date of breach (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.120(1)).
- Collection of Rents: Collection of rents must be pursued within 10 years from the date the rent was due (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.110(3)).
- Fraud: Fraud claims must be filed within 10 years from the date the fraud was discovered (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.120(5)).
- Vehicle Registration: Proof of insurance is required to register or re-register a vehicle (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Traffic Violations: Traffic violations can impact fault determination in an accident (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 577.060).
- Emergency Vehicles: Emergency vehicles have specific rules and exemptions in accident scenarios (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 304.010).
- Pedestrian Rights: Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks and intersections (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 304.012).
- Distracted Driving: Distracted driving is a common cause of accidents and can result in liability (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 304.012).
- Speeding: Speeding is a significant factor in many accidents and can lead to fault determination (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 304.012).
- Drunk Driving: Driving under the influence is illegal and can result in severe penalties and fault in accidents (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 577.060).
- Weather Conditions: Adverse weather conditions can impact fault determination in accidents (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 304.012).
- Reckless Driving: Reckless driving behaviors can lead to liability and fault in accidents (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 304.012).
- Vehicle Maintenance: Proper vehicle maintenance is essential to avoid accidents and liability (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Seat Belt Laws: Seat belt use is mandatory and can impact fault determination in accidents (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 304.012).
- Rear-End Collisions: Rear-end collisions often result in liability for the rear driver (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 304.012).
- Multi-Vehicle Accidents: Fault determination in multi-vehicle accidents can be complex and requires thorough investigation (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 304.012).
- Shared Fault: Shared fault can reduce the amount of compensation received by the plaintiff (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 537.060).
- Insurance Adjusters: Insurance adjusters play a role in determining fault and compensation (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Legal Representation: Having legal representation can help navigate the complexities of fault determination (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Settlement Negotiations: Settlement negotiations can result in a quicker resolution without going to court (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Mediation: Mediation can be a useful tool for resolving disputes without litigation (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Arbitration: Arbitration can provide a binding resolution to disputes (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Trial: If no settlement is reached, the case may go to trial (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Appeals: Appeals can be filed if the trial outcome is contested (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Expert Witnesses: Expert witnesses can provide crucial testimony in accident cases (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Evidence Collection: Collecting evidence is essential for establishing fault (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Legal Duty: Drivers have a legal duty to operate their vehicles safely (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Liability Insurance: Liability insurance is required to cover damages caused to others (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- No-Fault Insurance: Missouri does not have a no-fault insurance system (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 303.190).
- Statute of Limitations: Be sure to look up the deadline for when you must file suit!