What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Missouri

What to Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Missouri

The minutes and hours after a crash are some of the most important in any personal injury case, and some of the worst moments to be making important decisions. Adrenaline distorts your sense of pain, your sense of time, and your sense of what to say. The other driver may try to talk you out of calling the police. An insurance adjuster may call before you’ve even left the hospital. What you do (and don’t do) in the first 48 hours can shape the entire outcome of your case. Here’s a practical, Missouri-specific checklist.

What to Do at the Scene

1. Get to Safety

If your vehicle is drivable and you’re physically able, move it to the shoulder or out of traffic. Turn on hazard lights. Check on passengers. Stay in the vehicle if exiting onto a busy roadway would put you at risk.

2. Call 911

Even if the crash seems minor, call 911. Under RSMo § 577.060, Missouri drivers involved in any accident must remain at the scene and provide identifying information. A police accident report is also one of the most important pieces of evidence in any case — get one whenever possible.

3. Accept Medical Attention

When EMS arrives, let them evaluate you. Adrenaline masks pain, and serious injuries — especially traumatic brain injuries and back or spinal injuries — can take hours or days to fully present. Declining medical care at the scene is one of the most common arguments insurance adjusters use to minimize a claim later. If EMS recommends going to the hospital, go.

4. Exchange Information

Get the other driver’s:

• Full name and contact information
• Driver’s license number
• License plate number
• Vehicle make, model, and year
• Insurance company and policy number

Do not discuss fault. Do not apologize. Even routine phrases like “I didn’t see you” can be twisted into admissions of fault.

5. Document Everything

If you’re physically able:

• Photograph all vehicles from multiple angles
• Photograph the broader scene: intersection, signs, traffic signals, weather, debris, skid marks
• Photograph any visible injuries
• Get names and phone numbers from witnesses (independent witnesses carry huge weight)
• Note the time, location, weather, and road conditions

6. Get the Police Report Information

Before the officer leaves, ask for:

• The officer’s name and badge number
• The report number and the agency that will hold the report (St. Louis Metropolitan Police, St. Louis County PD, Missouri State Highway Patrol, etc.)
• Instructions on how to obtain a copy

The Missouri State Highway Patrol Crash Reports Portal handles statewide reports, while city and county departments handle local crashes.

What to Do In the First 24–72 Hours

7. Get Medical Care, Even If You “Feel Fine”

Many injuries — whiplash, soft tissue tears, concussions — don’t fully appear until 24 to 72 hours after the crash. If you didn’t go to the ER from the scene, see a doctor within 72 hours. Gaps in initial treatment are a favorite argument of insurance adjusters trying to reduce a claim. See our guides on whiplash injuries and soft tissue injuries for more on delayed-onset symptoms.

8. Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company

Most insurance policies require prompt notice of any accident. Make a basic report: date, time, location, parties involved. Stick to facts. Don’t speculate about fault.

9. Don’t Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company

Within hours of the crash, you’ll likely hear from the other driver’s insurance company. They will ask for a recorded statement. Politely decline until you’ve consulted with an attorney. Our guide on dealing with insurance companies covers why this matters so much.

10. Start a Pain Journal

Begin a dated record of:

• Symptoms (location, intensity, what makes them better or worse)
• Medications and treatments
• Activities you can’t do (work, sleep, household tasks, hobbies)
• Mood, sleep, and cognitive changes

This document becomes invaluable evidence of pain and suffering months later.

11. Preserve Physical Evidence

• Don’t repair your vehicle until it’s been photographed and inspected
• Keep damaged clothing, shoes, helmets, or other items in a safe place
• Save medical bills, pharmacy receipts, and out-of-pocket expense documentation

12. Be Careful on Social Media

Insurance adjusters routinely screenshot Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok looking for posts that contradict injury claims. The safest approach: don’t post about the accident, your injuries, or your activities until your case resolves.

What to Do In the First Few Weeks

13. Follow Through With Medical Treatment

Attend every appointment. Complete recommended physical therapy. Take prescribed medications. Gaps in treatment are interpreted by adjusters as evidence that you’re not really hurt.

14. Track Your Lost Time From Work

Document missed shifts, lost income, lost overtime, and lost benefits. Have your employer write a wage-loss verification letter. These are core economic damages in any injury case.

15. Consult a Missouri Personal Injury Attorney

If you’ve been seriously injured; or if anything about the insurance company’s handling of your claim feels off, get a free consultation early. The signs that mean it’s time to call are covered in our guide on when to hire an attorney.

What Not to Do

• Don’t admit fault, even casually
• Don’t give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer
• Don’t sign any release or settlement without legal advice
• Don’t post about the accident on social media
• Don’t ignore symptoms that develop in the days after the crash
• Don’t skip medical appointments

Talk to a Missouri Personal Injury Attorney

Whether you’ve been hurt in a St. Louis car accident, truck wreck, or motorcycle crash, the first days after the accident shape the case. Contact Schmittgens Injury Law Firm for a free consultation. There’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

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