Missouri
Accident Reports

You should file a report if you’re the operator of a vehicle involved in a crash where there were any injuries (even if not life-threatening), the accident involved a parked vehicle and the owner can not be notified immediately, death to any party involved in the accident, or property damage over $500. You must file the report immediately after the crash if any of these conditions are met.

Missouri has strict laws on when accidents must be reported and when they must be reported. Under Missouri law, any accident must be reported within 30 days under the following circumstances:

• Someone is injured.
• Someone is killed.
• A driver is uninsured.
• Property damage exceeds $500.

This will cover the vast majority of accidents for all intents and purposes. Accident reports are vital to prove who was at fault, and they're also essential for insurers as these are the first documents they examine when evaluating claims.

Note that it’s typically standard for insurers to require all policyholders to report their accidents to them, even if they were not at fault.

Missouri is an at-fault state, meaning the driver deemed at fault for an accident will be required to cover the economic and non-economic costs of the accident. This is why a minimum amount of liability coverage is required for drivers by law. Uninsured drivers may have to cover the costs out of their own pockets.

Note that blame for an accident isn't always clear-cut. As an at-fault state, accidents in Missouri can also result in blame being divided. For example, three drivers who were equally at fault may each be responsible for a third of the costs. If insured, your insurance company will pay all the associated costs minus your deductible.

Blame is apportioned using various factors, including the opinion of the attending officer, weather conditions, speed, and any citations issued.

Persons authorized by 18 U.S.C. 2721, also known as the Driver's Privacy Protection Act are permitted to obtain unredacted crash reports. Requesting parties not meeting one of the criteria will receive a crash report in which personal information, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2725 (3 & 4), has been redacted.

Data from this report is used for many purposes including:

• Identifying locations with a large number of crashes.
• Improving dangerous highways and intersections.
• Developing highway safety public information programs.
• Developing programs to save lives and reduce highway injuries.

The Missouri Department of Transportation states that everyone is entitled to a copy of their crash report. Missouri State Highway Patrol accident reports provide you with everything you need about what happened as part of your accident.

Missouri traffic accidents happen all the time, and this vital document can support you in making an insurance claim or fighting your corner in the courtroom. Missouri crash reports will tell you everything you need to know, including:

• Identity and contact information for everyone involved
• Information about any passengers
• Eyewitness information
• Traffic violations
• Diagram of the accident scene
• Police officer’s opinion on who was at fault
• Weather information
• Road conditions

Obtaining a crash report in Missouri is not free, even if you were involved in the accident. At the scene of the accident, you will receive an accident card with your report number from the attending officer. This report number will allow you to request a copy of your report. All police reports become available within 7-10 days after the accident.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol charges a standard $5.99 fee for their basic four-page crash report. However, other divisions and agencies levy their own fees, which depend on the jurisdiction and the county.

For example, in Kansas City, it costs $3 to request a report by mail or in person but $9 to order the same report online. While the fees are relatively small, double-check the fees for your county or jurisdiction to avoid surprises.

In many counties in Missouri, you are not obligated to call or wait for a police response in case of a minor accident. Instead, drivers are encouraged to exchange their information and file a Citizen Crash report.

Citizen Crash reports are beneficial for minor incidents on private property, as police departments are prohibited from attending these accidents unless alcohol is involved or a citizen requires medical attention.

Circumstances where you should file a Citizen Crash report include:

• The crash happened within the city limits of the jurisdiction operating Citizen Crash policies.
• Any property damage only applies to vehicles.
• No injuries require immediate medical attention.
• Alcohol and/or drug impairment was not involved.
• All involved vehicles remain operational.

Your county will determine how to file a Citizen Crash report. However, most counties require you to attend your local police department’s headquarters during opening hours or print and mail/email a form.

Filing a Citizen Crash report ensures there is a piece of official documentation detailing the crash, which can support your insurance claim.

Road safety is a priority for the Missouri Department of Public Safety. To that end, state patrol Missouri agents work to enforce the state’s traffic laws and make the roads a safer place to be for all.

In 2019, there were 157,038 car accidents in Missouri, with 881 ending with a fatality. Along with factors such as alcohol, speeding, and other circumstances, only 19.4% of all traffic crashes occurred during inclement weather such as rain, snow, sleet/hail, fog, etc.

Missouri Highway Patrol crash reports have always been a source of research for lawmakers in determining where the laws need to be tightened up. Unfortunately, the pandemic has skewed the data available and made it tougher to monitor Missouri accident reports for insights into how to proceed.

MSHP takes road traffic safety seriously. Overall, it is the 14th strictest state when it comes to traffic laws. It also operates a modest maximum speed limit of 70 mph on the roads.