Liability insurance policies are designed to protect you financially if you cause a car accident that injures others or damages their property. Missouri law requires drivers to carry certain minimum amounts of car insurance, but these baseline coverage levels are often inadequate when a serious accident occurs. If you were involved in a collision, understanding Missouri’s insurance requirements—and their limitations—is essential to protecting your legal rights in an injury lawsuit and obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Minimum Liability Insurance Requirements in Missouri
If a Missouri driver causes a car accident, they are financially responsible for any damages suffered by the victims. State law requires all drivers to maintain liability insurance to uphold this financial responsibility. Specifically, drivers must carry at least:
- $25,000 per person for bodily injury or death
- $50,000 total per accident for all bodily injuries or deaths
- $25,000 per accident for property damage
Additionally, Missouri mandates uninsured motorist coverage as part of every liability policy. This coverage must include at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury. This coverage protects you if you are hit by a driver without insurance, a driver whose coverage is insufficient, or someone who flees the scene.
While purchasing liability insurance is the most common way Missourians meet the state’s financial responsibility requirement, it is not your only option. You can also prove financial responsibility by posting a surety bond, a real estate bond, or depositing cash or negotiable securities like stocks or bonds with the Missouri Department of Revenue.
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Why Minimum Coverage Often Isn’t Enough After an Accident
When you are involved in a serious accident, minimum coverage can be quickly exhausted. Depending on the severity of your injury, your initial medical bills can easily exceed $25,000, and that’s before accounting for surgery, physical therapy, follow-up appointments, or long-term care. If you sustain a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, or other severe damage, your medical bills can quickly reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Beyond medical expenses, you may face lost wages if you can’t work during recovery, property repair costs, and extensive pain and suffering. When the at-fault driver carries only minimum coverage, these losses often far exceed what their policy will pay. You are left dealing with financial hardship through no fault of your own.
Filing a Car Accident Lawsuit in Missouri
If negotiations with the insurance company fail to produce fair compensation, or if your damages exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit in Missouri civil court. An accident attorney in Kansas City, Missouri can investigate the full circumstances of your crash, gather compelling evidence to support your claim, and build a strong case that demonstrates the true extent of your damages. Your lawyer will handle all legal procedures and deadlines while you focus on recovery, and they can represent you in court if your case proceeds to trial.
Navigate Missouri Insurance Laws with a Car Accident Attorney
When the at-fault driver carries only the minimum coverage, that amount may not even cover your emergency room visit, let alone surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment. At Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe, we explore all available sources of compensation to maximize your potential award.
You deserve full recovery for your losses, not just whatever the other driver’s minimal policy will pay. We will pursue every dollar you are owed through skilled negotiation and, when necessary, litigation. Contact us at (816) 876-2600 to discuss your case with our Missouri car accident lawyers.