After a crash, many people assume the other driver’s insurance will pay whatever the injuries cost. Missouri law sets only a minimum amount that drivers must carry, and serious injuries can exceed it quickly. Knowing the numbers helps injured people understand what may be available.
What Liability Insurance Must Missouri Drivers Carry?
Missouri’s financial responsibility law, RSMo 303.190, sets minimum liability coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury or death to one person in an accident. The minimum is $50,000 for bodily injury or death to two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for damage to other people’s property. These are the minimums, so a driver may carry more.
What Happens When Injuries Cost More Than the Limit?
Serious injuries can produce medical bills larger than a $25,000 limit. When the at-fault driver’s coverage runs out, the remaining losses don’t disappear. They may fall on the injured person, on other coverage, or on the at-fault driver personally. This gap is the reason an injured person should find out the other driver’s limits early. Tracing other sources of recovery is work a Kansas City personal injury lawyer can take on.
Why Do the Limits Apply Per Person?
The $25,000 figure applies to each injured person, and the $50,000 figure caps the total for everyone hurt in the same accident. If three passengers are injured, the combined payout under the minimum policy can’t exceed $50,000. That means each person’s share may be smaller than the per-person limit.
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Missouri also addresses drivers who have no insurance. RSMo 379.203 provides that automobile liability policies for vehicles registered or principally garaged in the state must include uninsured motorist coverage, or have it added as a supplement. The coverage protects insureds who are legally entitled to recover from an uninsured driver, including a hit-and-run driver.
Should You Check Your Own Policy?
Yes. Your own policy may be an important source of recovery, and the details vary. Read it closely. Start by pulling the declarations page and checking for uninsured motorist coverage and any other optional protections. Anyone unsure what the policy provides can ask the insurer for a copy and read it before giving any recorded statement. Knowing how insurers approach claims makes that review easier.
How Do Medical Records Affect the Claim?
Records link the injury to the crash and show how much treatment it required. Gaps in care can give an insurer room to question the claim. Keeping up with appointments, and keeping every bill and report, builds the file. The importance of medical records in claims becomes clear once treatment is under way.
What Else Should You Collect After a Crash?
Photos, the crash report number, witness names, and repair estimates all help. The other driver’s insurance details are especially useful, because they show which limits are in play. A police report can also confirm who was involved.
Do Nearby Communities Follow the Same Rules?
The insurance requirements apply statewide, so Missouri drivers in Lee’s Summit and Raytown are subject to the same minimums as those in Kansas City. People hurt in Lee’s Summit can turn to a Lee’s Summit car accident lawyer for local questions.
Raytown drivers have a Raytown car accident lawyer available as well. Each crash still turns on its own facts.
Who Can Help After a Kansas City Crash?
Injured drivers and passengers in Kansas City can work with a Kansas City car accident lawyer to identify every source of coverage, including the at-fault driver’s policy and their own. Sorting out coverage early prevents surprises later.
Who Is Daniel E. Stuart?
Daniel E. Stuart founded Law Office of Daniel E. Stuart, P.A. and has represented individuals since 1994. He is admitted in Kansas, Missouri, and New York, and he belongs to the American Association for Justice and the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association. Martindale-Hubbell named him a Client Champion at the Silver level in 2021 and 2025.
What Should You Do First?
Get medical care, save the other driver’s insurance information, and write down what happened. If you were hurt in a crash near Kansas City, get in touch with us so we can go over the coverage that may apply.