What is a car accident claim worth in Missouri?

Every rule below is quoted from Missouri law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.

Missouri · At fault5 yearsto sue for injuries

The short answer

Nobody can price your claim from a web page, and any site that gives you one number is guessing. What we can show you is real: the amount insurers actually paid per claim in Missouri, and the Missouri rules that raise or lower what you collect. $26,040 was the average injury claim paid in Missouri in 2022.

Six questions, no sign up

Nothing you pick is sent anywhere or saved. The answer appears on this page.

Was anyone hurt?
Who caused the crash?
Does the other driver have insurance?
How bad is the car?
Did anyone miss work?
Did police write a report?

What claims paid in Missouri

Injury claims in Missouri averaged $26,040 each in 2022.

Car and property damage claims averaged $5,989.

Average amount paid per claim in Missouri, 2022. Source: NAIC 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report.
Injury claim paid by the at fault driver's insurance$26,040
Car and property damage$5,989
Medical payments coverage, paid by your own policy$3,450
Collision coverage, paid by your own policy$6,386

These are averages of every claim insurers closed, from the largest to the smallest. A claim with a hospital stay sits far above the average, and a fender bender sits far below it.

What changes the number in Missouri

If you were partly at fault

Missouri uses pure comparative fault. A person can still recover money even if they were mostly to blame for the crash, but the payout is reduced by their own percentage of fault.

“In 1983, Missouri adopted the rules of pure comparative fault. Pure comparative fault allows your damages to be reduced by the percentage you are at fault in a loss.”

Missouri Dept. of Commerce and Insurance, Auto Insurance FAQs; general rule traces to Gustafson v. Benda, 661 S.W.2d 11 (Mo. banc 1983)

The other driver's policy limit is the ceiling

Missouri drivers must carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 for one person's injuries, $50,000 total per accident for injuries, and $25,000 per accident for property damage. This is often written as 25/50/25.

“The minimum level of coverage required by state law is: $25,000 per person for bodily injury $50,000 per accident for bodily injury $25,000 per accident for property”

RSMo 303.030; Missouri Dept. of Revenue

If the other driver has no insurance

Missouri law requires every auto liability insurance policy to include uninsured motorist coverage. The minimum amount is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries.

“The law also requires you to have uninsured motorist coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury per person and $50,000 for bodily injury per accident.”

RSMo 379.203; Missouri Dept. of Revenue

The deadline that ends the claim

A person hurt in a Missouri car crash generally has 5 years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit for their injuries.

“An action for taking, detaining or injuring any goods or chattels, including actions for the recovery of specific personal property, or for any other injury to the person”

RSMo 516.120(4)

What a lawyer takes if you hire one

Missouri does not cap the percentage a personal injury lawyer can charge as a contingency fee. The fee just has to be reasonable, and the agreement must be written down and signed by the client.

“A fee may be contingent on the outcome of the matter for which the service is rendered, except in a matter in which a contingent fee is prohibited by Rule”

Missouri Supreme Court Rule 4-1.5

Sources on this page

Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.

  1. Missouri Dept. of Commerce and Insurance, Auto Insurance FAQs; general rule traces to Gustafson v. Benda, 661 S.W.2d 11 (Mo. banc 1983)
  2. RSMo 303.030; Missouri Dept. of Revenue
  3. RSMo 516.120(4)
  4. Missouri Supreme Court Rule 4-1.5

Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.