Legal Question in Traffic Law in Missouri

Filing a accident report

In the state of Missouri, is there a time limit for filing a claim with the police department in the event of an accident? I was involved in a minor car accident and told by the police to leave my information on the car, seeing as the owner of the car could not be located at the time. Is there a limit to how long the owner of the car has to act upon the accident and file the claim? i.e. if days go by can the owner still fill out an accident report. I was told that after 72 hours if an accident report and not been filed with the police or insurance company that the owner was no longer eligilbe to file a report. Is this true?


Asked on 2/19/02, 2:05 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael R. Nack Michael R. Nack, Attorney at Law

Re: Filing a accident report

I am not aware of any 72 hour time limit on the filing of a report or a claim. Perhaps the police have just made it a policy not to take a report if the other vehicle owner delays too long. There is no such time limit on the other vehicle owner filing a claim with his insurance company or against yours other that the applicable terms of his insurance contract and the applicable statute of limitations concerning the filing of a lawsuit for damages. Since you left your information on the car as advised by the police, I do not believe that you will face any criminal charges, and it is likely that the other vehicle owner will simply make a claim to your insurance carrier. I hope that this has been helpful.

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Answered on 2/19/02, 9:16 pm


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