WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF AN AUTO ACCIDENT*

Stop At The Scene

-Do not drive away from an accident. You must stay until you have given your name and address to a police officer or the other driver.

Get Help For The Injured

-Call 911 on a telephone or ask someone to call for you. Do not try to move an injured person.

Give Warnings

-Ask another person to volunteer to wave to other cars to warn them of the accident. Use lights or a flashlight at night to warn other cars.

Tell A Police Officer

-Tell a police officer, a county sheriff or the Missouri Highway Patrol that you had an accident. The police report can help you later if you forget facts.

-Give then your name and address and show them your driver's license and your insurance card. This is all you must do to obey Missouri law.

-You do not need to tell any person, other than a police officer, how you think the accident happened. You may learn later that you did not do anything wrong. You should NOT sign any papers at the scene except the agreement to appear in court if asked by an officer.

Get Witnesses' Names, addresses, And Phone Numbers

-Ask all witnesses to write down their names, address and telephone numbers.

-Write answers to questions on a blank page; draw a picture of the accident scene if possible.

Get Insurance Information

-Be sure to have you insurance card ready. Write down the information found on the insurance card of the other driver, and allow him or her to write down the information found on your card.

Towing

-If you cannot drive your car, you must have it moved from the scene. If the police officer calls a tow truck, you should ask how much it will cost, tell the tow driver where to take your car, and ask for his name, address and telephone number if you do not go with him.

Call Your Insurance Agent

-If the police report filed in connection with the accident indicates that you were at fault, you will want to contact your insurance company as soon as possible. However, if another party is listed as being at fault, you will only want to contact the other party's insurance company. To inform your insurance company of an accident that is not your fault could result in an increase in your rates and/or a decrease in available coverage to you.

See A Doctor

-You may not know if you are hurt because you may be upset. It is a good idea to see a doctor.

Call A Lawyer

-Talk to a lawyer before talking to anyone else about the accident. A lawyer knows how to help you.

Missouri Accident Reports

-It is Missouri law that you must file a written report with the Department of Revenue if these things happen:

+Either car has $500.00 damage or a person was injured;

+The accident was on a public street or highway; or

+A driver does not have insurance.

-You can get forms from a police department, your insurance company, or your lawyer.

Pay Nothing

-DO NOT PAY ANYONE MONEY UNLESS YOUR LAWYER TELLS YOU TO PAY!

*reprinted from Law and the Courts Resource Guide, 3-4, The Missouri Bar, 2006.

Hocking & Dulle, LLC
8509 Natural Bridge Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63121-4545
Ph 314-714-5794
Fax 314-423-4515

Hocking & Dulle, LLC
P.O. Box 45155
St.Louis, MO 63145

The attorneys Hocking & Dulle, LLC provide high-quality legal representation in many areas of the law including but not limited to, all traffic violations, DWI's/DUI's, all other criminal matters, real estate law and estate planning and drafting in St. Louis County, St. Louis City, St. Charles County, Lincoln County, Pike County, Warren County, and Jefferson County, and all of the cities, towns, and municipalities located therein including, but not limited to: Arnold, Ballwin, Bel-Nor, Bel-Ridge, Berkeley, Brentwood, Bridgeton, Chesterfield, Clayton, Cool Valley, Creve Coeur, Crystal City, Ferguson, Festus, Florissant, Frontenac, Hazelwood, Hillsboro, Imperial, Jennings, Kirkwood, Ladue, Maryland Heights, Mehlville, Normandy, O'Fallon, Olivette, Overland, Pine Lawn, Richmond Heights, Rock Hill, Shrewsbury, St. Ann, St. Charles, St. John, St. Peters, Sunset Hills, Town and Country, Troy, University City, Webster Grove, Wentzville, and Wright City.

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