The right first call after a crash depends on injury, vehicle damage, safety, insurance, and fault. In Missouri, the safest order is practical: emergency help first, police documentation second, medical care third, insurance notice fourth, and legal review when injuries, uninsured drivers, or disputed fault are involved.
Who should you call first after a Missouri car accident?
Call 911 first if anyone is hurt, traffic is blocked, a driver leaves, or the crash creates a safety risk. Missouri’s insurance department says police should be notified after hit-and-run, uninsured motorist, vandalism, theft, or property-damage situations (Missouri insurance claim guidance).
If vehicles can move safely, get them out of traffic. If they cannot move safely, wait for law enforcement. Use hazard lights, flares, reflectors, or flashlights when weather or darkness creates more risk. Leaving the scene can create criminal and civil problems.
When should you call the police after a car accident?
Call police when anyone is injured, a driver may be uninsured, property damage is meaningful, a driver leaves, alcohol or drugs may be involved, or there is disagreement about what happened. Missouri DOR says an accident involving an uninsured motorist must be reported to the Driver License Bureau when damage exceeds $500 or someone is injured or killed.
A police report can identify drivers, insurance, witnesses, location, injuries, vehicle damage, and initial contributing factors. If the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the crash, a basic crash report can usually be requested after 10 days from the crash investigation (MSHP traffic crash reports).
When should you call a doctor after a car accident?
Call a doctor or seek urgent care quickly if pain, dizziness, numbness, headache, confusion, neck pain, back pain, or abdominal pain appears after the crash. NHTSA’s 2024 annual data reported 39,254 traffic deaths, which shows why injury symptoms after crashes should be taken seriously even when a vehicle still runs.
Medical records connect symptoms to the crash date, document restrictions, and help identify injuries that may worsen later. Waiting can make treatment harder and can also create insurance disputes about whether the crash caused the injury. Keep bills, visit summaries, prescriptions, work notes, and mileage records.
When should you call your insurance company?
Call your insurer soon after the crash, but keep the first report factual. The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance says people should immediately report an accident or circumstances that may cause a claim to their insurance company or agent (Missouri insurance claim guidance).
Give the date, location, vehicles, police-report information, and basic injury status. Avoid guessing about speed, fault, permanent injury, or settlement value before medical care and reports are complete. If the other driver was uninsured, Missouri DOR accident-report rules may also apply.
When should you call a car accident lawyer?
Call a lawyer when the crash caused injury, missed work, hospitalization, disputed fault, an uninsured driver, a commercial vehicle, a hit-and-run, or pressure from an adjuster. Missouri generally allows 5 years for personal injury actions under RSMo section 516.120, but evidence can disappear much sooner.
A lawyer can preserve video, request reports, review insurance coverage, organize medical records, evaluate fault, and protect the injured person from early settlement pressure. Carter & Putnam is based in Lee’s Summit and serves clients across Missouri in car accident and personal injury matters.
| Who to call | When to call | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 911 or police | Injury, blocked traffic, hit-and-run, uninsured driver, major damage, or unsafe scene | Creates emergency response and crash documentation. |
| Doctor or urgent care | Pain, symptoms, head impact, neck or back pain, dizziness, or delayed symptoms | Protects health and documents injury timing. |
| Insurance company | After safety and medical needs are addressed | Starts claim handling and preserves policy notice. |
| Car accident lawyer | Injury, fault dispute, uninsured driver, commercial vehicle, or settlement pressure | Protects evidence, claim value, and communication strategy. |
What information should you collect before making calls?
Collect names, phone numbers, license plates, insurance details, photos, witness information, location, time, road conditions, and the officer’s report number. MSHP says official crash reports can include driver information, insurance information, vehicle damage, witness names, collision diagrams, injury information, weather, road conditions, and probable contributing circumstances (MSHP official crash report information).
Do not post crash details online. Save dashcam footage, photos, repair estimates, medical paperwork, tow receipts, and messages from insurers. If the crash happened near Lee’s Summit, Independence, Raymore, Harrisonville, Nixa, or another Missouri community, local agencies may control the report process.
What questions do people ask after a Missouri car accident?
Should you call police after a minor accident?
Often, yes. Police documentation helps when fault, injury, uninsured status, or damage is disputed. Missouri also requires certain uninsured-motorist accidents to be reported to the Driver License Bureau when damage exceeds $500 or someone is injured or killed.
Should you call the other driver’s insurance company?
You may need to report the claim, but keep statements factual. Do not guess about fault or injury severity before medical review and report documentation are complete. Recorded statements should be handled carefully when injuries are involved.
Can you wait to see a doctor after a crash?
Waiting can be risky if symptoms are present. Pain, headache, dizziness, numbness, or neck and back symptoms should be evaluated promptly. Medical records help connect the symptoms to the crash and guide treatment.
What if the crash was a hit-and-run?
Call police, report the crash to insurance, preserve photos and witness information, and ask about uninsured motorist coverage. Missouri insurance guidance says police should be notified if the person was the victim of a hit-and-run driver.