The statute of limitations for a personal injury claim in Missouri is 5 years. This means that you must file your lawsuit in court within 5 years from the date of your injury. If someone is harmed while under the age of 21 or mentally incapacitated, their statute of limitations may be paused, or “tolled,” until they are an adult or otherwise able to pursue legal action for themselves.

The Missouri statute of limitations is laid out in Missouri Revised Statutes Section 516.120.

Also referred to as “tort law,” personal injury law aims to compensate victims for wrongdoings, or “torts.” Cases are based on negligence, which is comprised of liability, causation and damages.

The plaintiff, or person who brings the case, must prove that the person who harmed them violated a duty of care. Then, the plaintiff must show that this violation caused their damages. The defendant, or liable person, must then be responsible for the damages or injuries the plaintiff sustained.

Personal injury law can apply any time there’s an accident or injury, but it occurs most frequently during car accidents. Drivers have a duty to exercise the highest degree of care on the road, and any breach of this duty (liability) can cause injuries and losses (damages), for which the at-fault party is responsible.