What Really Causes Most Car Accidents in Missouri?

August 3, 2015

Distracted driving, speeding, impaired driving, and other forms of negligence are among the most common reasons car accidents occur in Missouri. Knowing what contributes to these crashes can encourage safer driving and help injured victims understand their legal rights. 

If you’ve been injured in a collision, identifying the cause of the crash isn’t just informative. It can play a key role in proving negligence, establishing liability, and recovering compensation for your injuries. 

To discuss your case and your options for compensation with a car accident lawyer at Cofman Townsley, contact us today and schedule a free consultation.

Why Understanding the Cause of a Crash Matters

Determining the cause of a crash is one of the first steps in establishing liability. It can shape the insurance investigation, identify the evidence needed to prove negligence, and determine whether more than one party may be legally responsible. 

Missouri follows a pure comparative fault system. This means more than one driver may share responsibility for an accident, and their percentage of fault reduces an injured person’s compensation.

Because liability depends on proving negligence, identifying the underlying cause of a crash is one of the most important parts of any injury claim.

The Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Missouri

Traffic crashes remain a serious public safety issue across the state. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), 954 people lost their lives on roadways in 2024. 

Many crashes in Missouri result from preventable driver behaviors or roadway conditions that require motorists to exercise greater caution. The following are some of the causes of motor vehicle accidents throughout the state. 

Distracted Driving

Any activity that takes a driver’s eyes, hands, or attention away from driving can increase the risk of a collision. 

Common distractions include: 

• Texting
• Holding or using a cellphone
• Adjusting navigation systems
• Eating or drinking
• Talking with passengers
• Reaching for objects inside the vehicle

MoDOT reports that distracted driving contributed to 106 roadway deaths in 2024. In response to the dangers of distracted driving, Missouri’s Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law, which took effect in August 2023, prohibits drivers from physically holding or supporting a cellphone while driving.

Speeding

Speeding doesn’t just increase the likelihood of a collision. It also makes crashes more severe. Higher speeds reduce the amount of time drivers have to:

• Recognize hazards
• Brake safely
• Avoid other vehicles
• Maintain control during emergencies

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that 39% of fatal crashes in 2023 involved speed as a probable contributing circumstance. 

Speeding is especially dangerous on:

• Rural highways
• Curving roads
• Construction zones
• Busy urban streets
• During poor weather

Even modest increases in speed can make it more difficult to avoid a crash and increase the risk of serious or fatal injuries. 

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving often involves a combination of unsafe driving behaviors, including: 

• Tailgating
• Weaving through traffic
• Unsafe lane changes
• Running red lights
• Cutting off other vehicles
• Road rage

Many rear-end collisions, sideswipe accidents, and intersection crashes involve aggressive driving behaviors. These actions often violate Missouri traffic laws and can provide important evidence of negligence when determining liability after a crash. 

Impaired Driving

Any substance that affects a driver’s physical or mental abilities can increase the risk of a serious crash. Impairment may slow reaction time, cloud judgment, reduce coordination, affect vision, and make it more difficult to respond safely to changing road conditions. 

Impairment isn’t limited to alcohol. Drivers may also be impaired by: 

• Illegal drugs
• Marijuana
• Prescription medications
• Certain over-the-counter medications

Drivers who cause crashes while impaired may also face criminal charges, but those proceedings are separate from an injured person’s right to pursue compensation through a civil claim. 

Drowsy Driving

Fatigue can impair a driver’s ability to operate their vehicle safely, making it more difficult to stay alert, maintain focus, and respond appropriately to traffic conditions. 

Drowsy driving is particularly common:

• Late at night
• Early in the morning
• After long work shifts
• During lengthy highway trips

Unlike alcohol impairment, fatigue can be difficult to identify after a crash, making witness statements, electronic evidence, and a thorough investigation important when drowsy driving is suspected. 

Failure to Obey Traffic Laws

Traffic laws establish rules that help drivers safely share the road. Violations that contribute to crashes include: 

• Running stop signs
• Running red lights
• Failing to yield
• Illegal turns
• Improper lane changes
• Ignoring work-zone traffic controls

When a driver violates a traffic law and causes a collision, that violation can provide strong evidence of negligence.

Weather and Road Conditions

Missouri drivers encounter a wide range of weather conditions throughout the year, and rain, snow, ice, fog, and high winds can all make roads more hazardous. Although weather may contribute to a crash, it does not automatically excuse negligent driving.

Drivers are expected to respond to worsening weather conditions by:

• Reducing speed
• Increasing following distance
• Using headlights when appropriate
• Allowing additional stopping distance

When motorists fail to adjust their driving to match road and weather conditions, they may still be held liable for a collision, even if adverse weather was a contributing factor.

Other Factors That May Contribute to Car Accidents

Some collisions involve more than one contributing factor. Defective vehicle parts, mechanical failures, unsafe road conditions, construction zone hazards, or inexperienced drivers may all play a role. In these situations, multiple parties may share legal responsibility for the crash. 

How the Cause of a Crash Can Affect Liability

Taken together, evidence of these factors helps determine how the crash occurred and who should be held responsible.

How a Missouri Car Accident Attorney Can Help

The hours and days after a serious collision are critical. As insurance companies begin investigating the crash, valuable evidence may be lost, overwritten, or become more difficult to obtain. 

An experienced Missouri car accident attorney can help by:

• Conducting an independent investigation
• Preserving and gathering critical evidence
• Identifying all potentially liable parties
• Working with accident reconstruction and other experts
• Negotiating with insurance companies
• Calculating the full value of your damages
• Filing a lawsuit if a fair settlement cannot be reached

The sooner an attorney becomes involved, the greater the opportunity to secure important evidence.

Compensation Available After a Car Accident in Missouri

If another person’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for losses such as:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatment
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Property damage
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Permanent disability or disfigurement

The compensation available depends on the severity of the injuries and the facts of the case. 

What to Do After a Car Accident

After a car accident, taking a few important steps can help protect your health, secure valuable evidence, and strengthen any future insurance or injury claim. 

If possible, take the following steps: 

• Call 911 and report the accident
• Seek medical attention
• Photograph the vehicles, accident scene, and visible injuries
• Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver
• Collect names and contact information for witnesses
• Avoid discussing fault or apologizing at the scene
• Notify your insurance company 
• Consult a Missouri car accident attorney before accepting a settlement offer

Injured in a Missouri Car Accident? Cofman Townsley Can Help

Determining the cause of a crash can make the difference between recovering full compensation and having your claim unfairly disputed. From reviewing crash reports and electronic data to working with investigators and experts, we investigate every available source of evidence to determine how the crash occurred and who may be responsible. 

If someone else’s negligence caused your injuries, a car crash attorney at Cofman Townsley is ready to help you understand your legal options during a free case review.