Common Causes of Car Accidents & Tips for Safe Driving in Missouri

Most Common Car Accident Causes in Missouri (2022 Update)

Car accidents are responsible for over 35,000 deaths and countless more injuries in the United States each year.

These accidents are a daily occurrence and, as personal injury lawyers, we hear about them all of the time. What isn’t always spoken of, is the cause of these car accidents and how we can prevent them from happening.

After all, car accidents are the leading cause of preventable deaths in this country.

Safer America estimates that each year, nearly $900 billion in damage is caused by automobile accidents.

1. Car accidents caused by distractions

What probably comes as little surprise, drivers being distracted are the most common cause of car accidents in Missouri.

One of the most common distractions nowadays are cell phones.

Texting while driving is one of the fastest-growing and most problematic causes of motor vehicle accidents. The act of texting while operating a vehicle is extremely dangerous not only to yourself, but others in the vehicle and those on the road.

A study by the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety found that 9 out of 10 people have been distracted by cell phones while behind the wheel and over 400 fatalities since 2016 were definitely caused by cell phones.

Even more mind-blowing is the fact that it is estimated that 1 out of every 4 car accidents is caused by texting and driving.

Quick Stat: 1,600,000 estimated crashes per year are caused by car accidents

Tips for Avoiding Cell Phone Distractions when Driving: Put your phone in your trunk before driving so there is no way for you to access it. If you are worried about your children texting and driving there are several apps that they can have downloaded on their phone that blocks texts and calls while driving.

It is also important to constantly stress the importance of safe driving to them. There is also many videos and stories online of people sharing their text and driving stories.

2. Car accidents caused by speeding and reckless driving

We see drivers speed all of the time whether it’s 5 mph over or 30. No matter what the case is, speeding & reckless driving happens far too often and is a large cause for car accidents.

Trying to stop while speeding is difficult and often ends in a crash. Running red lights, switching lanes continuously, and tailgating are acts of reckless driving that can result in an accident.

26% of car accident fatalities are caused by one driver speeding.

Tips for Avoiding Speeding & Driving: It is important to remember that there is nothing worth dying for and there is nothing worth killing other people for, especially the risk of showing up somewhere late. Most of the time people speed to avoid being late or missing something. Setting clocks and reminders ahead of time is the best way to eliminate the need to speed.

3. Car accidents caused by eating while driving

In the society we live in today, everything is go, go, go. Due to this mentality, a lot of people try to save time with multi-tasking. In terms of eating and driving, this is a very bad idea. Eating in the car is extremely dangerous and often shifts the focus of driving to eating. Make time to eat before you begin driving or wait until you reach your destination.

Quick Stat: You are two times more likely to get in a car crash if you are eating while you are driving.

Tips for Avoiding Eating & Driving: Much like speeding, people often eat while driving to conserve time.

Eating and driving should be avoided at all costs, but if you have no choice but to eat while driving, make sure you are eating something that requires the least amount of attention as possible and all wrappers, lids and bags are opened prior to starting the ignition.

You should also make sure it is something that can be consumed with one hand and only take bites while stopped at a light or sign.

4. Car accidents caused by drinking and driving

No matter how much, or how little, you have had to drink it is never a good idea to get behind the wheel after consuming alcohol. Drinking impairs your driving and causes the mind to do many things and, most of the time, concentrating on the road is not one of those things.

We have all heard, read or witnessed the horror stories that happen after someone has been drinking and then got behind the wheel of a car. It puts not only you at risk, but also everyone else on the roads as well.

Quick Stat: 180,000 Americans have died since 2001 from the result of drinking and driving car accidents.

Tips for Avoiding Drinking & Driving: There is absolutely no excuse to drink alcohol and get behind the wheel of a car.

If you have had anything to drink you should not get behind the wheel. You are putting yourself at the risk of a night in jail, an expensive ticket and even worse an accident that could kill yourself and others. If you think you are going to be drinking make it a priority to have a ride afterward.

Whether its a cab, a friend or sleeping on the street, make sure you know driving is not an option.

5. Car accidents caused by in-car distractions

It doesn’t matter if you’re driving with 5 people or by yourself, there will always be distractions that cause you to lose focus of driving. Things like friends, the radio, your air conditioner are constantly causing us to lose focus of the road. Taking your eyes off of the road for even 2 seconds is long enough for you to get in a fender bender or even a serious collision.

Quick Stat: 660,000 people, at any given time, are distracted by their radios, GPS system or other electronic devices.

Tips to Avoid Distractions in the Car: Have a set routine for switching songs, change the station or adjust the temperature. Make it a habit to only do so when the car is stopped or, an even better solution, choose your radio station, playlist and/or temperature settings before you put the car in drive. It is also vital that the people in your car know you need to dedicate all of your attention to the road and cannot be bothered while the car is in drive.

6. Car accidents caused by driver fatigue

Driving on little sleep is never okay and puts you at risk for an accident that could have been avoided.

Falling asleep at the wheel is a phrase you often hear and someone who has a history of doing this may be prosecuted for a criminal offense. Driver fatigue can range from sleeping at the wheel to just tired from not enough sleep.

A study by the CDC found that 1 out of every 25 drivers had fallen asleep while driving in the past 30 days.

Tips for Avoiding Fatigued Driving: Making sure you are well rested before driving is extremely important. All it takes is a split second of dozing off for a disaster to strike. If you think you’re at risk of falling asleep or losing focus, pull over and find another ride home or to your destination.

8. Car accidents caused by poor weather

Poor weather can make nearly impossible driving conditions and are frequently at fault for car accidents. Rain, snow, fog, wet pavement and handful of other conditions are far too often responsible for minor to serious collisions on the road. If you or someone else on the road, is inexperienced or is driving a vehicle not meant for dealing with certain conditions, it puts the lives of everyone on the road at risk.

Tips for Avoiding Dangerous Weather when Driving: If you think there is even the slightest possibility of poor weather conditions before driving you must ask yourself if you and your vehicle are capable of handling the situation. If you are in the middle of driving when inclement weather strikes, pull your vehicle over, turn on your flashes, and wait for to die down or a ride from someone with the ability to drive in the given conditions.

Related: Who is at fault in a car accident caused by hydroplaning? 

Additional Tips for Safe Driving in Missouri

Beyond the most common causes of crashes, a few Missouri-specific rules and seasonal risks are worth knowing, both because they can prevent a wreck and because they can affect a claim if you’re ever injured by another driver.

Know Missouri’s hands-free driving law.

Missouri’s Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law (RSMo 304.822) prohibits drivers from physically holding a phone to text, call, browse, or watch videos while driving anywhere in the state. Hands-free and voice-operated features, along with navigation apps, are still allowed. A first violation can bring a fine of up to $150, with higher fines for repeat violations and for offenses in work or school zones. If a violation causes serious injury or death, the charges escalate to a misdemeanor or felony.

Move over or slow down for stopped emergency and MoDOT vehicles.

Missouri’s Move Over Law (RSMo 304.022) requires drivers to change lanes away from a stopped emergency vehicle, police car, tow truck, or MoDOT vehicle running its lights, or to slow down significantly if changing lanes isn’t safe. This protects the responders, officers, and highway workers standing just feet from passing traffic, and violations can carry real criminal exposure if they result in a collision.

Buckle up, including in the back seat.

Missouri law (RSMo 307.178) requires the driver and front-seat passengers of most passenger vehicles to wear a seat belt. The fine for not buckling up is small on its own, but the practical stakes are much higher: MoDOT reports that 62 percent of vehicle occupants killed in Missouri work zone crashes in 2025 were not wearing a seat belt. A seat belt won’t stop a crash caused by someone else’s reckless driving, but it dramatically improves your odds of walking away from one.

Watch for deer, especially this time of year.

Missouri ranks 17th nationally for animal-vehicle collisions, with roughly 1-in-97 odds of a driver filing an animal-collision claim, compared to a 1-in-139 national average. November, October, and December are the most dangerous months, as deer are more active during mating season and hunting season pushes them toward roadways. Stay especially alert at dawn and dusk near wooded areas, use high beams when there’s no oncoming traffic, and if a collision looks unavoidable, brake firmly and stay in your lane rather than swerving, which is what causes many of the more serious crashes.

Slow down and stay alert in work zones.

With road construction ongoing across the St. Louis area and the rest of Missouri, work zones present a unique risk. MoDOT attributed 437 work zone crashes and 12 fatalities to distracted driving in 2025 alone, and speeding was a factor in 11 percent of work zone crashes statewide. Give yourself extra following distance, obey posted work zone speed limits even when no workers are visible, and merge early rather than at the last moment.

Hold rideshare and delivery drivers to the same standard.

With more Uber, Lyft, and delivery drivers on Missouri roads than ever, it’s worth remembering that these drivers face the same distractions as anyone else, often magnified by constantly checking a navigation app, watching for pickup addresses, or working under pressure to complete more trips. Give rideshare and delivery vehicles extra space, especially near curbs and in unfamiliar neighborhoods where they may stop or turn suddenly.

Frequently Asked Questions About Safe Driving in Missouri

What is Missouri’s hands-free driving law? The Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law makes it illegal to hold a phone while driving anywhere in Missouri, including to text, dial, or browse. Hands-free calling, voice commands, and navigation apps are still permitted.

Do I have to wear a seat belt in Missouri? Yes. Missouri law requires the driver and front-seat passengers in most passenger vehicles to wear a seat belt. Not wearing one can’t be used to argue you were partly at fault for a crash, but it can reduce the damages you recover by up to 1 percent if evidence shows it made your injuries worse.

What is Missouri’s Move Over Law? Drivers approaching a stopped police car, ambulance, tow truck, or MoDOT vehicle with its lights activated must change lanes away from it if safe to do so, or slow down significantly if they can’t change lanes.

If I was partly at fault for my accident, can I still recover compensation in Missouri? Yes. Missouri follows a pure comparative fault rule (RSMo 537.765), meaning you can still recover damages even if you were mostly at fault for a crash, though your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. This is very different from states that cut off recovery entirely once a driver is more than 50 percent at fault.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Missouri? In most cases, Missouri gives you five years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury or property damage lawsuit under RSMo 516.120. That deadline can be shorter in certain circumstances, such as claims against a government entity, so it’s worth talking to an attorney well before time runs out.

What should I do after a car accident caused by another driver? Call police to the scene, seek medical attention even if you feel fine, photograph the vehicles and surrounding area, exchange information with the other driver, and avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance company, including your own, before speaking with an attorney.

Are Uber, Lyft, and delivery drivers held to the same safe driving standards as everyone else? Yes. Rideshare and delivery drivers must follow the same Missouri traffic laws as any other motorist, and they can be held liable for a crash they cause. These cases often involve an added layer of insurance coverage through the rideshare or delivery company, which makes them more complex to navigate without legal help.

What are the penalties for drinking and driving in Missouri? A first-offense DWI (RSMo 577.010) is generally charged as a Class B misdemeanor, with jail time required in certain circumstances when blood alcohol content is 0.15 percent or higher. Penalties increase sharply for repeat offenses or for a DWI that results in injury or death.

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