Getting hit by an uninsured driver leaves you with injuries, mounting bills, and no clear path to compensation. Bur Oak Legal identifies every available source of recovery — your own UM coverage, direct suits, and more — and pursues the maximum the law allows.
(573) 499-0200 — free consultationMissouri law requires every driver to carry minimum liability insurance under §303.025 RSMo — but roughly 16.4% of Missouri drivers, an estimated 701,000 people, remain uninsured. If one of them hits you, the path to compensation isn't obvious. The at-fault driver has no policy to file against, and your own insurer has financial incentives to pay as little as possible on your uninsured motorist claim.
Chris Miller has represented car accident victims across central Missouri since 2012. He knows how to maximize recovery in uninsured motorist cases — evaluating all available coverage, identifying assets the at-fault driver may have, and when necessary, taking insurers to task when they undervalue legitimate claims.
If you've been hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, call (573) 499-0200 or reach out online for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win.
Before entering private practice, Chris Miller worked as a government attorney at the Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation — the state administrative body that hears disputed injury claims. He understands exactly how insurance companies evaluate claims, what arguments they use to minimize payouts, and how to counter them effectively. That background is a direct advantage in every uninsured motorist case he handles.
Missouri's uninsured driver rate is among the highest in the nation. Knowing the numbers helps injured victims understand why having experienced legal counsel is so important after a crash with an uninsured motorist.
Sources: Insurance Information Institute — Uninsured Motorists · §303.025 RSMo
When the at-fault driver has no insurance, you're not without options. Missouri law provides two main routes to compensation, and an experienced attorney can help you pursue one or both simultaneously.
If your own auto policy includes uninsured motorist coverage, it can pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages when the at-fault driver has no insurance. Missouri insurers are required to offer UM coverage — if you accepted it, it's available to you now. Bur Oak Legal reviews your policy carefully to maximize what you recover.
You can sue an uninsured driver directly in Missouri civil court. If successful, you obtain a judgment against them personally. Collecting on that judgment depends on the driver's assets — bank accounts, wages, real property. An attorney can assess whether direct suit, UM coverage, or both gives you the strongest path to real recovery.
If the at-fault driver had some insurance but not enough to cover your full damages, your underinsured motorist coverage may fill the gap. UIM kicks in after the at-fault driver's liability limits are exhausted. This option is frequently overlooked but often provides substantial additional compensation for seriously injured victims.
In some accidents, a third party — a vehicle owner whose car was being driven by an uninsured driver, an employer whose employee caused the crash, or a government entity responsible for dangerous road conditions — may also bear liability. Identifying all potentially responsible parties is part of how Bur Oak Legal maximizes recovery.
We start by reviewing all the details of your crash — the at-fault driver's insurance status, your own policy coverage, the nature and extent of your injuries, and available evidence. We explain every legal option in plain language so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed.
We gather evidence to establish fault and document your damages: police reports confirming the other driver's uninsured status, witness statements, dashcam and surveillance footage, medical records, and expert analysis as needed. Acting quickly preserves evidence that can disappear within days of a crash.
We identify every applicable insurance policy — your own UM and UIM coverage, any household vehicle policies, employer policies if applicable, and coverage under Missouri's comparative fault rules at §537.765 RSMo. We also assess whether a direct lawsuit against the at-fault driver is viable given their financial circumstances.
We negotiate aggressively with your insurer for full compensation of your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Insurers — even your own — have incentives to minimize UM payouts. If they refuse a fair settlement, we are fully prepared to take your case to arbitration or trial. Missouri's statute of limitations under §516.120 RSMo gives you five years to file, but waiting costs you evidence.
Missouri requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance under §303.025 RSMo — at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $10,000 for property damage. Drivers who fail to maintain coverage face license suspension, fines, and vehicle impoundment. Despite these requirements, roughly 16% of Missouri drivers remain uninsured at any given time. When one of them causes a crash, the injured victim's primary recovery option is their own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage — a policy provision that steps in to pay damages the at-fault driver cannot. Missouri insurers are required to offer UM coverage with every auto policy, though policyholders may waive it in writing. If you accepted UM coverage, it can pay for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other compensable damages. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage operates similarly but applies when the at-fault driver carries insurance that is simply insufficient to cover the full extent of your losses. Missouri's comparative fault statute at §537.765 RSMo allows injured victims to recover even when they share partial responsibility for the accident — though their damages are reduced proportionally. The personal injury statute of limitations under §516.120 RSMo gives you five years to file suit, but the practical deadline for preserving evidence and building a strong case is far shorter.
If you are involved in a car accident with an uninsured driver in Boone County or anywhere across central Missouri, the steps you take immediately after the crash have a direct impact on your ability to recover compensation. Call 911 and obtain a police report — the responding officer will document the other driver's insurance status, which is essential evidence for your UM claim. Seek medical attention even for injuries that seem minor; symptoms from whiplash, soft tissue damage, and traumatic brain injuries may not appear for hours or days. Document the scene with photographs and collect contact information from witnesses. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company — including your own — before consulting an attorney. Bur Oak Legal handles uninsured motorist cases throughout central Missouri on a contingency fee basis: you pay nothing unless we win. Call (573) 499-0200 or contact us online for a free consultation.
You have two main paths to compensation: filing a claim under your own uninsured motorist coverage if you have it, or suing the at-fault driver directly. Missouri law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance under §303.025 RSMo, but roughly 16% of Missouri drivers are uninsured. A car accident lawyer can identify all available sources of recovery and pursue the strongest option for your case.
Missouri law requires insurers to offer uninsured motorist coverage with every auto policy, but drivers can reject it in writing. If you accepted UM coverage, it can pay for your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance. If you rejected UM coverage, you may still be able to sue the at-fault driver directly — though collecting from an uninsured individual without assets can be difficult.
Yes. You can file a personal injury lawsuit directly against an uninsured driver in Missouri civil court. The challenge is collecting on any judgment — many uninsured drivers lack substantial assets. A lawyer assesses whether direct suit, your UM coverage, or a combination of approaches gives you the best chance of real recovery. Missouri's statute of limitations is five years under §516.120 RSMo.
If the other driver had insurance but the policy limits aren't enough to cover your full damages, your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage may make up the difference. UIM kicks in after the at-fault driver's liability limits are exhausted. Bur Oak Legal reviews all available policies to make sure nothing is left on the table.
Missouri's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is five years from the date of the accident under §516.120 RSMo. However, contractual deadlines in your own insurance policy for UM claims may be shorter. Consult a lawyer promptly — evidence degrades quickly and insurers use delay against claimants.
Missouri law gives you real options after a crash with an uninsured motorist. Chris Miller knows exactly how to use them. The consultation is free — and you pay nothing unless we win.
No fee unless we win · Free consultation · Central Missouri