Key facts: Missouri
- When the clock starts
- Generally the date of injury for personal injury claims; the date of death for wrongful death. Missouri follows the discovery rule for most negligence claims, which delays accrual when the injury was not, or could not reasonably have been, discovered at the time.
- Last verified
- 2026-05-22
- Source type
- Primary (state code or court opinion)
Details and exceptions for Missouri
Missouri has an unusually long five-year PI deadline under § 516.120. Wrongful death is three years from the date of death under § 537.100. Medical malpractice has its own two-year deadline under § 516.105.
Related: Missouri comparative negligence rule
Missouri follows a pure comparative rule. Pure comparative fault adopted by the Missouri Supreme Court in Gustafson v. Benda under the Uniform Comparative Fault Act framework. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.765 codifies pure comparative fault for products-liability claims.
Read the full Missouri comparative negligence rule →This page is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Notice deadlines for claims against governmental units, medical malpractice, intentional torts, and other special categories run on separate tracks and can be much shorter. Confirm the controlling rule with a licensed Missouri attorney before relying on it.