What is the personal injury statute of limitations in Missouri?

1. General Personal Injury

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120(4) imposes a 5-year SOL for personal injury and other tort claims, one of the longest in the country.

2. Wrongful Death

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 537.100 imposes a 3-year SOL for wrongful death, running from the date of death.

3. Medical Malpractice

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.105 imposes a 2-year SOL for health care providers, with a 10-year statute of repose. Minors under 10 have until age 12; foreign-object cases have 2 years from discovery.

4. Discovery Rule

Missouri applies the discovery rule under § 516.100, holding that a cause of action accrues when damage is "sustained and capable of ascertainment."

5. Minor / Disability Tolling

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.170 tolls limitations during minority and mental incapacity; plaintiff has the SOL period after disability ends (subject to medical malpractice repose).

6. Government Defendant

The Missouri sovereign immunity statute (§ 537.600) waives immunity for motor vehicle and dangerous condition claims. Notice within 90 days is required for cities under § 82.210 and § 71.185. Damages capped under § 537.610.

7. Product Liability

Subject to the 5-year SOL under § 516.120; Missouri does not have a general products statute of repose.

8. Equitable Tolling / Fraudulent Concealment

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.280 tolls SOL when a defendant has fraudulently concealed the cause of action.

9. Borrowing Statute

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.190 borrows the SOL of the state where the cause of action originated when shorter than Missouri's.

This is legal information, not legal advice.