Right after a crash, your focus should be safety and medical evaluation. But there are also steps that protect your ability to recover compensation later.
- Get checked even if you feel “mostly fine.” Missouri injuries from pedestrian impacts can worsen over time—especially head/neck symptoms and soft-tissue pain.
- Request the crash report number (and keep the report). If officers were called, that documentation often becomes a foundation for liability disputes.
- Record what you can while it’s still fresh: street location, intersection details, traffic signals, weather/lighting, and whether a vehicle made a late turn or failed to yield.
- Collect witness information. Republic has many local commuters and nearby visitors; witnesses may be passing through and can disappear quickly.
- Preserve photos/video. Capture crosswalk markings, curb cuts, signage, skid marks, vehicle damage, and your injuries (with care).
Avoid giving a recorded statement to an insurer before you understand the claim. Insurers sometimes ask questions that can be interpreted against the injured person later.


