Missouri on Pace to Surpass Last Year’s Roadway Fatalities

By The Cagle Law Firm | November 5, 2025 | Car Accidents, Featured, News

We can change that prediction. In this entire article about tragic loss, we have one message–-seat belts save lives.  As of the first of November, there have been close to 533 roadway fatalities worked by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.    The Missouri State Highway Patrol does not work all of the fatal crashes across the state of Missouri, but their numbers across the state indicate trends.  According to MoDOT, there have been 745 road fatalities thus far in 2025. The data reviewed in this article discusses the 533 fatalities from the MSHP regarding details about those fatalities.  Those are 553 individuals that had family, friends and communities.  We each can take action to lower roadway fatalities. Traffic crashes are by definition tragic because they are preventable. While we cannot control other people’s driving behaviors, the single most impactful thing each of us can do to prevent roadway fatalities is wear a seat belt.

In 2023, there were 989 roadway fatalities in Missouri and that number dropped to 954 fatalities in 2024.

According to a recent news story on STL NPR, Missouri is on pace to surpass last year’s highway death toll (Missouri State Department of Transportation)  According to the MoDOT Deputy Director and Chief Engineer, there have been 745 roadway fatalities this year.  MoDOT combined state and local data of roadway fatalities.  MSHP has worked 533 fatalities and local law enforcement has worked an additional 212 fatalities. The Deputy Director emphasized the importance of wearing a seat belt and obeying traffic laws.  He further noted that the I-70 construction project began this year.   While we have not seen specific increase in fatalities around that specific project, I-70 will be under construction for the next five years.  Inattention and speed are still the common causes for crashes. Concerns were again expressed as we are approaching holiday traffic of November and December when there tend to be more impaired drivers.

Crash Data/Fatalities in 2025

Again, MSHP provides specific data about 533 fatalities as of October 31, 2025.  We often look at this data  in an attempt to reduce the number of fatalities on our Missouri roadways. Of those 533 fatalities, 168 victims were restrained, 278 were not restrained, 46 were unknown and there were 32 exemptions which generally means pedestrians.  Years of seat belt statistic research continually finds that your chance of surviving a crash increases by almost 50% when you are restrained. And, that number increases if you are in a pick up, SUV or a back seat passenger. According to the MO statistics, over 50% of roadway fatalities involved an occupant who was unrestrained.  That statistic is consistent with other fatalities in other states.

When we think about seat belts increasing our survival rate by almost 50% , it seems clear that those numbers could be drastically improved. That is not to say that each of the 278 unrestrained motorists killed this year could have absolutely been saved IF they had been wearing a seat belt. There are simply some motor vehicle crashes that are going to be fatal regardless of all safety measures.  However, statistics and history show us that we can drastically lower those fatal numbers and possibly, we did not have to lose 270 plus people.  Our firm represents those seriously injured or killed in motor vehicle crashes. We see the grim aftermath of driving errors, speeding and drunk driving every day and it is tragic. Those seriously injured face months or years in medical treatment and possibly life-long complications. If promoting seat belt safety issues would prevent one death, it is worth the time.

Seat Belts Save Lives

The national seat belt usage rate is 91.6% nationally.   Missouri has seat belt usage rate of 88.3%, thus we have a lot of room for improvement.  Missouri is ranked 41st among the states and territories for seat belt use.   Many Americans understand the lifesaving value of seat belts and national rates have raised over the last 20 years.  In 2023,  there were 991 roadway fatalities in Missouri where passenger vehicle occupants were killed. Of those fatally injured, 63% were unrestrained.

Buckling up is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash.

Seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive and distracted drivers.  Primarily, seat belts keep you in the vehicle. Occupants ejected from the vehicle are 75-83% more likely to be killed.

Seat Belt Myths

Seat belts cause injuries–MYTH. It is the impact of the collision that causes the injury, not the restraint.  We have never heard of someone being injured by a seat belt unless there was an impact.  Seat belts keep you in the vehicle and keep your body from being thrown about the vehicle.  Yes, there can be bruising due to the impact on the seat belt restraint, but it is the hard impact that causes the injury.  In reality, everything in the car can cause injury but the seat belt is one of the few things that can save you.

I have air-bags so I really don’t need the seat belt. MYTH  Seat belts are designed to work WITH air bags. Air bags do not always deploy depending on the impact of the collision. As well, if you have more than one impact  which is common, the air bag does not sustain multiple impacts.  Thus, if another vehicle hits your car and your car then hit another object such as another car, tree, fence, etc; the air bag does not protect in multiple impacts.  Air bags are not enough to protect you.  In reality, an air bag can seriously injure you or kill you if you are not buckled up.

Seat belts can trap you in fire or under water. MYTH.  Incidents involving fire or water account for only one-half of 1% of all crashes.  If there is fire or water, you have to be conscious to escape the vehicle.  Wearing a seat belt gives you a far better chance of being conscious and able to escape should that rare event occur.

I drive a pick up which is safer so I don’t need a seat belt. MYTH  Occupants in SUV’s, pick ups and vans, seat belts actually reduce the risk of fatal injury to the driver and front seat passenger by  60%.

Pregnant women should not wear seat belts. MYTH. Doctors absolutely recommend that every pregnant occupant should always wear a seat belt. Again, wearing  a seat belt is the most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and an unborn child in a crash.

…..After a motor vehicle crash

Car crashes are overwhelming and there is always a sense of panic after a crash happens. Yet, each of us are in an average of 4-6 in our lifetimes. Thank goodness, those are not statistically always serious crashes.  Each driver should have a plan in place and know what steps they should take after a crash. Whether the crash is a little fender bender or a major collision, knowing the steps prevents costly mistakes.  We have found that when people have a plan in place, it also helps with the anxiety of the situation.  You develop a plan in case your houses catches on fire. Statistically, the chance of a house fire is remote whereas a car crash is highly likely.

Steps After a Car Crash:

• Call 911–  Immediately call 911 or police to respond to injuries and get police to document the crash. No matter fault, you will need a police report in order to file any kind of insurance claim.  More importantly, hesitating to call the police can slow response time. People injured in motor vehicle crashes do not always have minutes to spare.  The crash has happened, involve authorities to avoid later conflicts.
• Exchange and collect information– The police will gather insurance information, but it’s always a good idea to exchange information, gather any witness names and Take Photos of Your Vehicle at the Crash Site.  Granted, these recommendations include only those people that can safely do so.
• Seek medical help. If you are in need of an ambulance, take it when offered.  Rarely do we talk to someone that regretted accepting an ambulance. The reverse is more true.  If you are hurt, don’t mess around with trying to coordinate separate transportation to go and then wait in triage at the ER.  While most people think an ambulance is going to be crazy expensive, in town trips are not outlandish. (Not more outlandish than any other medical treatment)  If you asses at the scene that you don’t need immediate medical treatment, go to urgent care or the ER as soon as you develop symptoms.  Again, do not hesitate when it comes to your physical recovery.  Putting off going to the doctor can cause complications with your healing and your case.
• Call an attorney.  No one really wants to hire an attorney because that means they are hurt.  No one ever calls us unless something bad has happened–it’s the nature of our work.  Consultations are always free.  We would much rather spend a few minutes on the phone with you advising how to look out for your best interests than for you to go solo.  Not everyone that calls our firm needs legal help.   There are questions about what to do in the first few hours, days and weeks after a crash.
• Download our app for Iphone– Injury Attorney to walk through steps, gathering information, rideshares and free consultations.

Call us toll free 1.800.685.3302 or locally 314.276.1681

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