St. Louis City Police Not Showing Up to Write Crash Reports

Unfortunately, we need to warn clients that St. Louis City Police are either not showing up or taking hours to respond to traffic crashes when the parties do not need immediate attention at the scene (considered Priority 3 calls).  Average response times to 911 calls have climbed to 40 minutes.  While this may be due to staffing issues and the police prioritizing more pressing crimes, it creates issues for the victims of car crashes when trying to resolve injury or property damage claims.

Most insurance companies want to see the police report before deciding liability, but if one is not available, they must rely on statements from the parties or independent witnesses.  We have had several instances in which the at-fault driver changed their story after leaving the scene and the crash became a “he said, she said”.  This is especially the case in intersection crashes involving traffic lights or stop signs.  Both drivers claim they had the right of way and the insurance companies are unable to determine which version is correct.  In that situation, each driver’s insurance company will typically side with their own driver.

If you find yourself in this situation, immediately call 911 and begin preserving any evidence at the scene.  That means photographs/videos of the vehicles and, if possible, video/audio of the other driver admitting fault (if applicable).  If you are injured, also notify 911 so an ambulance can be dispatched, which can further create a paper trail of what occurred.  Unfortunately, the cameras at intersections seldom maintain a copy of the footage (they are typically now used as real-time videos to assess current traffic conditions) but, even if they do, it is often difficult and expensive to get the footage.  Occasionally, a nearby business may have security footage.  However, if not obtained immediately, sometimes that footage is overwritten and lost.  Here are some actions that could minimize future problems if the police will not respond to the scene.

• Stay at the scene as long as possible.  It is better to wait for the police to arrive than to leave the scene.
• Get a dash camera for your vehicle and keep it running while you are driving.  This is the best option to have objective proof of what occurred.  Obviously it cuts both ways so, if you are at-fault, it will show that as well.
• Hit record on your smartphone as soon as you can and keep the video running until you leave the scene.  If you are worried about space, there is a “Voice Memos” app that comes on most phones as well, but video is better.
• When calling 911, report the crash, your injuries and exactly how the crash occurred.
• If there are any witnesses, ensure you get their contact information and provide it to the police officer, the insurance company and an attorney if you hire one.
• If you witness a crash and know one party is at fault, please call 911 and report what you saw as an independent witness.  It can be very quick, for example, “I’m calling to report a crash at Compton and Chouteau, a red SUV ran a red light and hit a black sedan.”  These recordings can be played in court and are sometimes the only evidence of what occurred during a crash.

For anyone that loved watching the 2026 World Cup, the soccer does not have to end!  Tarun may have missed the amazing Argentina win in Kansas City but he was able to attend the City SC vs. Colorado game a couple weeks ago.  City SC ended up winning 1-0 in stoppage time.  Major League Soccer runs through November this year so there are plenty of matches left to enjoy.