You may have seen many vehicles around Missouri with tint and wondered whether that’s legal or if someone’s car has too much tint. If that person caused an accident with your vehicle, you might also be wondering how this could affect your car accident claim.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can explain the Missouri tint law and your legal rights during a free consultation.
What Is Window Tint?
Window tint is a thin film or coating that is applied to windows to reduce the amount of light and heat that enters a vehicle. Some window tints are standard on vehicles, while some car owners apply them after-market.
Why Do People Tint Their Windows?
People tint their windows for various purposes. Window tint can provide a number of benefits, including:
- Blocking out harmful ultraviolet rays
- Reducing the amount of glare from the sun
- Keeping the interior of the vehicle cooler
- Slowing the fading of interior surfaces due to sunlight exposure
- Increasing privacy and security inside a vehicle
If car owners choose to tint their windows, they must do so in accordance with state laws.
Missouri Window Tinting Laws
Legal tint in Missouri for front side windows must allow more than 35% of light in, plus or minus three percent light transmittance. Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line on the windshield. The backside windows and the rear window can be of any darkness.
Missouri does offer a medical exception. For any tint with less light transmittance, the driver must obtain a physician’s prescription indicating they have a serious medical condition and the specific tint percentage needed above the standard allowance. The driver must request a permit for this purpose from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
If people have tint beyond the amount permitted by law, they can be stopped by law enforcement and will be subject to a fine.
How Can Window Tint Affect a Car Accident Claim?
Missouri is an at-fault state for car accidents, so the driver found responsible for the accident is responsible for paying for the damages. If you were injured in a car accident, window tint could have been a factor.
Anything that reduces a driver’s visibility can cause an accident. If the driver applied dark aftermarket tinting, they may not have been able to see nearby traffic as well, which could have caused or contributed to the accident. Additionally, if the window tint is beyond the standard limit, this could imply that the driver has a medical condition that affects their vision.
An experienced lawyer can use the discovery process to obtain additional information about the driver’s medical condition.
Missouri’s Comparative Fault Rules
Missouri operates under a pure comparative fault system. If the accident victim contributed to the accident, their damages could be reduced by their degree of fault. For example, if a driver ran a stop sign and hit a driver with tinted windows that were too dark, the driver of the vehicle with tinted windows could potentially be assigned partial fault by a jury in the accident case. The driver’s damages would be reduced by the degree of fault the jury apportioned to them.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer at Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers Today
If you were injured in a car accident and think that window tint might have played a factor, an experienced attorney can explain your legal rights and options during a free consultation. In Missouri, the legal complexities surrounding window tint and comparative fault can impact the outcome of your car accident claim.
If you suspect that illegal window tint played a role in your accident, or if you need assistance navigating Missouri’s laws and the claims process, reach out to an experienced attorney today.
While these laws may seem strange, they reflect Missouri’s historical efforts to maintain public order and safety. It’s important to be aware of such laws, even if they’re rarely enforced, to avoid potential legal issues.
For more information, contact the best personal injury lawyer in St. Louis, MO at Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers. We proudly serve all throughout Missouri, including St. Louis County, and we have offices in St. Louis, Chesterfield, Clayton, and Creve Coeur.
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers – St. Louis Office
1010 Market Street, Suite 1605
St. Louis, Missouri
(636) 519-0085
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers – Chesterfield Office
400 Chesterfield Center Suite 400
Chesterfield, MO 63017
(636) 999-9587
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers – Creve Coeur Office
11628 Old Ballas Rd, Suite 320
Creve Coeur, MO 63141
(314) 557-2869
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers – Clayton Office
7733 Forsyth Blvd, Suite 1100
Clayton, MO 63105
(314) 804-4569
