Hit and Run Accident Attorneys

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in St. Louis and Missouri. How do you hold a driver accountable and collect full compensation for your damages when you have been injured in a hit and run accident? Call the Missouri hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can begin fighting for you and getting you a great recovery for your St. Louis hit and run accident.

When a reckless driver willfully breaks the rules of the road and hurts you or a loved one, it is common to feel appalled and angry. It is especially upsetting when the negligent party refuses to take responsibility for their actions and flees the scene in a hit and run accident. You may be wondering who is going to pay for the damages to your property and you or your loved one’s injuries. The committed, experienced and talented hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and willfully irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you make sense of the situation and will fight by your side to maximize your compensation and put you on the road to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

In the United States in 2016, 2049 people were killed in hit and run crashes, which was a 62 percent increase from 2009. Of those killed, nearly 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately one in five pedestrian deaths occur in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident occurs every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury stemming from a car accident can be traumatizing and bring about life-long changes or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases exacerbate that trauma as you may not receive medical attention right away, and you may not know who to turn to or how to pursue fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of experienced and talented hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those hurt in hit and run accidents in the St. Louis area get great recoveries and know how to maximize your compensation. When you call us at (314) 500-HURT, we start working on your case right away, and we do not charge any fees until we win your case.

If you have been injured in a hit and run accident, use our personal injury calculator to see how much your damages may be worth.

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys: Understanding the Laws in Missouri

If somebody acts recklessly and injures you in a hit and run accident, they are not only responsible for your injuries, they are guilty of breaking the law. In Missouri, leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. When a motorist causes or is involved in an accident, they are required by law to:

• Remain at the scene
• Move their car if it may cause other drivers to crash, otherwise, wait until instructed by police
• Render aid to anyone who is hurt
• Call the police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in bad weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with everybody involved
• Remain at the scene of the accident until a police officer tells them they can leave

Furthermore, an accident report must be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident results in injury or death.

Missouri Statute 577.060 classifies “leaving the scene of an accident" as a Class A Misdemeanor, which is the most serious type of misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of one year in county jail and a fine of $2,000. However, leaving the scene become a Class E Felony if any of the following three conditions are met:

1. Physical injury was caused by another party;
2. Over $1,000 in damages was caused to another party’s property; or
3. The defendant was previously found guilty of leaving the scene of a hit and run accident.

A hit and run becomes a Class D Felony if the accident becomes fatal and causes somebody’s death. While it is reassuring that we have laws against hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the at-fault driver will not get you the money you deserve. They may be found responsible before the criminal court, but you need expert and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law who will insist that you get the full recovery you need to make you whole again. When you hire us, we get started on your case right away and do not let up. We do not charge any fees until we win your case and we will fight tirelessly to make sure the negligent party bears full responsibility for their harmful actions.

Dos and Do Nots After Being in a Hit and Run Accident

While being in any accident is scary and can leave you feeling vulnerable, it can be especially nerve wracking if the responsible party breaks the law and flees the scene. The rules are in place for a reason, and it is discouraging and frightening when someone breaks those rules and acts selfishly and recklessly. The dedicated and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold negligible drivers accountable and get you the money you deserve. It is important to know what to do and what not to do directly following your accident, so you can increase your odds of getting the best possible compensation:

• DO NOT leave the scene yourself. You may think the damages are too minor to want to deal with the hassle, or you may be afraid that you are partially at fault. Leaving the scene of an accident will make it much harder for you to get compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical attention. Your primary concern should be your health and safety and the health and safety of anyone else in your car or involved in the accident. If you or somebody else is injured, try to keep them in a stable condition and wait for emergency services to come and render aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law requires you to call the police in any accident that results in over $500 worth of damages or causes bodily harm or death. Even if you are not sure what the extent of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will go a long way in making your case.
• DO NOT follow the driver. After being hit by another vehicle in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are natural reactions. You may be tempted to follow the driver and find out who is responsible. That is the law enforcement’s job. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at further risk, but it will impede you from being able to get valuable information and may even make the police suspicious of you.
• DO safely find out what you can about the at-fault driver and vehicle. To do this, you can:
  • Take pictures. If you are not badly injured and can take out your phone before the car disappears from view, take as many pictures as you can. Even if you cannot get a full license plate number, a partial number and/ or the make, model and color of the car will be a great help in locating the driver. It also helps to take pictures of any tire marks or other damage to the area of the accident.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people at the scene may have had a better view than you, or will be able to corroborate your story. Make sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, police officer or hit and run accident attorney will be able to get in touch with them later.
  • Write it all down. If you did not have time or the ability to take a picture, any knowledge you have of the other car or driver will be fresher in your memory immediately following the accident, and those details will still be of great help to the police and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Missouri insurance company. In the event that the driver cannot be located, you will need to make an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company.
• DO call Burger Law at (314) 500-HURT immediately. Our skilled and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys will assist in gathering evidence, including acquiring nearby surveillance footage and contacting witnesses for full statements. We work with a network of car accident experts who will be able to recreate the scene and show exactly how the negligible party caused your injuries.

Below are some helpful links and frequently asked questions for hit and runs and other types of car accidents:

Hit and Run Cases in Missouri

In the best case scenarios, police and/or your hit and run accident attorneys will be able to locate the at-fault driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their reckless actions. In those cases, the tenacious and knowledgeable St. Louis and Missouri hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make sure you get maximum compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, drivers are required to have uninsured motorist insurance. If you are unable to locate the at-fault driver after a hit and run accident, you and your hit and run accident attorneys will need to use this part of your policy to make a claim against your own insurance company. In Missouri and St. Louis, there are four criteria that must be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You received bodily injuries
2. The injuries occurred as a result of an uninsured motorist, or in the case a motorist you cannot identify
3. You are legally entitled to collect from the at-fault driver
4. All other limits of applicable policies have been exhausted by payment or settlement

In these cases, your own insurance company takes the place of the responsible party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your injuries. However, like many insurance companies, they may still have to be convinced to pay. To have the best chance at receiving the best possible compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need experienced and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law to fight for you. We have been standing up to insurance companies and other bullies for decades, and will not give up the fight until your own insurance company pays you back the money you have probably been paying into their policies for years.

Whether the at fault driver is located or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will make sure you get the maximum amount of money that you deserve. When you get hurt because somebody else broke the rules of the road, you are entitled to a full recovery for all of damages you have experienced as a result of the accident, including: your medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. No matter how serious your injuries, we demand that you are compensated for every penny you deserve. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a hit and run accident, call Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online.

Causes of Hit and Run Accidents

It is any driver’s legal and moral responsibility to remain at the scene of an accident. When someone leaves the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they are more worried about the consequences for themselves than any damage or injury their reckless behavior caused. There are many reasons the liable party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Missouri, not having the appropriate insurance can lead to having your license suspended for up to a year, paying a $400 reinstatement fee, a $500 fine and/or up to 15 days in jail. "No insurance" tickets are also never removed from a driver’s record.

• The driver does not have a driver’s license, or has a suspended license

  This also carries stiff penalties and can be either a Class A misdemeanor, a Class A misdemeanor, or a Class E felony, depending on whether you have been caught without a valid license before.

• A drunk driver or a driver otherwise under the influence of drugs

  A DWI is a criminal charge that can also lead to fines, jail time, and revocation of a license.

• The driver may have a warrant out for their arrest

  It might not be surprising that people who already fear an interaction with law enforcement would risk breaking the law again to leave the scene of an accident.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not paying full attention to the road is reckless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, dozing off or just have their head in the clouds.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may leave the scene of an accident simply because they think they will not be caught. Hit and run accidents are 4.5 times more likely to happen between midnight and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the street or sidewalk.

• A panicked driver

  Sometimes the driver has a clean record but simply leaves the accident because they are afraid and do not know what to do. Occasionally, these drivers turn themselves in after they have calmed down.

While we cannot control what other drivers do on the road, we can take some precautions as both drivers and pedestrians. Try to avoid walking in poorly lit areas at night, and when you are driving, stay alert at all times and never assume that leaving the scene of an accident is your best option.

Whatever the reason a driver decides to flee the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have assumed the benefits of running outweighed the cons. The hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will make them pay and make sure they see they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Missouri we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many different scenarios. We demand full compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not stop fighting for you until we get the money you deserve to put you on the path to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free case evaluation and so we can get started on your case right away.

If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, angry, and overwhelmed. Injuries and their related expenses can upend your life.Burger Law is here to help make you whole again. When you hire our team of hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting for you right away. We demand the responsible parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we insist on getting you maximum compensation to help you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free case evaluation to take the first step in getting your life back on track.