Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Affton, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Affton, MO. How do you hold a driver to blame and recover full compensation for your damages when you have been hurt in a hit and run crash? Call the Affton, MO 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 winning you a full recovery for your Affton, MO hit and run accident.

When a careless driver purposefully breaks the rules of the road and injured you or someone you care about, it is normal to feel appalled and indignant. It is especially unnerving when the negligent party declines to take responsibility for their negligent driving and flees the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be wondering who is going to reimburse you for the damages to your property and you or your family member's injuries. The committed, experienced and skilled Affton, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and intentionally irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you comprehend the situation and will fight on your behalf to maximize your compensation and put you on the journey to healing. Call us now at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

In the United States in 2016, 2049 people died in hit and run crashes, which was a 62 percent increase from 2009. Of the fatalities, nearly 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately 20 percent of pedestrian deaths occur in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident takes place every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury caused by a car accident can be traumatizing and create life-long changes or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases amplify your wounds as you may not find medical care immediately, and you may not know who to trust or how to collect equitable compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of veteran and talented hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those hurt in hit and run accidents in the Affton, MO area get the best possible recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you reach out to us at (314) 500-HURT, we begin working on your case straight away, and we do not charge any fees until we win your suit.

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

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys: Understanding the Laws in Affton, MO

If a driver drives irresponsibly and injures you in a hit and run accident, they are not only culpable for your injuries, they are guilty of a criminal act. In Missouri, driving away from the scene of an accident is against the law. When a driver causes or is involved in an accident, the law dictates that they must:

• Remain at the scene
• Move their car if it may cause other drivers to crash, otherwise, wait for directions from police
• Supply aid to anyone who is hurt
• Call the Affton, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in inclement weather
• Trade contact info and insurance information with other people involved
• Stay at the accident site until a police officer tells them differently

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

Missouri Statute 577.060 classifies “leaving the scene of an accident" as a Class A Misdemeanor, which is the most serious misdemeanor offense and carries a maximum penalty of one year in county jail and a fine of $2,000. However, leaving the scene becomes a Class E Felony if any of the three conditions listed 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 has previously left 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 comforting that we have laws discouraging hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the reckless driver will not get you the compensation you are owed. They may be found responsible before the Affton, MO criminal court, but you need knowledgeable and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law who will fight for you until you get the maximum recovery you need to recover. When you hire us, we get started on your case right away and work tenaciously until we win. You do not owe us a dime until we win your case and we will fight tirelessly to ensure the at-fault party accepts full responsibility for their reckless behavior.

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

While being in any crash is frightening and can leave you feeling vulnerable, it can be especially stressful if the responsible individual does not respect the rules and flees the scene. The rules were enacted for a reason, and it is discouraging and startling when someone breaks those rules and behaves selfishly and dangerously. The dedicated and skilled Affton, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold negligent drivers accountable and secure you the compensation 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 flee the scene yourself. You may think the damages are too minor to want to deal with the nuisance, or you may be anxious that you are in some measure at fault. Leaving the location of a crash will make it much more complicated for you to recover compensation for your injuries, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical attention. The health and safety of everyone involved should be your first worry. If you or somebody else is injured, do your best to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Affton, MO emergency services to get there and provide aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law dictates that you have to call the police in any accident that results in over $500 worth of damages or causes bodily harm or death. Even if you do not know the extent of the damages or injuries are at that moment, having a police report will help a lot in winning your case.
• DO NOT follow the driver. After being hit by another auto in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are normal reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who caused your accident. That is Affton, MO law enforcement’s responsibility. Chasing after the other driver not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at heightened risk, but it will hold you back from being able to get important information and may even make the police suspicious of you.
• DO safely discern what you can about the irresponsible driver and vehicle. To do this, you can:
  • Take photos. If you are not badly injured and can use your phone before the car disappears from view, take as many photographs as possible. Even if you cannot get a full license plate number, just part of the license plate and/or the make, model and color of the car will be a great help in discovering who the driver was. 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 crash site may have had a better view than you, or will be able to verify your version of events. Be sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, law enforcement officer or Affton, MO 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 photographs, any knowledge you have of the other car or driver will be easier to remember immediately following the crash, and those details will still be of great help to law enforcement and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Affton, MO insurance company. If the driver is never located, you will have to make an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company.
• DO call Burger Law at (314) 500-HURT straight away. Our talented and accomplished hit and run accident attorneys will assist in collecting evidence, including getting access to nearby surveillance footage and reaching out to witnesses for complete statements. We work with a network of Affton, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the crash and demonstrate exactly how the liable party caused your injuries.

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

Hit and Run Cases in Missouri

The ideal scenario is that police and/or your hit and run accident attorneys will be able to locate the liable driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their irresponsible behavior. In those cases, the indefatigable and skilled Affton, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make certain you collect the best possible compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, motorists must have uninsured motorist insurance. If you are unable to locate the anegligent driver after a hit and run accident, you and your hit and run accident attorneys will need to utilize this part of your policy to seek damages from your own insurance company. In Affton, MO, there are four standards that must be met so that you can make this claim:

1. You sustained bodily injuries
2. You received the injuries as a result of an uninsured motorist, or in the case a motorist you are unable to 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 Affton, MO insurance company takes the place of the liable party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your damages. However, like many insurance companies, they may still need convincing before they pay you. To have the best opportunity to receive maximum compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need accomplished and savvy Affton, MO hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law to fight on your behalf. We have been standing up to insurance companies and other bullies for decades, and will not give in until your own insurance company pays you back the money you have certainly been paying into their policies for years.

Whether the at fault driver is identified or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will ensure you get the maximum amount of compensation that you deserve. When you sustain injuries because somebody else broke the rules of the road, you deserve the best possible compensation for all of damages you have sustained because of the accident, for instance: your medical costs, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and reduced ability to enjoy life. No matter how severe your injuries, we insist that you are compensated for all the money you deserve. If you or a loved one in Affton, MO has been harmed 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 social duty to remain at a crash site. When someone flees the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they are more worried about the repercussions for themselves than any damage or injury their thoughtless actions caused. There are many reasons the negligent party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Affton, MO, not having adequate 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 Affton, MO driver’s record.

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

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

• A drunk driver or a driver that was under the influence of drugs

  A DWI is a criminal charge that can also lead to fines, jail time, and getting your license revoked.

• 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 an accident site.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not focusing on the road is thoughtless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, fatigued or are just thinking about something else.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may flee a crash site simply because they think they will not be caught. Hit and run accidents are 4.5 times more probable between midnight and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Affton, MO streets or sidewalks.

• A panicked driver

  Sometimes the driver has a clean record but simply leaves the accident because they are afraid and do not want to get in trouble. often, these drivers turn themselves in once they have calmed down.

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

Whatever the reason a driver opts to flee the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presupposed the pros of fleeing outweighed the cons. The Affton, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them responsible and make sure they know they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Affton, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many varying circumstances. We demand maximum compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not let up until you get the money you deserve to put you on the journey to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free consultation and so we can get started on your case right away.

The Affton, MO lawyers of Burger Law have the experience and knowledge to help you receive the full recovery you deserve after any accident or injury caused by someone else leaves you injured. Learn more about our fields of expertise below.

• Truck Crash Lawyers in Missouri
• Semi-Truck Accident Lawyer in Missouri

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