Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Belton, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Belton, MO. How do you hold a driver responsible and collect the best possible compensation for your damages when you have been harmed in a hit and run crash? Call the Belton, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law straight away at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can start fighting for you and securing for you the best possible recovery for your Belton, MO hit and run accident.

When a dangerous driver intentionally breaks the rules of the road and hurts you or a family member, it is typical to feel dismayed and indignant. It is particularly perturbing when the liable party will not take responsibility for their reckless driving and flees the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be asking yourself who is going to pay for the damages to your property and you or your family member's injuries. The dedicated, veteran and knowledgeable Belton, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold dangerous and consciously irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you understand the situation and will fight by your side to maximize your compensation and put you on the journey to healing. Call us straight away 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 accidents, which was a 62 percent increase from 2009. Of the fatalities, about 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately one in five pedestrian deaths happen in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident takes place every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury stemming from a car accident can be traumatizing and cause life-long changes or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases exacerbate your wounds as you may not find medical attention right away, and you may not know who to trust or how to seek fair compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of experienced and adept hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped individuals and families injured in hit and run accidents in the Belton, MO area get maximum recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you reach out to us at (314) 500-HURT, we begin working on your case immediately, and you do not owe us any payment until we win your claim.

If you have been harmed in a hit and run accident, use our personal injury calculator to see how much you may be able to receive in compensation.

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

If a driver drives irresponsibly and harms you in a hit and run accident, they are not only to blame for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. 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:

• Stay at the accident site
• Move their car if it hazardous to other drivers, otherwise, wait until directed by police
• Help anyone who is hurt
• Call the Belton, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in inclement weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with everybody involved
• Stay at the scene until a police officer tells them differently

Additionally, an accident report must be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident leads to 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 turns into 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 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 leads to somebody’s death. While it is encouraging that we have laws against hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the negligent driver will not get you the compensation you are entitled to. They may be found guilty in front of the Belton, MO criminal court, but you need skilled and committed hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law who will demand that you get the maximum recovery you need to heal. When you hire us, we start working on your case straight away and do not give up. You do not owe us a dime until we win your case and we will fight tirelessly to make sure the negligent party accepts complete responsibility for their thoughtless 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 nerve wracking if the negligent individual disregards the rules of the road and leaves the scene. The rules are in place for a reason, and it is disappointing and frightening when someone breaks those rules and acts carelessly and recklessly. The devoted and knowledgeable Belton, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold selfish drivers accountable and get you the money you are entitled to. 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 might think the damages are too small to want to deal with the nuisance, or you may be nervous that you are partly responsible. Leaving the scene 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 everybody present should be your chief thought. If you or somebody else is hurt, try to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Belton, MO emergency services to arrive and render aid.
• DO NOT wait to call the police. Missouri law says that you have to call the police in any crash that results in over $500 worth of damages or causes physical injury or death. Even if you are not certain what the degree of the damages or injuries are at that moment, having a police report will help immeasurably in making your case.
• DO NOT pursue the driver. When you are hit by another vehicle in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are normal reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who they are. That is Belton, MO law enforcement’s obligation. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at heightened risk, but it will hamper you from being able to get valuable information and may even make the police suspicious of you.
• DO safely note what you can about the irresponsible driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take photos. If you did not sustain a serious injury and can take out your phone before the car vanishes from sight, take as many pictures as possible. Even if you cannot get complete 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 photographs of any tire marks or other damage to the area of the crash.
  • Speak to witnesses. Other people at the scene might 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 Belton, MO hit and run accident lawyer will be able to contact them at a later date.
  • Write it all down. If you did not have time or the ability to take pictures, any knowledge you have of the other car or driver will be easier to remember immediately after the accident, and those details will still be of great help to law enforcement and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Belton, MO insurance company. If the driver is never located, you will need to make an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company.
• DO call Burger Law at (314) 500-HURT straight away. Our savvy and expert hit and run accident attorneys will help you collect evidence, including obtaining nearby surveillance video and reaching out to witnesses for full depositions. We work alongside a network of Belton, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the scene and show exactly how the liable party caused your injuries.

Listed here are some helpful links and frequently asked questions for hit and runs and other types 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 track down the liable driver that caused your injuries and hold them responsible for their careless actions. In those cases, the aggressive and talented Belton, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will ensure you get maximum compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, motorists need to have uninsured motorist insurance. If you are unable to locate the aat-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 Belton, MO, there are four specifications that need to be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You sustained bodily injuries
2. You sustained the injuries as a result of an uninsured motorist, or in the case a motorist you are unable to identify
3. You are legally owed compensation from the at-fault driver
4. All other limits of applicable policies have been exhausted by payment or settlement

In these cases, your own Belton, MO insurance company acts as a substitute for the responsible party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your injuries. However, like other insurance companies, they may still need convincing before they pay you. To have the best chance at receiving maximum compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need seasoned and skilled Belton, MO hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law to fight on your behalf. We have been resisting insurance companies and other bullies for decades, and will not relent 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 identified or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will make certain you get the full recovery that you are owed. When you are hurt because somebody else did not respect the rules of the road, you deserve maximum compensation for all of damages you have received because of the accident, such as: your medical costs, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and reduced capacity 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 someone you care about in Belton, MO 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 every driver’s legal and moral responsibility to stay at the scene of an accident. When someone runs away from the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they care more about the consequences for themselves than any damage or injury their careless behavior caused. There are a variety of reasons the negligent party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Belton, 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 also remain on a Belton, MO 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 or a Class E felony, based on whether you have been pulled over without a valid license before.

• A drunk driver or a driver otherwise impaired by drugs

  A DWI is a criminal charge that can also carry 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 have already committed a crime would risk breaking the law again to leave a crash site.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not focusing on the road is reckless and dangerous. People can become distracted if they are texting, eating, looking at directions, dozing off or are just daydreaming.

• 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 probable between 12AM and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Belton, 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 know what to do. often, 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 safety measures as both drivers and pedestrians. Try to avoid walking in poorly lit areas at night, and when you are driving, never get distracted and never presume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best decision.

No matter the reason a driver opts to flee the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presumed the benefits of fleeing were greater than the cons. The Belton, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will make them pay and ensure they understand they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Belton, 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 give up until you collect the money you deserve to put you on the path to being made whole again. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free case review and so we can get started on your case right away.

The Belton, 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 sustained injuries in a Belton, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, outraged, and overwhelmed. Injuries and their related bills can disrupt your life. Burger Law is here to help make you whole again. When you hire our team of Belton, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting on your behalf right away. We insist that the liable 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 complimentary consultation to take the first step in getting your life back on track.