Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Branson, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Branson, MO. How do you hold a driver accountable and recover great compensation for your damages when you have been harmed in a hit and run crash? Call the Branson, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can start working for you and getting you a full recovery for your Branson, MO hit and run accident.

When a careless driver consciously breaks the rules of the road and injured you or a family member, it is normal to feel shocked and indignant. It is especially perturbing when the liable party will not take responsibility for their actions and drives away from the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be puzzled about who is going to compensate you for the damages to your property and you or your loved one’s injuries. The committed, experienced and talented Branson, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold thoughtless and purposefully irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you understand the situation and will fight on your behalf to maximize your compensation and put you on the path to healing. Call us immediately at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a free consultation.

In the United States in 2016, 2049 people were killed in hit and run crashes, which was a 62 percent increase from 2009. Of the fatalities, just about 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately 20 percent of pedestrian deaths happen in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident transpires every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury resulting from a car accident can be traumatizing and produce life-long consequence or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases exacerbate your wounds as you may not receive medical treatment at once, and you may not be certain who to turn to or how to pursue equitable compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of seasoned and skilled hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those hurt in hit and run accidents in the Branson, 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 straight away, and we do not collect any payment 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 you may be able to recover in compensation.

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

If a driver behaves irresponsibly and injures you in a hit and run accident, they are not only culpable for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. In Missouri, leaving the scene of an accident is against the law. When a driver causes or is involved in an accident, they are required by law to:

• Remain at the scene
• Move their car if it hazardous to other drivers, otherwise, wait for instructions from police
• Help anyone who is hurt
• Call the Branson, 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
• Remain at the accident site until a police officer tells them they can leave

Furthermore, an accident report has to 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 turns into a Class E Felony if any of the three conditions below 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 discouraging hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the reckless driver will not get you the money you deserve. They may be found culpable before the Branson, MO criminal court, but you need expert and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law who will fight on your behalf until you get the full recovery you need to recover. When you hire us, we get started on your case right away and work tenaciously until we win. We do not charge any fees until we win your case and we will represent you aggressively to make certain the negligent party accepts complete responsibility for their reckless actions.

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 particularly worrisome if the negligent individual disregards the rules of the road and leaves the scene. The rules were enacted for a reason, and it is discouraging and frightening when someone breaks those rules and drives selfishly and recklessly. The dedicated and talented Branson, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold selfish drivers accountable and get you the compensation 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 minor to want to deal with the hassle, or you may worry that you are in some measure responsible. Leaving the scene of an accident will make it much more complicated for you to receive compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical attention. Your chief thought 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, focus on keeping them in a stable condition and wait for Branson, MO emergency services to come and render aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law requires you to call the police in any crash that leads to over $500 worth of damages or results in bodily injury or death. Even if you are unsure of the extent of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will help immeasurably in proving your case.
• DO NOT go after the driver. When you are hit by another driver in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are normal reactions. You may be tempted to follow the driver and find out who is responsible. That is Branson, 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 important information and may even cause the police to not believe you.
• DO safely find out what you can about the negligent driver and vehicle. To do this, you can:
  • Take pictures. If you are not seriously injured and can get hold of your phone before the car disappears from view, take as many photographs as possible. Even if you cannot get an entire license plate number, just part of the license plate and/or the make, model and color of the car will be incredibly helpful in finding the driver. It also helps to take photos of any tire marks or other damage to the area of the accident.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people at the accident site might have been able to see more than you did, or will be able to confirm your version of events. Be sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, law enforcement officer or Branson, MO hit and run accident lawyer will be able to reach out to them at a later date.
  • Write it all down. If you did not have time or the ability to take pictures, anything you noticed about the other car or driver will be fresher in your memory 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 Branson, MO 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 straight away. Our talented and accomplished hit and run accident attorneys will assist in collecting evidence, including acquiring adjacent surveillance video and reaching out to witnesses for full depositions. We work with a network of Branson, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the accident and prove exactly how the at-fault 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

The ideal scenario is that police and/or your hit and run accident attorneys will be able to find the liable driver that caused your injuries and hold them responsible for their thoughtless behavior. In those cases, the tenacious and expert Branson, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make certain you recover full 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 cannot locate the aliable 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 seek compensation from your own insurance company. In Branson, MO, there are four standards that need to be met so that you can make this claim:

1. You received physical injuries
2. You sustained the injuries because 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 Branson, MO insurance company acts as a stand in for the negligent party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your damages. However, like other insurance companies, they may still need convincing before they pay you. To have the best odds at receiving full compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need veteran and expert Branson, MO hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law to fight by your side. We have been pushing back against insurance companies and other bullies for over 20 years, and will not give in until your own insurance company reimburses you for the money you have likely been paying into their policies for years.

Whether the at fault driver is tracked down or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will make certain you get the full compensation that you are entitled to. When you sustain injuries because another driver broke the rules of the road, you deserve a full compensation for all of damages you have experienced as a result of the accident, for example: your medical expenses, 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 are entitled to. If you or a loved one in Branson, 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 duty to remain at the scene of a crash. When someone drives away from the scene of a hit and run accident, it is because they are more concerned about the consequences for themselves than any damage or injury their irresponsible actions caused. There are a wide array reasons the liable party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Branson, MO, not having appropriate insurance can result in you 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 Branson, 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, depending on whether you have been pulled over without a valid license before.

• A drunk driver or a driver that was impaired by drugs

  A DWI is a criminal charge that can also carry 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 have already committed a crime would risk breaking the law again to leave the scene of an accident.

• 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, drowsy or just have their head in the clouds.

• Lack of potential witnesses or low lighting

  A driver may flee an accident site simply because they think they will not be caught. Hit and run accidents are 4.5 times more frequent between 12AM and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Branson, MO roads 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. Occasionally, these drivers turn themselves in after they have calmed down.

While we cannot control how other people drive, we can take some precautions as both drivers and pedestrians. Try to avoid walking in areas with bad lighting at night, and when you are behind the wheel, never lose focus and never assume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best decision.

Whatever the reason a driver decides to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presumed the benefits of running outweighed the cons. The Branson, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will make them pay and make sure they understand they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Branson, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many differing scenarios. We insist on the best possible compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not stop fighting for you until you are awarded the money you are owed to put you on the journey to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free case evaluation and so we can start working on your case right away.

The Branson, 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 a family member sustained injuries in a Branson, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, angry, and overwhelmed. Injuries and their related costs can disrupt your life. Burger Law is here to help you recover. When you hire our team of Branson, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting by your side right away. We insist that the at-fault parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we insist on getting you the best possible compensation to aid 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.