Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Brookfield, MO

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

When a dangerous driver willfully breaks the rules of the road and harms you or someone you care about, it is typical to feel dismayed and angry. It is particularly upsetting when the negligent party declines to take responsibility for their behavior and flees 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 family member's injuries. The committed, experienced and skilled Brookfield, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold dangerous and consciously irresponsible driver’s accountable. We will help you comprehend the situation and will fight by your side to maximize your recovery and put you on the path to recovery. Call us right away 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, about 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately 20 percent of pedestrian deaths take place in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident takes place every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury resulting from a car wreck can be traumatizing and bring about life-long changes or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases exacerbate your wounds as you may not find medical treatment immediately, and you may not know who to turn to or how to pursue just compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of seasoned and skilled hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped individuals and families hurt in hit and run accidents in the Brookfield, MO area get maximum recoveries and know how to maximize your compensation. When you contact us at (314) 500-HURT, we begin work on your case right away, and we do not charge any payment until we win your case.

If you have been injured 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 Brookfield, MO

If somebody drives carelessly and injures you in a hit and run accident, they are not only responsible 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, the law requires them 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 Brookfield, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in poor weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with others involved
• Remain at the accident site until a police officer tells them differently

Additionally, an accident report has to be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident results in injury or a fatality.

Missouri Statute 577.060 categorizes “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 a local jail and a fine of $2,000. However, leaving the scene becomes a Class E Felony if any of these 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 is fatal and results in 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 recovery you are entitled to. They may be found culpable in the Brookfield, MO criminal court, but you need skilled and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law who will fight for you until you get the best possible recovery you need to recover. When you hire us, we start working on your case immediately 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 bears complete responsibility for their dangerous actions.

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

While being in any crash is scary and can leave you feeling unprotected, it can be particularly worrisome if the at fault individual does not respect the rules of the road and leaves the accident site. The rules were enacted for a reason, and it is disappointing and alarming when someone disregards those rules and drives carelessly and recklessly. The committed and talented Brookfield, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold selfish drivers responsible and win 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 accident site yourself. You may think the damages are too insignificant to want to deal with the inconvenience, or you may be nervous that you are partially responsible. Leaving the scene of an accident will make it much more difficult for you to collect 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 principal concern. If you or somebody else is hurt, try to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Brookfield, MO emergency services to come and render aid.
• DO NOT wait 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 results in bodily harm 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 follow the driver. When you are hit by another auto in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are common reactions. You may be motivated to follow the driver and find out who caused your accident. That is Brookfield, MO law enforcement’s responsibility. Going on a wild goose chase not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at more risk, but it will hold you back from being able to get valuable information and may even make the police suspicious of you.
• DO safely find out what you are able to about the negligent driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take pictures. If you are not seriously injured and can use your phone before the car vanishes from sight, take as many photos as you can. Even if you cannot get an entire license plate number, a partial license plate and/or the make, model and color of the car will be incredibly useful 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 crash site might have been able to see more than you did, or will be able to verify your version of events. Make sure to get their contact information so a claims adjuster, law enforcement officer or Brookfield, MO hit and run accident attorney will be able to contact them at a later date.
  • Write down everything you can. If you did not have time or the ability to take photographs, any knowledge you have of the other car or driver will be fresher in your memory immediately after the collision, and those details will still be of great help to the police and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Brookfield, 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 immediately. Our talented and accomplished hit and run accident attorneys will help you collect evidence, including acquiring close by surveillance footage and getting in touch with witnesses for complete depositions. We work alongside a network of Brookfield, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the scene and show exactly how the at-fault 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

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 careless behavior. In those cases, the indefatigable and knowledgeable Brookfield, MO 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, motorists are required to have uninsured motorist insurance. If you are unable to find the anegligent 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 Brookfield, MO, there are four specifications that need to be met so that you can make this claim:

1. You sustained physical injuries
2. You incurred the injuries due to 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 Brookfield, MO insurance company acts as a substitute for 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 full compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need experienced and savvy Brookfield, MO hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law to fight on your behalf. We have been resisting insurance companies and other bullies for decades, and will not give up the fight until your own insurance company reimburses you for the money you have likely been paying into their policies for a long time.

Whether the at fault driver is found or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will ensure you get the full compensation that you are owed. When you get hurt because another driver disregarded 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 serious your injuries, we demand that you are compensated for all the money you are owed. If you or a family member in Brookfield, MO has been injured 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 ethical duty 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 repercussions for themselves than any damage or harm their careless behavior 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 Brookfield, 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 are also never removed from a Brookfield, 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 pulled over 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 having 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, fatigued 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 probable between midnight and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Brookfield, 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 know what to do. Occasionally, these drivers turn themselves in once 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 behind the wheel, stay alert at all times and never presume that leaving the scene of an accident is the best decision.

Regardless of the reason a driver chooses to flee the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have assumed the benefits of running outweighed the cons. The Brookfield, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will make them pay and make certain they know they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Brookfield, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many varying scenarios. We insist on the best possible compensation for all of our hit and run accident clients and will not let up until you receive the money you are owed to put you on the path to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free consultation and so we can begin working on your case right away.

The Brookfield, 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 Brookfield, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, outraged, and overwhelmed. Injuries and their related expenses can upend your life. Burger Law is here to help you recover. When you hire our team of Brookfield, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting by your side immediately. We demand the negligent parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we insist on getting you the best possible compensation to help you in your recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online for a complimentary case review to take the first step in getting your life back on track.