Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Butler, MO

Hit and Run Accident Attorneys in Butler, MO. How do you hold a driver accountable and get maximum compensation for your damages when you have been hurt in a hit and run accident? Call the Butler, MO hit and run accident attorneys of Burger Law right away at (314) 500-HURT or contact us online so that we can start working for you and securing for you a full recovery for your Butler, MO hit and run accident.

When a reckless driver consciously breaks the rules of the road and injured you or someone you care about, it is common to feel appalled and furious. It is particularly unsettling when the at-fault party refuses to take responsibility for their actions and runs away from the scene of the in a hit and run accident. You may be asking yourself who is going to compensate you for the damages to your property and you or your loved one’s injuries. The dedicated, accomplished and knowledgeable Butler, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and purposefully 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 journey to healing. Call us immediately 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 who died, almost 65 percent of them were pedestrians or bicyclists, and approximately one in five pedestrian deaths transpire in hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident takes place every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury caused by an auto accident can be traumatizing and bring about life-long repercussions or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases aggravate your wounds as you may not receive medical care immediately, and you may not be certain who to turn to or how to secure just compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of veteran and adept hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped those injured in hit and run accidents in the Butler, MO area get maximum recoveries and understand how to maximize your compensation. When you reach out to us at (314) 500-HURT, we start work on your case immediately, and you do not owe us any fees until we win your case.

If you have been injured in a hit and run accident, check out 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 Butler, MO

If somebody drives recklessly and injures 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 against the law. When a driver causes or is involved in an accident, the law requires them to:

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

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

Missouri Statute 577.060 categorizes “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 a local 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 turns into a Class D Felony if the crash is fatal and results in somebody’s death. While it is reassuring that we have laws deterring hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the irresponsible driver will not get you the recovery you are owed. They may be found culpable before the Butler, MO criminal court, but you need accomplished and devoted hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law who will insist that you get the full recovery you need to heal. When you hire us, we get started on your case immediately and do not give up. We do not charge any fees until we win your case and we will fight tirelessly to make certain 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 terrifying and can leave you feeling vulnerable, it can be particularly nerve wracking if the responsible party does not respect the rules and flees the accident site. The rules are in place for a reason, and it is discouraging and startling when someone disregards those rules and drives selfishly and irresponsibly. The devoted and talented Butler, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law hold selfish drivers responsible and recover for 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 could think the damages are too minor to want to deal with the nuisance, or you may be afraid that you are partly at fault. Leaving the location of a crash will make it much more difficult for you to recover compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical treatment. Your primary worry 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 Butler, MO emergency services to come and render aid.
• DO NOT hesitate to call the police. Missouri law says that you have 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 not sure what the degree of the damages or injuries are right away, having a police report will go a long way in making your case.
• DO NOT go after the driver. When you are hit by another car in a hit and run accident, anger and outrage are common reactions. You may want to follow the driver and find out who is responsible. That is Butler, 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 note what you can about the irresponsible driver and vehicle. To do this, you can:
  • Take photographs. If you did not sustain a serious injury and can use your phone before the car you cannot see the car anymore, take as many photographs as you can. 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 determining who the driver was. It also helps to take photos of any tire marks or other damage at the scene of the crash.
  • Talk to witnesses. Other people at the scene may have had a better view than you, or will be able to verify your story. Be sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, police officer or Butler, MO hit and run accident attorney will be able to contact them later.
  • Write down everything you can. 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 following the collision, and those details will still be of great help to law enforcement and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Butler, 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 veteran hit and run accident attorneys will help you collect evidence, including obtaining close by surveillance footage and reaching out to witnesses for full depositions. We work alongside a network of Butler, MO car accident experts who will be able to recreate the scene 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 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 find the at-fault driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their irresponsible driving. In those cases, the determined and expert Butler, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make sure you are awarded maximum compensation from the driver and their insurance company.

Uninsured Motorist Claims in Hit and Run Accidents

In Missouri, drivers need to have uninsured motorist insurance. If you cannot track down the aat-fault 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 compensation from your own insurance company. In Butler, MO, there are four standards that are required to be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You sustained bodily injuries
2. The injuries occurred because of an uninsured motorist, or in the case a motorist you cannot 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 Butler, MO insurance company takes the place of the responsible party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your injuries. However, like any insurance companies, they may still need convincing before they pay you. To have the best odds at receiving great compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need veteran and skilled Butler, MO hit and run accident attorneys like we have at Burger Law to fight for you. We have been pushing back against 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 certainly been paying into their policies for a long time.

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 compensation that you are entitled to. When you are injured because somebody else broke the rules of the road, you are entitled to maximum compensation for all of damages you have sustained as a result of the accident, such as: your medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life. No matter how grave your injuries, we insist that you are compensated for all the money you deserve. If you or a someone you care about in Butler, 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 any driver’s legal and ethical duty to remain at an accident site. When someone leaves 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 negligent actions caused. There are a lot of reasons the at-fault party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Butler, MO, not having proper 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 Butler, MO driver’s record.

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

  This also carries crushing penalties and can be either a Class A misdemeanor or a Class E felony, depending on whether you have been discovered 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 have already committed a crime would risk breaking the law again to run away from the scene of an accident.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not paying full attention to the road is careless 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 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 Butler, 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 safety measures 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 the best decision.

Whatever the reason a driver chooses to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have presupposed the benefits of running were greater than the cons. The Butler, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will hold them responsible and ensure they know they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Butler, MO we have successfully litigated hit and run cases in many differing circumstances. We insist on the best possible 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 recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a free consultation and so we can begin working on your case right away.

The Butler, 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 Butler, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, livid, and anxious. 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 Butler, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting by your side immediately. We insist that the at-fault parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we insist on getting you maximum 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.