Hit and Run Accident Attorneys Carl Junction, MO

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

When a thoughtless driver willfully breaks the rules of the road and hurts you or a family member, it is common to feel dismayed and furious. It is especially perturbing when the negligent party refuses to take responsibility for their negligent driving and drives away from 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, accomplished and talented Carl Junction, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law know how to hold careless and consciously 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 recovery. Call us today 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 those who died, nearly 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 happens every 43 seconds in the United States. Any injury stemming from a car accident can be traumatizing and produce life-long changes or, in the worst cases, wrongful death. However, hit and run cases magnify your wounds as you may not get medical treatment right away, and you may not know who to turn to or how to secure equitable compensation for your injuries and damages. Our team of veteran and knowledgeable hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law have helped people injured in hit and run accidents in the Carl Junction, 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 start work on your case at once, and you do not owe us any payment until we win your case.

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

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

If a motorist acts carelessly and hurts you in a hit and run accident, they are not only liable for your injuries, they are a lawbreaker. In Missouri, driving away from the scene of an accident is against the law. When a motorist causes or is involved in an accident, the law dictates that they must:

• Remain at the crash site
• Move their car if it hazardous to other drivers, otherwise, wait for directions from police
• Help anyone who is hurt
• Call the Carl Junction, MO police
• Use flares, reflectors, or flashlights if the accident happened at night or in poor weather
• Exchange contact info and insurance information with other people involved
• Remain at the accident site until a police officer tells them differently

Additionally, an accident report needs to be filed if damages exceed $500 or the accident leads to 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 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 turns into a Class D Felony if the crash becomes fatal and results in somebody’s death. While it is reassuring that we have laws deterring hit and runs, a criminal conviction for the at-fault driver will not get you the recovery you deserve. They may be found culpable in front of the Carl Junction, MO criminal court, but you need expert and dedicated hit and run accident attorneys like the ones at Burger Law who will fight on your behalf until you get the maximum recovery you need to recover. When you hire us, we get started on your case straight away and work tenaciously until we win. You do not owe us a dime until we win your case and we will represent you aggressively to make certain the at-fault party accepts complete responsibility for their careless behavior.

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 especially nerve wracking if the liable person disregards the law and leaves the accident site. The rules were enacted for a reason, and it is disappointing and frightening when someone disregards those rules and behaves thoughtlessly and irresponsibly. The devoted and knowledgeable Carl Junction, 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 crash site yourself. You might think the damages are too small to want to deal with the inconvenience, or you may be afraid that you are in some measure responsible. Leaving the location of an accident will make it much harder for you to get compensation for your damages, and, more importantly, it is against the law.
• DO get medical care. Your principal 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, try to keep them in a stable condition and wait for Carl Junction, MO emergency services to arrive and provide 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 harm or death. Even if you are unsure of the extent of the damages or injuries are at that moment, 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 normal reactions. You may be motivated to follow the driver and find out who they are. That is Carl Junction, MO law enforcement’s task. Chasing after the other person not only puts yourself, other drivers, passengers and pedestrians at increased risk, but it will hold you back from being able to get necessary information and may even cause the police to suspect you.
• DO safely learn what you are able to about the at-fault driver and vehicle. To do so, you can:
  • Take photos. 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 possible. Even if you cannot get an entire license plate number, a partial number and/or the make, model and color of the car will be a great help in finding the driver. It also helps to take photographs of any tire marks or other damage at the scene 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 validate your version of events. Be sure to get their contact information so an insurance company, police officer or Carl Junction, MO hit and run accident attorney will be able to get in touch with them later.
  • Write down everything you can. If you did not have time or the ability to take photographs, anything you could observe about the other car or driver will be easier to recall immediately following the crash, and those details will still be of great help to the police and your hit and run accident attorneys.
• DO contact your Carl Junction, 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 immediately. Our talented and experienced hit and run accident attorneys will help you gather evidence, including getting access to close by surveillance video and reaching out to witnesses for full statements. We work with a network of Carl Junction, MO car accident experts who will be able to reconstruct the scene and show exactly how the at-fault party caused your injuries.

Here are some helpful links and frequently asked questions for hit and runs and other categories 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 negligent driver that caused your damages and hold them accountable for their careless driving. In those cases, the indefatigable and skilled Carl Junction, MO hit and run accident lawyers at Burger Law will make sure you collect the best possible 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 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 pursue compensation from your own insurance company. In Carl Junction, MO, there are four standards that are required to be met in order for you to make this claim:

1. You received physical injuries
2. The injuries occurred as a result of an uninsured motorist, or in the case a motorist you cannot 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 Carl Junction, MO insurance company takes the place of the at-fault party’s insurance company in order to compensate you for your injuries. However, like many insurance companies, they may still need convincing before they pay you. To have the best opportunity to receive the best possible compensation from an uninsured motorist claim, you need experienced and savvy Carl Junction, MO hit and run accident attorneys like those at Burger Law to fight for you. We have been standing up to insurance companies and other bullies for over 20 years, and will not back down 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 located or not, the hit and run accident attorneys at Burger law will make sure you get the full compensation that you are entitled to. When you get hurt because another driver broke the rules of the road, you deserve the best possible compensation for all of damages you have sustained owing to the accident, including: 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 demand that you are compensated for all the money you are entitled to. If you or a someone you care about in Carl Junction, 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 moral duty to remain at the scene of an accident. When someone drives 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 wide array reasons the at-fault party might not want to take responsibility for their actions:

• The driver does not have car insurance

  In Carl Junction, MO, not having adequate 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 Carl Junction, 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 discovered 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 result in fines, jail time, and getting your license revoked.

• The driver may have a warrant out for their arrest

  It probably is not surprising that people who already fear an interaction with law enforcement would risk breaking the law again to flee the scene of an accident.

• Distracted driving

  Driving while not giving full attention to the road is thoughtless 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 frequent between 12AM and 4AM, when there is low visibility and far fewer witnesses on the Carl Junction, 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. Sometimes, these drivers turn themselves in once 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 areas with bad lighting 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 choice.

Whatever the reason a driver decides to leave the scene after causing a hit and run accident, they must have assumed the pros of fleeing outweighed the cons. The Carl Junction, MO hit and run accident attorneys at Burger Law will make them pay and ensure they know they were wrong. In our seventy years of experience as hit and run accident attorneys in Carl Junction, 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 stop fighting for you until you are awarded the money you are owed to put you on the path to recovery. Call us today at (314) 500-HURT for a complimentary case evaluation and so we can start working on your case right away.

The Carl Junction, 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 Carl Junction, MO hit and run accident, you are probably feeling confused, livid, and vulnerable. Injuries and their related costs can disrupt your life. Burger Law is here to help make you whole again. When you hire our team of Carl Junction, MO hit and run accident attorneys, we start working on your case and fighting by your side right away. We demand the at-fault parties and their insurance companies are held accountable and we demand that you receive maximum 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.